The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine 0964065428

Citation preview

Everything

you need

ROBERT ULLMAN,

to

know

to

make

N.D.

JUDYTH REICHENBERGULLMAN,N.D,M.S.W.

the

most

ofyour treatment

and care

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2012

http://archive.org/details/patientsguidetohOOrobe

THE PATIENT'S GUIDE TO

HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

THE PATIENT'S GUIDE TO

HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE ROBERT ULLMAN,N.D. JUDYTH REICHENBERG ULLMAN,N.D.,M.S.W.

Picnic Point Pri

sn

Edmonds, WASHING rON

© All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be

used, reproduced or transmitted in any

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including print, photocopying, recording or any retrieval or storage system, or by

any other means whatsoever without the prior written permission of the copyright holders except in the case of brief quotations

embodied

For information, please contact Picnic Point

Press,

Edmonds, WA 98020.

First printing

in critical articles or reviews.

131 Third Avenue, N., Suite B,

1995.

Publisher's Cataloging in Publication

Ullman, Robert W., 1951-

The patient's guide to homeopathic medicine / Robert Ullman and Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman. p.

cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-9640654-2-8

1

.

Homeopathy.

I.

Reichenberg-Ullman, Judyth.

II.

Title.

615.5'32'03

RX71.U55 1995

QB 195-20062 Designed by Kate

L.

Thompson.

This book is intended for educational purposes only.

It is

purposes of self-diagnosis or

it is

self- treatment.

Further,

not intended for not intended to

diagnose, treat, give medical advice for a specific condition, or in any way to replace the services of a qualified medical professional.

ISBN 0-9640654-2-8

LCCN

94-90871

99 98 97 96 95

5 4 3 2

Picnic Point Press

131 Third Ave. N., Suite

Edmonds, WA 98020

B

1

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS SPECIAL THANKS tions

to

Miranda Castro,

and publishing savvy, and

editor,

Hazel Orme, to

for

for her helpful sugges-

connecting us with her excellent

whom we

are very grateful.

We

Marilyn Osterman, our copy editor, for her careful attention to

and Kate Thompson, our book our cover, book

Morrison

interior,

for writing the

and

designer, for her excellent

logo.

We

particularly

kind encouragement.

for sharing their love

detail

work on

thank Roger

foreword and for sharing his self-publishing

experience and thank his lovely wife and colleague for her

thank

Nancy Herrick

We also thank Barry and Joyce Vissell

and support for our relationship and our book.

Many thanks to all of you who reviewed our manuscript and gave us

helpful

feedback

including

Dr.

Rajan

Sankaran,

George

Vithoulkas, Dr. Jennifer Jacobs, John Clancey, Jay Borneman, Dr.

William Shevin, Dr. Karen

Fuller,

Linda DeBoer, Steve and Randa

Cleaves, Dr. Michael Traub, Julian Winston, Dr. Ellen

Amy

Haines, Dr.

Goldman, Stacy Hartog, Dana Ullman, Dr. Stephen Messer, Dr.

Stephen King, Dr. Sheryl Kipnis, Peggy Chipkin, and Mort Yanow.

To

all

of you

your support.

we

forgot to mention, our sincerest gratitude for

DEDICATION We dedicate this book to all those who made it possible: To Samuel Hahnemann for his brilliance, courage, and inspiration; To all of our teachers of homeopathy for their wisdom;

To homeopaths

everywhere for their dedication and compassion; To our colleagues

and

friends,

who

end;

To our

patients,

have supported

who

all

of our endeavors.

from beginning

to

continue to be our greatest teachers of

homeopathy; To our parents in

this project

for their love, prayers,

and confidence

2 6 9 81

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1

.

Foreword

VI

Introduction

IX

Homeopathy: Roots and Renaissance

1

Samuel Hahnemann, The Founder of Homeopathy

2.

1

Hahnemann Discovers Homeopathy The Rise and Decline of Homeopathy

3

Homeopathic Renaissance and Research

4

1

Homeopathic Training

5

Homeopathy throughout the World

6

What in the World is Homeopathy?

9

The Law of Similars Illness,

9

Balance and Health

The Vital Force and

1

the Defense

Mechanism

The Importance of Symptoms The Simillimum

1

13

Individualization of Treatment

14

Treating the Underlying Cause of Illness

1

Dynamic Healing through Homeopathy

1

Suppression Versus Cure

1

Law of Cure Homeopathy Different from

Hering's

How is

Conventional Medicine? 3

.

1

2

22

Why Choose Homeopathy?

25

Homeopathy is Highly Effective Homeopathy for Cancer and AIDS

25

27

Homeopathy for Mental and Emotional Problems

28

Homeopathy for Animals

34

Homeopathy is Safe Homeopathy is Cost Effective Homeopathy Can Enhance the

35

Conventional Medicine ill

35 Effects of

36

4.

From Snake Venom to Squid Ink

39

Poisons as Medicine

40

Salts

5.

42

of the Earth

From Dog's Milk to Red Ants The Homeopathic Healing Power of Plants

42

New Remedies

44

7.

43

The Unique Preparation of Homeopathic Medicines The Homeopathic

6.

39

The Source of Homeopathic Medicines

Paradox: Weaker

is

Stronger

47 47

Potentization

48

The Importance of Succussion

48

How Homeopathic Medicines are Dispensed and Sold

48

Homeopathic Dosages

49

Combination Remedies

50

Getting to

Know the Patient from the Inside Out

53

The Homeopathic Consultation

53

The Books of the Homeopath

54

Dos and Don'ts for Homeopathic Patients Taking the Remedy

57

57

Dos and Don'ts About Taking Homeopathic Remedies 57 Antidoting

57

What to Avoid While Under Homeopathic Treatment Factors Which Do Not Interfere With

59

Homeopathic Treatment

61

The Patient's Freedom During Homeopathic Treatment 8.

62

'

What Do Need to Know About I

Homeopathic Treatment?

65

How Soon Will Notice a Response to My Remedy? How Do Know if the Remedy is Working? What If My Progress Seems Too Slow? How Often Will Need to Take a Remedy? I

I

I

Prescription

Will

I

When

Have

Drugs and Homeopathy to

Should

Take I

a

Homeopathic Remedy

Contact

My Homeopath IV

65

67 67 68 69

Forever?

70 70

.

9

1

.

Real Patients Real Cures

73

Donna: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

75

Sally:

77

PMS,

78

Endometriosis, and Infertility

Helen: Eczema

81

Gina: Arthritis

81

Carlos: Obsessive Jealousy

83

Charles: Flu

84

How to Find the Right Homeopath The Legal

87

Status of Homeopathy

87

Choosing Your Homeopath

87

Are There Different Kinds of Homeopaths?

88

How Can 1 1

76

Depression

Sonya: Menopause Lucy:

10.

73

,

Cliff: Allergies

I

Tell If I

Am Seeing The Right Homeopath?

89

Making the Most of Your Homeopathic Treatment It's

9

Never Too Late

9

The Role of Homeopathy in Your Life

9

Your Responsibility as a Patient

92

Our Goal and Your Goal

92

More

Appendix: Learning

94

Recommended Books

94

General Interest

94

Self-Treatment

94

For the

Homeopath or Serious Student

95

96

Resources

Homeopathic Book Distributors

96

Homeopathic Organizations

96

International

Homeopathic Organizations

97

Homeopathic Pharmacies

97

Homeopathic Software Organizations

98

Homeopathic Training Programs

99

Glossary

1

00

Index

1

03

FOREWORD by

Roger Morrison, M.D.

GREAT PLEASURE to introduce this wonderful book to the public and to my professional colleagues. The homeopathic It

IS

A

community has needed such a book for many years. This is because The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine is the first book tailored exactly to the needs of homeopaths there exist

many

fine introductory

offer explanations

and

their patients.

of homeopathy without the details of

works from inside the healing process. This puter without a manual.

Now,

While

books on homeopathy, most

is

how

akin to selling a

for the first time,

it

com-

homeopathic

patients have a user's manual.

The purpose of this book

to make the homeopathic process The chapters on the homeopathic

is

understandable to the patient.

interview and dos and don'ts for patients are unique in homeopathic

books addressed to the general public. These chapters give truly indepth explanations to the questions patients commonly ask in

homeopathic

practice.

empower our

patients,

As knowledge empowers, this book will making them partners in treatment rather

than passive participants.

Of almost equal importance with the explanatory portion of this book is

its

friendly

and supportive tone. The book invites the patient

into the perspective of the trained

homeopathic

patient.

The

homeopath or

the seasoned

authors evoke the passion and wonder

every experienced physician feels for this magnificent healing

art.

This book gives the patient an idea of the commitment and love that each homeopath has for his

art.

capacity for healing in our lives full

The

authors communicate the

full

and help the patient understand the

scope of the truly miraculous changes that homeopathy offers.

known throughout the homeopathic their commitment to excellence, their compassion

Judyth and Robert are

community for

toward their patients, and their dedication to homeopathic education.

The

authors are regular contributors to Resonance, the VI

magazine of the International Foundation for Homeopathy; the

Townsend Letter for journal of the cians.

Both authors

teachers

Doctors',

and

also write for Simillimum, the

Homeopathic Association of Naturopathic Physiare licensed naturopathic physicians have

been

of repute in naturopathic medical schools, and are

instructors in the International fessional course. It

is

Foundation

a rare event

for

Homeopathy s pro-

when two such proficient and rec-

ognized physicians take time to look through their patient's eyes and carefully outline

homeopathy from

VII

this perspective.

Homeopathy

is

one of the

most dynamicforms of medicine in the world today, capable ofproducing

profound, lasting healing.

INTRODUCTION HOMEOPATHY

ONE

IS

of the most dynamic forms of medi-

cine in the world today, capable of producing profound, lasting

enjoying growing recognition worldwide, and the

healing.

It is

media

devoting more coverage to homeopathy than ever before.

is

The National

Institutes

of Health recently included homeopathy as

an area of alternative medicine that merits further research.

new

fortunate to be part of a

committed

to

generation of homeopaths

promoting and perpetuating

We feel

who

are

highly effective

this

form of natural medicine.

Over the past ten years, we have

treated thousands of patients in

we answer the questions that patients commonly ask about homeopathy. The result is a con-

our homeopathic practices. In

cise

and

are

book,

homeopathic treatment.

practical guide to

Informed patients

this

more likely to follow through with home-

They can better understand and follow their practitioners' instructions. They pay closer attention to their symptoms and communicate them more clearly to their homeopaths. They are also more knowledgeable about opathic treatment and derive benefit from

it.

avoiding anything that might interfere with their treatment. If patients derive

more

benefit

from

ment because of the information they have achieved

purpose.

its

their family

and

As

homeopathic

receive here, this

We hope that,

treat-

book

will

through homeopathy,

as

human

suffering can be

satisfied patients share their

enthusiasm with

well as through other forms of healing, greatly alleviated.

their

friends,

more and more people can be helped by

homeopathy.

The identities of patients

referred to in this

guised to protect their privacy.

book have been

We alternate "he" and "she"

purpose of equality of gender reference.

IX

dis-

for the

More books and articles have been published

about homeopathy in last five years

the

than in the

preceding fifty.

Homeopathy: Roots and Renaissance FOR OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS, world have found the solutions to

homeopathy. yourself,

If

you

are

new

people

their health

problems through

homeopathy, you

to

over the

all

may

be asking

"What is homeopathy?" "Where did it come from?"

start at the

Let's

beginning.

Samuel Hahnemann, The Founder ofHomeopathy Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) was a German cian,

and chemist.

scholar, physi-

He was fluent in at least seven languages and well Hahnemann was

versed in the medical thought of his day.

appalled by the often dangerous and ineffective methods of healing

used by his contemporaries. Treatments such

stances, like

mercury and arsenic,

vomiting, purging,

in large doses often

patients' suffering before finally killing

was treated with repeated bloodletting

The

as

and using poisonous sub-

sweating, bloodletting, applying leeches,

prolonged the

them. George Washington

in

an attempt to cure a fever.

"cure" killed him. Prior to his discovery of homeopathy,

practice of medicine because he could

patients or prolong their illnesses.

He

Hahnemann gave up

no longer bear

the

to injure his

chose instead to

make

his

living as a medical translator.

Hahnemann Discovers Homeopathy Hahnemann was

a tireless student of the medical literature

relentless investigator.

stances

While

translating a

and

a

book on medicinal sub-

by William Cullen, an eminent Scottish physician, Hahne-

mann questioned why Cinchona

bark (from which quinine was

later

derived) could cure malaria. Cullen's explanation that the bark cured

malaria because of its bitter taste did not satisfy

soned that its

\t

Cinchona

Hahnemann. He

bark's curative properties

bitterness, then other bitter substances 1

were based

rea-

solely

on

should be equally curative,

The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine which he knew from

was not the

his clinical experience

decided to take an extract of the bark himself to experience firsthand.

Hahnemann found

the medicine, he developed realized,

upon taking

that

chills,

case. its

He

effects

successive doses of

weakness, and sweats. These, he

were very similar to the actual symptoms of malaria.

From

this

Hahnemann

experiment,

recognized the principle

that like cures like. This principle, called the law

of similars,

is

not new. Ancient healers such as Charaka in India (c.1000 B.C.),

Hippocrates in Greece (c.400 B.C.), and Paracelsus, the medieval

European physician,

referred to this principle in their writings.

Hahnemann theorized that if Cinchona toms similar

to malaria

and could

could be true of other substances this

He

bark could produce symp-

also cure malaria, then the as well.

same

Hahnemann expanded

ancient idea into a complete medical system for the

first

time.

coined the term homeopathy, from the Greek roots for similar

and

suffering to describe the

new system

that he evolved

from the

law of similars.

He such

began to

test

many

as Belladonna, Arsenic,

symptoms

other natural or medicinal substances

Mercury, and Sulphur to see the range of

that each substance could produce in a healthy person.

These experiments, conducted on himself, dents, were

known

as provings.

working knowledge of

a

family, friends,

Hahnemann

number of

and stu-

gradually built

up

a

medicines, called materia

medica, which he found to be highly effective with patients.

Hahnemann began ments

as early as

1

to write

about

his

homeopathic experi-

792, but his major work on homeopathic philos-

ophy and treatment, the Organon ofMedicine, was not published until 1810. Five editions of the Organon were published between 1810 and 1 843

as

Hahnemann kept experimenting and improving

the medical art that he

had developed. A sixth edition was published

more than 75 years after his death. The physicians of Hahnemann's time strongly opposed his new

in 1921,

system of medicine, in part because

it

was a

orthodoxy of the time, but also because

its

radical

change from the

success provided signif-

Hahnemann was forced to leave the city of the bastion of German medical learning, because his ideas

icant competition.

Leipzig,

were too unconventional for most of his colleagues.

Homeopathy: Roots and Renaissance Over the course of of patients, including

and government

his

life,

many

Hahnemann

highly respected intellectuals,

Germany and

officials in

treated thousands

France.

He

proved almost a hundred medicines before his death 88.

artists,

personally

at the

age of

By that time, he had finally received the recognition he deserved

for his

groundbreaking discoveries.

The Rise and Decline ofHomeopathy Even before Hahnemann's death, homeopathy had spread from

Germany and France throughout Europe and to the United States. The first homeopathic medical school was established in the United States in 1836 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The American Institute of Homeopathy, the

founded

in 1844.

first

national homeopathic organization, was

Homeopathy achieved

great recognition for

success in treating epidemics such as cholera, scarlet fever,

yellow

By

fever.

the turn of the century, approximately one in five

physicians was a homeopath. hospitals, over

its

and

More than one hundred homeopathic

twenty homeopathic medical schools, and

at least a

thousand homeopathic pharmacies flourished in the United States l

at that time.

Despite

its

clinical success, there

homeopathy, both

in

was considerable opposition

Europe and the United

States.

to

The American

Medical Association was founded in 1846, in opposition to the

homeopaths. State medical

societies in the

United States prohibited

members from referring to, or even consulting with, a homeThe pharmaceutical companies, standing to lose considerable profits if inexpensive homeopathic medicines became too popular, published articles disparaging the new medical system. their

opath.

Many

orthodox physicians

felt

threatened by the growing accep-

tance of homeopathy. In 1910, the Carnegie Foundation hired evaluate

all

Abraham

Flexner to

of the medical schools in the United States to determine

which would

receive funding

from the foundation. Flexner gave the

homeopathic medical schools poor

ratings, largely

not emphasize laboratory

Homeopathic schools

facilities.

because they did lost

foun-

dation support and state licensing boards began to use the Flexner report to determine

which graduates could take licensing exams. As

3

The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine a result,

homeopathy

nearly died in the United States by the mid-

twentieth century.

Gradually

all

of the homeopathic medical schools were forced

out of business or converted to conventional medical institutions.

With the advent of modern medicines such as sulfa drugs and penicillin,

the

the "wonder drugs" of the 1940's, public interest turned to

new pharmaceutical drugs and support of homeopathy waned By 1950,

dramatically.

schools

left in

there were

the United States

practitioners remaining.

The opportunity

the United States was nearly small, but dedicated,

to use

homeopathy.

tradition

no homeopathic medical

and there were only a few dedicated

lost.

to learn

homeopathy

During the 1960s

in

a relatively

group of practitioners and patients continued

One

of the main ways that the homeopathic

was preserved was through study groups,

in

which

people studied homeopathy together on a regular

basis.

study groups are more widespread than ever and

many are

lay

Today these coordi-

nated by the National Center for Homeopathy. (See the Appendix for

more information.)

Homeopathic Renaissance and Research During the

late

1960s, interest in alternative

began to blossom. healthy way to

lifestyles

and medicine

Many people were searching for a more natural,

live.

Vitamins, herbs, homeopathy, and other forms

of natural healing began to be in demand and by the

homeopathy began

to experience a resurgence in the

late

United

1

970's

States.

Once again, seminars and training programs were offered to serious students of homeopathy. George Vithoulkas, an innovative

Greek homeopath, was a primary influence in training a new generation of homeopaths. Vithoulkas

had acquired vast experience from

having treated thousands of patients from

homeopathic clinic ical

He

in Athens.

all

over Europe at his

synthesized his tremendous clin-

knowledge into a practical textbook, The Science ofHomeopathy.

Enthusiastic

North American homeopaths developed

homeopathic treatment began United States and Canada.

It is

to

clinics

and

be available in a few areas of the

some of these same homeopaths, who

now practiced homeopathy for ten to twenty years, who provide much of the homeopathic education in this country today. have

Homeopathy: Roots and Renaissance

in

More books and articles have been published about homeopathy the last five years than in the preceding fifty. There are more than

one thousand medically-trained homeopaths

now practicing in

the

United States, including medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, naturopathic physicians, chiropractors, physician assistants, acupuncnurses, nurse practitioners,

turists, dentists,

addition, a growing

and

veterinarians. In

number of unlicensed, yet well-trained homeo-

pathic practititioners, are currently seeking certification.

In 1992, the National Institutes of Health appointed a group

of respected health professionals to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative therapies, including

homeopathy. This was a break-

through towards mainstream acceptance of homeopathy and other effective alternative therapies.

1993, issue of the

A survey in

the January 28,

New England Journal ofMedicine revealed that

more than one-third of Americans were using some form of alternative medicine, including homeopathy. The total number of visits to alternative practitioners

care physicians.

Landmark research studies icine

was greater than those to primary

2

in the efficacy

of homeopathic med-

were published in two highly prestigious medical journals in

1994. Jennifer Jacobs, M.D., M.P.H. conducted a randomized clinical trial

The

of children with acute childhood diarrhea in Nicaragua.

study, published in Pediatrics, indicated a statistically signifi-

cant decrease in duration of the diarrhea and encouraged further

homeopathic

research. 3

undertook a

clinical

study, published in

David

Reilly,

M.D., of Glasgow, Scotland,

study of patients with allergic asthma. This

The Lancet,

also

demonstrated the efficacy of

homeopathy. 4 These studies are hopefully the

first

of many to be

published in conventional medical journals and to confirm the clinical effectiveness

of homeopathy.

Homeopathic Training Although there United

are

still

no accredited homeopathic

States, there are a

growing number of opportunities

homeopathic education. Homeopathy riculum

at all three colleges

versity, the

colleges in the

is

for

an integral part of the cur-

of naturopathic medicine: Bastyr Uni-

National College of Naturopathic Medicine, and the

5

The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. These three colleges are the only medical degree

programs that include a significant

amount of homeopathy in their training. The Hahnemann College of Homeopathy, the International Foundation for Homeopathy, the National Center for

Homeopathy, and the New England School

of Homeopathy offer postgraduate programs for licensed health care professionals.

The International Foundation for Homeopathy, the HomeoAcademy of Naturopathic Physicians, the National Center for Homeopathy, and the American Institute of Homeopathy are all pathic

very active in supporting the spread of homeopathy in the United States.

Each of these organizations publishes

a

homeopathic journal

and sponsors an annual conference. The National Center

Homeopathy, the Atlantic Academy of Homeopathy, the

for

Pacific

Academy of Homeopathy, and the New England School of Homeopathy all offer courses for nonprofessionals.

Homeopathy Throughout The World

Homeopathy is widely practiced

in India,

England, France, Ger-

many, Mexico, and South America, and

is

gaining acceptance

among conventional medical practitioners

in

Western Europe. In

England, homeopathy has been used by the royal family since 1

830. There are more than twenty homeopathic schools or part-

time courses there including a course for medical doctors

at the

Royal London Homeopathic Hospital. In England, there are

many

registered professional

the Society of

homeopaths who

are

members of

Homeopaths. A recent study on the attitudes of complementary medicine found that 42

British physicians to

percent refer to homeopaths. 5 In France, over

1 1

,000 physicians

use homeopathic medicines, which are dispensed by

more than

20,000 pharmacies. Twenty-five percent of the French people have been treated homeopathically. 6 Postgraduate homeopathic courses are offered throughout Europe, particularly in Belgium,

Germany, France and Greece. Standards for education in homeopathy and a model course curriculum are being formulated

and promoted by the European and International Councils Classical

Homeopathy. In

for

India, as part of the legacy of British

Homeopathy: Roots and Renaissance colonialism, there are 120 homeopathic medical colleges

many

as

and

as

100,000 homeopathic practitioners. The Indian gov-

ernment sponsors nineteen medical homeopathic

colleges

and

a

number of

hospitals. 7

Notes 1

Ullman, Dana, Discovering Homeopathy-Medicine for the 21st Century.

North Atlantic Books, 1988,

Berkeley:

2 Eisenberg

DM,

Kessler

RC,

pg. 40.

Foster C, Norlock FE, Calkins,

DR, and

Delbanco, TL., "Unconventional Medicine in the United States." TV

EnglJ Med\993; 328:246-252. 3 Jacobs

J,

Jimennez M, Gloyd

S,

Gale J, and Crothes D., "Treatment of

Acute Childhood Diarrhea With Homeopathic Medicine: ized Clinical Trial in Nicatagua."

4 Reilly D, Taylor MA, Beattie

A Random-

Ped 1994; 93 719-725.

NG, Campbell JH, McSharry C, Aitchison

TC, Carter R, and Stevenson RD.,

"Is

Evidence for Homeopathy Repro-

ducible?" Zrfwrrf- 1994; 344: 1601-1606. 5

Wharton

R, Lewith G.,

Practitioner." Brit

6 Ullman, op 7 Ibid.

cit.,

Med J

pg. 48.

"Complementary Medicine and the General 1986; 292:1498-1500.

7

Homeopaths treatpeople, not diagnoses.

What Is

The World

In

Homeopathy?

The Law ofSimilars

Homeopathy uses natural substances that can cause symptoms in a symptoms in a person who is ill. Can you remember the last time you were stung by a bee? The

healthy person to cure similar

stinging,

burning pain, swelling, heat, and redness are probably

etched in your memory. These are the symptoms that you experience

when an angry bee

injects

its

venom

into your healthy body.

How can a poisonous substance like bee venom (Apis mellifica) be medicine?

used

as a

that

makes

it

It is

precisely the fact that

homeopathic medicine, can

it

relieve the

symptoms as a

pain and discomfort of bee

stings as well as other illnesses that have similar

suffering

causes

Bee venom, when used

useful as a medicine.

symptoms. People

from conjunctivitis (pink eye), who complain of stinging

or burning pain, redness

and swelling of the

horn Apis. The type of arthritis that stinging pains

may

also be

is

eyelids, often benefit

hot, red,

and swollen with

cured or helped by a dose of homeo-

pathic bee venom. If you think

ferent in

it is

about the law of similars, you

Western society have been taught

eliminate a bacterial infection against.

The

battle being is

may realize how dif-

from the philosophy of conventional medicine. Most of us

use of antibiotics

is

is

to believe that the only

based on the belief that there

waged in the body which must be won, and

unable to win

it

way

to

with antibiotics. "Anti" means

that the

is

a

body

without the antibiotics. Antibiotics tend to

kill

microorganisms that are associated with disease or interfere with their reproduction. This

may allow the body to recover from

the

illness.

A homeopath might also say that the body needs help in fighting the infection, but

ent way.

When

pattern of the

a

homeopathy gives

that assistance in a differ-

homeopathic remedy

is

given, the

remedy matches the symptoms of the 9

symptom

disease

and

10 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine strengthens the body's balance. tion

own ability to fight the infection and restore

Homeopathic theory

says that the real cause of an infec-

not the microorganism, but the

is

person's

of conditions in a

set

body that provides an environment in which the viruses or and multiply

bacteria can survive

If

you can

restore the natural

ecology of the body with homeopathy, the microorganisms will no longer be able to create disease. In the conventional medical approach,

ducing too

much hydrochloric acid,

the stomach's ability to secrete acid. gies

a drug

if is

the stomach

is

pro-

given which reduces

A person suffering from aller-

given an antihistamine, which prevents the release of hista-

is

mine, the chemical secreted by the mucous membranes in response to an allergen. Steroids, such as hydrocortisone, are used to suppress inflammatory responses. It

may sound like a good idea to

fight against invading organ-

isms or processes that cause damage to the body. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antacids, antifungals, and antihistamines do

produce

effects

and on the surface

ever, these

medications

The

may

result

may

drugs

to severe side effects.

be only temporary or superficial healing. These

ultimately cause

rather than against

Illness,

more

serious problems than they

it.

Balance and Health

homeopath,

a

may produce mild

Over time, how-

Homeopathy, on the other hand, works with the body

cure.

To

relieve illness.

illness

is

an energy imbalance that occurs

first at

the most fundamental levels of the person. This underlying imbal-

ance

the cause of disease

is

symptoms, which

and shows

are created

correct the imbalance. addresses, using the

It is

itself eventually in

the

body as

by the body in the process of trying to

the imbalance itself that

symptoms

as

homeopathy

a guide to the natural substance

that can be of assistance in the process. If

you

are in perfect balance,

which

is

unusual, you will not

develop any symptoms. If you are totally healthy, you are free of pain

and physical symptoms, have plenty of energy, think clearly, ence happiness and a passion for others.

You are

free to

life,

and genuinely

be yourself and to express your

experi-

care about

creativity.

What Homeopathy attempts level

In

The World

Homeopathy?

Is

to bring each individual to the highest

of health possible on the physical, mental, and emotional

Samuel Hahnemann affirmed, "The highest ideal of cure is

levels.

to restore

health rapidly, gently, permanently... in the shortest, surest, least

harmful way according to clearly comprehensible

*

principles..."

You may have felt healthier, happier, and more energetic at some earlier time in your life. You may believe that you're just getting old and that good health is no longer possible for you. Homeopathy can often restore your health and vitality beyond your expectations.

The Vital Force and the Defense Mechanism

The dynamic

balance of all the functions of your body within the

narrow range that maintains sis.

life

and health

Homeostasis means keeping things

that your

body is

vigorously,

it

try to topple

a gyroscope.

As long

will stay in balance,

it.

If you

push

it

to

known as homeosta-

is

static or constant.

as the

gyroscope

is

Imagine spinning

even though outside forces

one side,

it

will return to

its

may

upright

position naturally.

Homeostatic and self-regulatory mechanisms constantly maintain the physiology of the body.

Numerous feedback

body stimulate necessary adjustments

in

carbon dioxide content of your blood begins to

more deeply or you begin coffee or beer, urination

your body.

is

to

yawn.

loops in the

When the

your physiology.

When

rise,

you breathe

you drink too much volume

increased to decrease the liquid

in

When your immune system recognizes a protein that is

foreign to your system, antibodies are produced to take the protein

out of circulation before

it

can do any damage.

These self-regulatory mechanisms operate

ficult to

in

an organized fash-

them

ion, but the organizing principle that causes

to function

observe directly. Physiologists assume that there

underlying principle because the body continues to digest, reproduce,

things,

we

and move.

When

the

body

fails

consider a person to be dead. So what

between being

alive

Homeopaths

live,

is

is

is

dif-

an

think, eat,

to

do these

the difference

and being dead?

believe that, as long as

you

within you a living, intelligent energy that

is

are alive, there exists

responsible for healing

1

1

12 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine

and maintaining balance

in

energy is called the vitalforce. tures

and

your body, mind, and emotions. This

The idea has been shared by many cul-

throughout the world, using names such

life force.

Although the

vital force

is

as ki,

prana, mana,

intangible,

its

effects are

readily apparent.

The

defense

mechanism

is

the aspect of the vital force that

responsible for preventing illness and bringing

tems back into equilibrium. organisms and keeps

all

helps your

It

of your

all

body

is

sys-

repel invading

of your internal biological functions

running smoothly.

The immune system is the physical aspect of the defense mechanism.

It

uses specialized cells

immobilize any foreign

The

defense

cells

and

tissues to neutralize, destroy, or

or tissues.

mechanism

not just physical; there are also

is

mental and emotional aspects of the defense mechanism.

It is just as

responsible for healing the grief from a death in the family, or the

confusion and delusions of the schizophrenic mind, ing a bruised toe, a cold, or an ulcer. grief,

and sadness;

to forgive those

your emotional balance.

It

It

helps

you

as

it is

for heal-

to release anger,

who have hurt you; and to restore

can also help you regain mental concen-

of thought, and good memory. You can help strengthen your defense mechanism and prevent minor health problems from becoming more serious if you pay attention to the messages your body is communicating to you. tration, clarity

When

your defense mechanism cannot prevent a situation, you

begin to notice warning signals. You

may

get a slight sore throat,

then a runny nose, then aches and pains, and then a signs

from the defense mechanism prompting you

and restore your health. get

more

It is

rest, eat lightly,

your life. Suppose that

fever.

to

over.

You can

and reduce the

stress in

your responsibility to take

take Vitamin C,

in the process

of defending you, however, the

body keeps generating more symptoms severe, and do not go away. This

is

These are

pay attention

that

become

increasingly

when homeopathy can help.

The Importance of Symptoms

Common

symptoms such

and changes

as pain,

inflammation,

fever, swelling,

in perspiration, urination, sleep, hunger,

and

thirst,

What

In

The World

often point to an imbalance in the body.

Homeopathy?

Is

Without symptoms, you

would never know that you were ill and your homeopath could not assist

you

in getting better.

Your homeopath takes physical examination

a careful case history

of your symptoms, then uses them to remedy. easier

The more

it is

and performs

when necessary. She observes you, select

homeopathic

a

and unusual your symptoms

peculiar

a

listens to all

the

are,

to find a medicine that uniquely matches them.

Local illnesses without symptoms, such as a brain tumor, rectal polyps, breast lumps, or cancer of the cervix often go undetected for a long time, unless discovered

on routine physical examination.

Your defense mechanism may not yet have found a way to bring the

problem

to

your attention or to correct

erates other

can notice. These the illness

it.

Sometimes the body gen-

symptoms, along with the hidden

and

symptoms

often lead your

to prescribe a

illness,

homeopath

remedy which will cure

which you to discover

it.

Joan on her

32, complained of a skin rash physical exam, a Pap smear,

recommended. The Pap smear cerous

cell

face.

which was

As part of her routine

several years overdue,

results indicated significant

was

precan-

changes in her cervix (cervical dysplasia). Although the

cervical dysplasia

was asymptomatic, the rash led her

to seek treat-

ment. Through homeopathy and other natural therapies, both the rash

and the

cervical dysplasia

were cured.

The Simillimum

Homeopaths which

prescribe only

best matches your

may be other homeopathic symptoms, but there simillimum

is

the

is

one remedy

symptoms, remedies

is

that will

no other remedy

remedy

at a time.

This remedy,

called the simillimum.

have an

that will

that will cure your

effect

work as

There

on your

well.

The

symptoms, based on

the principle of like cures like.

At another time, your body might produce

symptoms and

require another remedy. This

the simillimum at that time. In

some

a different set

of

new remedy would be

cases,

one remedy

is

all

a

13

14

The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine person ever needs to remain healthy. Generally, during treatment for chronic illness,

which

is

more

called constitutional treatment,

than one remedy may be needed over time to help you stay healthy. If the pattern

of your symptoms changes enough to

scope of the original remedy, a

new remedy is

outside the

fall

needed.

Individualization of Treatment

Homeopaths illness

has

not diagnoses.

treat people,

When

you

are

your

ill,

own unique pattern of symptoms. You will tend to get

its

those illnesses that result from the particular pattern of imbalance that

is

unique to your personal heredity and environmental

ences. If

you have

a

influ-

may

weakness in the urinary system, you

develop symptoms of bladder infections or kidney disease. If your skin

is

the problem,

the digestive system

you may be prone is

the focus,

to rashes, herpes or warts. If

you may

suffer

from

con-

ulcers,

may run

stipation or hemorrhoids. Patterns of certain illnesses

in

your family and be passed on from generation to generation. People with the same diagnosis will not

opathic remedy. There instance, for flu.

need the same home-

all

no one homeopathic treatment,

is

Your homeopath needs

treated. Your flu requires a

to

know whose

flu

is

for

being

homeopathic medicine that matches

your particular pattern of symptoms. Someone

will

flu

else's

respond to an entirely different homeopathic remedy.

You may have a flu

that

comes on

right after exposure to a cold,

dry wind. Suddenly, you develop a high surprise, that lently,

one cheek

your nose runs

croupy cough. You

is

pale

fever.

and the other

like a faucet,

You red.

and you have

notice, to

your

You sneeze

vio-

a nagging, dry,

feel uncharacteristically restless.

You have

a

strong fear that you might get worse, even die, because your symp-

toms have come on so suddenly and violently. Your mouth dry and you

can't

drink enough

water.

You

feel chilled to

You need the homeopathic remedy Aconitum

napellus,

is

bone

the core.

which

will

rapidly restore your health.

Suppose your neighbor

gets a flu

over a few days. Just before she

which comes on

became

sick,

gradually,

she was very nervous

about giving a speech in front of five hundred people. She

feels great

exhaustion and can hardly keep her eyes open, or even move. She

What experiences icy chills

In

The World

up and down her

spine.

Is

Homeopathy?

Her mouth

feels like

Her body aches all over, like she's been pound backpack. Her arms and legs feel terribly

cotton, but she's not thirsty.

carrying a

fifty

Her limbs

heavy.

tremble. She feels dizzy, drowsy, droopy

Although your neighbor's diagnosis would

also

and

dull.

be influenza, she

needs a different homeopathic medicine. Gelsemium sempervirens will

not only cure her

The

how

flu,

may help her stage fright as well.

but

following three cases of patients with hay fever

each individual

set

show

of symptoms, even with the same diag-

can lead a homeopath to prescribe very different homeo-

nosis,

pathic medicines.

Prabha Prabha was a 30 year old East Indian woman who was led to homeopathy because of hay until

mid

fever.

Her bouts normally lasted all spring awoke in the morning with a dry upper lungs, and slight wheezing.

or late summer. She

cough, congestion in the

During the day she complained of

terrible itching in the ears,

Eustachian tubes, and some itching in the throat, nose, and eyes.

She had occasional sneezing, runny nose, and dry

toms

lasted

The sympwhen she was

eyes.

throughout the day and were better

We gave Prabha Nux vomica because of the dry cough with

indoors.

wheezing on waking, combined with the sneezing and itching inside the nose. benefit.

She received the remedy in the spring, with great

She continued

summer.

When

to take

it

occasionally, as needed, during the

she returned to us the following spring, with the

same symptoms, she was again given Nux vomica.

Erik Erik, a

young Norwegian man, had been bothered by hay

the age of

five. It

attack in late time. His

was usually worse

March prompted him

him

to see a

main problem was frequent,

which occurred every so ing

in the

to "run

often.

around with

a

fever since

summer, but

homeopath

a severe

for the first

violent, fitful sneezing,

He had a watery, runny

nose, caus-

handkerchief all the time. "The skin

1

5

16

The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine under

nose became red and sore. His eyes were

his

irritated.

His nose was

stuffy,

and

itchy, dry,

whether he was indoors or out. His

forehead itched. Erik found himself lethargic with the hay fever and

he had slept ten hours the night before. This was extremely unusual for

him

was generally a very high energy person. Since the

since he

hay fever began, he was ness. Erik

which

grass,

irritable

was given Sabadilla,

and felt victimized by this acute a

remedy made from

a

ill-

Mexican

helpful for spasmodic sneezing, nasal congestion,

is

itching inside the nose,

and profuse watery

nasal discharge.

The

sneezing and itching were relieved completely within two days. briefly experienced a swelling

He

of the nasal passages, which passed.

Todd Todd, a 26 year old computer programmer, lamented, "I'm to everything that's not food during all

the time.

itchy, puffy,

He was

allergic

hay fever season!" His nose ran

using half a box of tissue a day. His eyes were

and watery.

He

suffered

from a post-nasal drip which

made

his throat sore.

fever,

causing a pressing headache. His symptoms were definitely

He was generally tired and wiped out with the hay

worse outdoors. fever.

In the past

it

had lasted on and off for four months. This time

he saw his homeopath

bout

ever.

He

His sinuses sometimes swelled with the hay

after

only a few days since

this

was

his

worst

reported that he had "tried everything" orthodox

medicine had to offer him. Todd received Allium cepa (onion).

(Think about what happens you'll

works

know just for a

hay

watery eyes and his

to

you when you

the kind of hay fever fever,

lots

slice

an onion, and

which needs Allium

of sneezing.) Todd called three days

nose was no longer running.

remedy, he experienced

lots

The

first

day

all

later to say

after starting the

of sneezing, which passed quickly. Then

he had a few mild headaches and pressure behind his time he called,

cepa. It

or a cold, that runs like a faucet, with itchy,

eyes.

By

the

of the symptoms had gone away.

Treating the Underlying Cause ofIllness

Homeopaths

symptoms are begins from a mental or emotional trauma. The

find that the root of illness, even if the

only physical, often

What homeopath searches

for the state

The World

In

Is

Homeopathy? 17

o^ each individual that allows that

person to be susceptible to particular symptoms. This state gives to a vulnerability that can subsequently result in disease.

occurs on a mental/emotional

occur on any

level,

The

rise

state

however the repercussions can

level.

Each homeopathic medicine is characterized by a particular state of mind. Each person,

any given point

at

in time, also experiences a

particular state. This state reflects that individual's response to the

world around him and permeates

and

how that person acts,

talks, thinks,

Imagine that a young boy goes on a rafting

feels.

trip

father

and older brother. The rapids become very swift, the

turns,

and

The

his brother

is

thrown off the

older brother screams at

him

raft into

with his raft over-

the swirling water.

to reach out to

him, but he

is

frozen in terror. The brother is carried by the current and drowns. The young man feels an overpowering sense of helplessness and guilt. His recurrent thoughts about his brother become an obsession. He replays the event over

and over

scene. His parents

and

mind, wondering

in his

if he

could

He dreams again and again of the drowning

have saved his brother.

him

friends reassure

but he doesn't believe them.

He begins

that he did

to feel that

he

all

is

he could,

being pun-

ished by

God for having failed to save his brother. This belief that he

deserves

punishment extends

and business ventures

fail.

to each area of his

life.

His relationships

Nothing brings him happiness. He may

even carry this belief to his grave. This particular state

is

represented

by the homeopathic medicine Kali bromatum (potassium bromate). It

can

alleviate this deep-seated belief that

If this

medicine were given to

alleviated

done

all

and he would come

he could to help

In the

same way,

that a person

which

is

man,

one deserves divine wrath.

his desperate state

to understand

and believe

could be

that he

there

is

a

homeopathic medicine

for every state

might experience. Each of us experiences some

some way. These

on from one generation

states, if

to another.

untreated, are

are deeply depressed with self-destructive tendencies,

chronic alcoholics. Such a state states,

may

state

The homeopathic

medicine, Aurum metallicum (gold) can be helpful for people

found depressive

had

his brother.

limiting to us in

often passed

this

who

such

as

predispose not only to pro-

but also to a number of physical complaints

18

The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine such as sinus problems, bone pain, and sensitivity to

understanding the

state

light.

of the person, homeopaths are able to

By

treat

body, mind, and emotions simultaneously.

Casey

A mother brought in her

10 year old son Casey for help with his

excessive worrying, particularly about the family finances. also afraid that

something bad would happen

might die. This the It

fear

had begun

to his

right after he got his

neck caught in

window of the car for a minute as his mother was

was the panic which Casey experienced so

prolonged

state

He was

mother and she

rolling

it

up.

briefly that triggered a

of fear and anxiety. This child was given homeo-

pathic Aconitum napellus, and his fear was relieved.

Dynamic Healing Through Homeopathy The simillimum catalyzes a dynamic process of healing. In acute illnesses, your symptoms may disappear within minutes or hours. For example, a boy awakens screaming in pain in the middle of the night with a fever of 1 03 degrees, complaining of terrible pain in his right ear.

The

comfort. If the

parents desperately rest

want

of his symptoms

fit

to relieve their son's dis-

the homeopathic remedy,

Belladonna (deadly nightshade), he will usually fall right asleep and

wake up the next morning as

if nothing

had happened. The parents

how rapidly the healing occurs. may take longer. A patient that her headaches become may find longstanding migraines

are often surprised at

In chronic illnesses, the recovery

with less

frequent and milder within a week or two of beginning

opathic treatment, but they

more months. sclerosis

home-

may not go away completely for one or

Patients suffering

from severe

arthritis or multiple

may find some relief very quickly, but the healing will con-

months or years until their symptoms and overall well-being are stabilized and significantly improved. Homeopathy can also produce dynamic changes on the tinue to occur over

mental and emotional

levels.

and humiliation from being

A woman who has held in her anger a victim of incest as a child

with homeopathic treatment, that she

is

may find,

finally able to express

her

What rage in a healthy way.

The World

In

Is

Homeopathy?

A man who has experienced panic attacks so

severe that he cannot shop in the supermarket, can, with

opathy, often regain his peace of

normal

life.

mind and once

home-

again lead a

Even deep mental and emotional imbalances such

as

comhomeopath v.

depression, attention deficit disorder, extreme jealousy, and pulsive handwashing, frequently respond very well to If the

simillimum

toms have persisted

is

found, cure will result even

for a

if your

number of years. Homeopathy

symp-

taps the

inherent power of the vital force within each person to bring about

healing and lasting change. Discovering the correct remedy

finding just the right key for a lock. Even closed for years, once the key

homeopaths

is

found,

alike are continually

amazed

if

it

is

like

the door has been

opens. Patients and

at the

power of homeo-

pathic medicines.

Suppression Versus Cure Suppression occurs

toms on one

when

level,

treatment apparently removes symp-

a

but causes them to appear

often deeper, level. If the

symptoms on

a

more

is

prevented from expressing

superficial level,

recourse than to generate

common

body

at a different,

symptoms

it

at a

may

have no other

deeper one.

Many

treatments in orthodox medicine, such as hydrocorti-

sone cream for eczema, laser treatment for venereal warts, or antihistamines for allergy-induced nasal discharge, are potentially suppressive.

Some

people can receive these conventional

medications and interventions without experiencing suppression.

For others, the treatment will make the person even

sicker.

Helen Helen, age 53, developed an acute skin condition called erythema

nodosum at age 30. A large, legs.

red, irritated area

appeared on one of her

She was hospitalized and given intravenous antibiotics and cor-

ticosteroids. Shortly after she

began to

feel

was discharged from the

hospital, she

pain in her joints. This pain, diagnosed as arthritis,

plagued her for more than twenty years.

homeopathic care that her

arthritis

It

was only when she sought

was considerably relieved As her

19

20 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine joint pains improved,

Helen

briefly re-experienced a rash similar to

erythema nodusum on her face and hands. The rash went away and so did her joint pains.

The phenomenon of suppression

has been observed by

opaths since the time of Hahnemann and has become

home-

much more

prevalent due to the increasing strength of pharmaceuticals and

widespread self-treatment with topical hydrocortisone preparations.

Whether state

or not a treatment will be suppressive depends

on your

of health, the strength of your resistance to disease, and the

intensity

and duration of the treatment.

Another

common way

that suppression occurs

is

through the

use of products such as antiperspirants and antihistamines. Dis-

charges are the body's

way to vent waste and the products of disease.

In certain susceptible individuals, suppressing a discharge will lead to

more

serious health problems.

Jamie Jamie, age 9, was brought to us by his parents because of left hip

pain which caused

him to

limp.

even hip surgery, without

the picture of the homeopathic medicine, Silica

child

and

Soon

after receiving the

fit

He had received conventional care, He was a sensitive and delicate

relief.

(flint).

medicine, the hip pain quickly resolved.

We did not see Jamie again for two years. At that time, his parents brought him back for another pletely for

gone

until the previous

no apparent reason.

told us that he

visit.

His hip pain had been com-

few weeks, then suddenly returned

When we questioned Jamie thoroughly, he

had begun

to have

body odor

recently

mother had bought him an antiperspirant. Soon using

it,

larly

susceptible to

his hip pain returned. Patients illness

needing

and that

after

his

he started

Silica are particu-

from suppressed perspiration. He

stopped using the antiperspirant, we repeated the

Silica,

and

his

hip pain again went away quickly.

Your body,

in

its

attempt to keep your symptoms

at the

most

superficial level possible, frequently develops skin eruptions as

its

What defense. Infants

first

they are is

first

may

The World

In

Is

Homeopathy? 21

develop eczema, either at birth or

when

introduced to cow's milk ot formula. If the cow's milk

removed or the child

is

treated homeopathically, the

eczema

usually resolve readily. If the child's

cortisone cream, the eruption

and

eczema will

treated with hydro-

is

itch disappear, but the allergic

tendency remains. Homeopaths have observed that infants treated in this

way may go on

more

to develop asthma, a

condition. Although the eczema

is

serious allergic

gone, the child

is

much

less

more hydrocortisone being deeper mental and emotional

healthy. If suppression continues, with

given to suppress the asthma, then a

problem, such

as severe depression,

may eventually occur.

The body has a reason for generating particular symptoms as part of its attempt to cure the illness. Some medical doctors are beginning to recognize this phenomenon of suppression in childhood asthma. In a study published in the medical journal Pediatrics in

1

99 1 the authors ,

speculated that a type of paralysis in asthmatic children

due

to suppression

by asthma medications such

may in fact be

as steroids. 2

Herings Law of Cure

One of the guiding principles

in

homeopathy

is

Herings law of cure,

named after Constantine Hering, an early American homeopath of German origin. Herings law states that cure proceeds from top to bottom, from inside out, from most important organs to tant organs,

many cases do, and these principles are

often useful in determining whether the idea behind Herings

keep symptoms

your

impor-

and from most recent to oldest symptoms. Although every

case does not follow this order,

The

least

at the

Law

most

remedy is working

that your

body

is

superficial level possible

overall health, function,

mechanism will attempt to

is

properly.

always trying to

and

to

promote

and freedom of action. Your defense

heal

and balance first those structures and

functions that have the greatest impact

on your health and well-being.

Mary Mary

suffered

had used

from eczema during most of her

life.

topical hydrocortisone to control the itching,

that covered her face, neck, torso

For years she

burning rash

and arms. The eczema was worse

22 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine in the

bends of her joints and the creases in her

aggravated by bathing and perspiration.

Her

skin.

Mary stopped

skin was

the hydro-

cortisone before taking her homeopathic medicine. In response to

remedy and discontinuing the hydrocortisone, Mary's eczema

the

came out fiercely. The outbreak lasted for ten a

Mary was given

days.

mild moisturizing cream made from marigold flowers to soothe,

but not suppress, the eruption.

Then the rash started to clear from the top down. It left her face and moved down to her neck. Then it began to clear from her torso and became worse on her arms. As the worse, the

eczema

symptoms on

finally

moved down

became worse, her arms

rash

on her arms became much

the neck and trunk began to clear up.

As her hands

the arms to the hands.

started to

become

less itchy.

The

Slowly, over six

months, the eczema finished clearing from her body and did not return.

Often mental and emotional symptoms, which occur at a deeper than physical symptoms, will be alleviated

level ical

symptoms, such

as a skin

first.

In

fact,

the phys-

eruption or a nasal or vaginal discharge

may temporarily become worse. When this occurs, it is important to be patient instead of attempting to eliminate the physical problem.

Susan Susan responded very well to the remedy Lachesis for a

to

left

ovarian

She did not need the surgery that had been recommended prior

cyst.

homeopathic treatment. Several months after her cyst disappeared,

a rash developed

on her

face

and on the skin

just over

both

ovaries.

Despite her discomfort from itching and swelling, she resisted her friend s advice to consult with a dermatologist. that

it

was important that she not suppress the

Her intuition told her rash.

She understood

that suppressing the rash could result in the return of her cyst.

homeopath confirmed her wait,

and

that the rash

intuition

would disappear in

How Is Homeopathy Different From Homeopathic medicine is based on

time,

Her

that

it

was best

which

it

did.

and told her

to

Conventional Medicine?

entirely different concepts than

conventional Western medicine. Conventional medicine uses syn-

What thetic drugs.

In

The World

Is

Homeopathy? 23

Homeopathy uses only natural medicines based on

the

law of similars.

medicine

Conventional

aims

destroy

to

viruses, control physiological processes,

tions within the range necessary to sustain believes that

all

life.

these goals can be accomplished

the individual's resistance

medicine specializes

in

and healing

Homeopathy

by strengthening

abilities.

Conventional

understanding the functions and

of discrete parts of the body.

and

bacteria

and maintain body func-

Homeopathy specializes

illnesses

in treating

the whole person.

Conventional physicians often give

one time, each

Homeopaths

to control a different

give only

many different medicines at

organ or physiologic process.

one medicine

at a time. Allopathic

(non-

may have serious side effects. Homeopathic may produce additional symptoms during the course of

homeopathic) drugs medicines

treatment, but these are rarely serious or harmful. Conventional

medicine evaluates

its

rate

diate condition resolves.

of success based on whether the imme-

Homeopathy attempts

to eliminate not

only the immediate condition, but also the underlying susceptibility,

and

to

promote long-term

health.

Notes 1

Hahnemann

S.,

Organon ofMedicine. Sixth Edition, Los Angeles:

J. P.

Tarcher, 1982, pg. 10.

Shahar, E, sis

Hwang,

P,

Niesen, C, Murphy, E, "Poliomyelitis-like Paraly-

During Recovery from Acute Bronchial Asthma:

and Risk

Factors."

Ped 1991;88:276-279.

Possible Etiology

"

li

Homeopathy cures a

larger percentage of cases than

any other

form of treatment.

— Mahatma Gandhi

Why Choose Homeopathy? Homeopathy is Highly Effective In acute

and chronic

disease,

whether the symptoms are physical,

homeopathy produces subtle, yet often draFrom newborns to centenarians, most people can benefit from homeopathy. Homeopaths treat common illnesses such mental, or emotional, matic, healing.

as allergies,

asthma, digestive disorders, gynecologic problems, skin

conditions, insomnia, chronic fatigue, headaches,

homeopath can

and arthritis.

find the simillimum for the individual,

If the

most diseases

with reversible pathology can be treated. Even chronic autoimmune or hereditary diseases such as diabetes, scleroderma, psoriasis,

systemic lupus erythematosis

may respond

ment, especially in the early stages of the

Although homeopaths prescribe than the specific disease

homeopathic

and

treat-

disease.

for the

state, injuries

colds, flus, fevers, sore throats,

to

whole person rather

and acute

illnesses,

such

as

and bronchitis can improve very

quickly with homeopathic treatment.

Homeopaths know

that

antibiotics are not the only successful treatment for infections. Ear infections, conjunctivitis, bladder infections, vaginal infections, boils,

and

ment.

cellulitis

Many

nessing

its

frequently respond well to homeopathic treat-

people have

rapid action

come

to respect

on a painful

homeopathy

after wit-

sore throat or the relief provided

by the homeopathic medicine Arnica montana (Leopard's bane) after

an injury.

In cases of kidney stones, gall bladder disease, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, the need for surgery

prompt homeopathic treatment. surgery

more advanced or emergency cases,

may be the treatment of choice. Even when

to heal the

the

body is unable

problem completely, the symptoms of these illnesses, such as

bleeding, inflammation,

When

In

and

may sometimes be avoided with

surgery

is

and

pain, can often be significantly

necessary, homeopathic medicines such

25

improved as

Arnica

26 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine can help prevent excessive bleeding and speed healing after surgery.

Homeopathy can often provide benefit to patients with neurologic conditions such as Bell's palsy (a type of facial paralysis),

syndrome, twitches, numbness, and sciatica,

epilepsy, carpal tunnel

and other kinds of nerve pain. rosis,

It

may sometimes help multiple scle-

Parkinsonism, and other more serious neurologic diseases.

Even homeopaths are sometimes surprised at what homeopathy can accomplish,

as in the following case:

Elizabeth Elizabeth, a 2 V2 year old girl tic

was diagnosed with cerebral

quadriplegia, blindness, deafness,

genitally small head).

rolled her

con-

to the age

of two,

2% milk and weighing only nineteen pounds. Eliza-

beth was "in her

and

(a

Her mother had taken drugs throughout her

pregnancy Elizabeth had been malnourished up being fed only

palsy, spas-

and microencephaly

own world". She plugged her ears with her fingers to side. Her eyeballs moved in differ-

head from side

ent directions. She hated being touched or bathed and was terrified

of having her diaper changed. Elizabeth could not walk, crawl, or

sit,

and was

able to

make

only spastic movements of her arms. She never stopped moving her

arms unless she was tress

to

fall

asleep.

asleep.

improvement was

She slammed her head against the mat-

Her homeopath had no

possible,

how much

idea

but he studied the case and prescribed

When

was no

Tarentula hispanica.

(Spanish spider).

improvement

after five

weeks,

was

He restudied the child's symptoms carefully and then

incorrect.

there

was evident that the

it

remedy

first

prescribed Stramonium. Five weeks later her mother called

him

to

communicate the changes. Elizabeth no longer minded being touched. She loved to play with water now, though she still screamed when she was bathed. She had begun to crawl. She was no longer slamming her head against the mattress. She was to get into a sitting position or to

Three days crawled

later

five feet across

bend her

still

unable

torso.

her mother reported that Elizabeth had the living

room

floor!

Four months

later she

was making some vocal sounds and could crawl on her stomach

Why Choose Homeopathy? 27 using her arms. Nine months after being given the correct

microencephaly. Her head she

still

size

was

now just over normal. Nor was

categorized as having cerebral palsy or quadriplegia. She

the full use of her arms

weeks. She was

still

and had been

had

actively crawling for seven

blind and had a 70 percent hearing impairment.

She was able to hold her head up and

ued

homeo-

Elizabeth no longer carried the diagnosis of

pathic remedy,

to be mildly retarded

and

a year

in a high chair.

sit

and

a half later

She contin-

was doing well

in a special education class in the public school system.

Opponents of homeopathy often suggest

that

its

effectiveness

has not been scientifically proven in double blind studies, but this is

not

so.

In a 1991 review article in the British Medical Journal, a

group of Dutch researchers evaluated 107 controlled research studies ical

on homeopathy

journals between

showed

that

had been published

1966 and 1990.

1

clinical

in

med-

Eighty one of the studies

positive results (76 percent) in such conditions as respira-

tory and other infections, digestive disorders, influenza, hay fever,

recovery after surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and psychological problems. Although the authors of the article thought that

some of the

which they rated

showed

research

methodology was flawed,

best, fifteen

in the studies

out of twenty- two (68 percent)

still

positive results.

Homeopathy for Cancer and

AIDS

Homeopathic journals from the nineteenth century record cases of cancer treated effectively with studies have

homeopathy 2 however no modern ,

been conducted. The medico-legal environment makes

cancer treatment a perilous proposition for the practitioner.

Some

cancer patients seek out homeopathic treatment in addition to surgery,

chemotherapy and

radiation. In such cases,

homeopathy

serves to reduce the side effects of the allopathic treatments

stimulate the

body

to relieve pain

and

to

promote healing

and

to

to the

greatest extent possible.

Homeopaths

treat

treated patients with

London, has

people

who

are HIV-positive

AIDS. Michael

Strange, a

and have

also

homeopath

treated seventy HIV-positive patients, sixteen of

in

whom

28 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine have been under treatment for two to four years. to develop

symptoms of AIDS.

cess in treating patients

None has gone on

In addition, he

had had some suc-

who have AIDS. During

1990, only five out

of fifty of his patients died of the disease. 3 In cases of

ment

are

HIV

infection, patients

sometimes able to maintain

under homeopathic

their health

treat-

and energy and

delay progression to AIDS. In a study at Bastyr University in Seattle,

HIV-positive patients

who

received natural therapies, including

homeopathy, increased their survival

and

their quality

of life

as

patients receiving conventional treatment alone. 4

compared with Since few

rate

AIDS

patients have chosen to use

homeopathy

as their

only form of therapy, effectiveness has been difficult to evaluate.

Homeopathy For Mental And Emotional Problems Homeopathy

starts a process

Homeopathic medicine can be very depression, grief, phobias, chiatric disorders

such

with developmental

of transformation in your

disorders.

as autism, the behavioral

disabilities

take

problems associated

Facilities

more

a

do not

and emotional problems homeo-

and controlled environment. Experienced home-

on some of

especially if there

environment.

Deeper psy-

and schizophrenia have

guarded prognosis, but can sometimes be helped.

pathically in a safe

life.

successful in treating anxiety,

and other mental

yet exist to treat severe mental

may

just

your physical health. The homeopathic remedy

in

can be a catalyst that

opaths

more than

has the potential for producing far

improvements

is

on an outpatient

basis,

for the patient in her

home

these cases

enough support

During the nineteenth century,

homeopathic

mental hospitals flourished and provided some of the most

humane and effective treatment available for mental patients.

John

One

night, nearly ten years ago, a patient called a

practitioner in a panic. She

and he had

lost his

had broken up with her boyfriend, John

job the same day.

suicide note. In the note

homeopathic

He disappeared,

he said that his

life

was

leaving her a

a failure

and he was

going to jump off a bridge. She was about to leave to search for him

Why Choose Homeopathy? 29 and wanted

know if there was anything that could be prescribed

to

him out of his desperate state. The homeopath suggested the remedy Aurum metallicum, made from gold, This medicine is for

to help

people

who

feel a

deep sense of

commit

often wish to

ceive to be bleak

and

failure

suicide to escape

and depression, and who

from

a

life

which they

hopeless. She notified the police

found him on the bridge, contemplating arrived just in time to save him.

per-

and they

his leap. Luckily they

They brought him back and he was

cowering in a corner. She gave him a dose of Aurum. Within a few hours he no longer

felt suicidal.

He

continued with homeopathic

treatment and became a successful architect.

Rosa Rosa, a 50 year old Mexican

woman, complained of terrible anxiety.

She had become extremely anxious two years before when her hus-

band

suffered a heart attack. She

was

terrified that

he would

die.

Since that time she was afraid to go anywhere without him, even

though he encouraged her ities

to

do

that she previously enjoyed.

so.

She abandoned

doing something wrong. She knew her did not

make

all

of the activ-

She was always afraid that she was fears

were

the situation any better. She

irrational,

had

but that

tried anti-anxiety

medications without benefit. She was given Phosphorus. She has

now resumed tennis and engagements with friends. She feels much better about herself, can

ning a

trip to

go on long

trips

without

fear,

and

is

plan-

Mexico.

Homeopaths are quite successful deficit disorder and

with attention

in treating children

diagnosed

related behavioral disorders.

These children often manifest unusual and unique symptoms,

which allows the homeopath

to

more easily find

the correct remedy.

Sharon Sharon, age 16, was referred to a homeopath by her family practice physician because of a five year history of attention deficit disorder.

She remembered being sent out of the classroom

in

kindergarten for

30 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine talking too sixth grade.

much. She had been on stimulant medication Sharon hated taking

it.

She didn't

since the

feel like herself,

even

while on the medicine. Without the medication, Sharon was unable to focus, or

pay attention. She became distracted

movement, which made

it

easily

hard for her to take

by noise or

tests in school.

When talking to someone, her eyes became tired and she stared into space.

She complained of talking without thinking. She told herself

to be quiet, but blurted out her thoughts or feelings anyway.

couldn't stop herself.

It

was sometimes embarrassing

though much of the time she had

how

little, if any,

She

to her,

self awareness

about

she acted with other people. She was unaware of how loudly

she spoke and people around her

would say "shhh...."

Sharon was always fidgeting and clicked her nails

on her

hugged, and pulled

She constantly

fiddling.

teeth or tapped her fingers. She poked,

at other people,

annoying them. She couldn't

keep her hands to herself and was always moving some part of her body.

"It's

not

me

that's

doing these things," she

said. "I

wouldn't

ever be touchy or pokey." Sharon often acted childishly.

At times Sharon

felt

was always moving

so hyperactive that she

her fingers, bouncing her knee, or skipping down the hall to release the pent

up

energy. She

had so much energy inside

screaming. She described "as if the

energy

is

it

as feeling frustrated

that she felt like

and out of control,

trapped and has to be pushed out."

Sharon described herself as

"a

major procrastinator," regardless

of whether she was on medication or not. She was gullible and asked

"dumb

questions," even though she was very bright

grade point average. .Often the answers just didn't

and had a 3.8 click.

She was

slow to get a joke.

Her

fingers

and

loved pickles and ate

toes

were always cold when she

skied.

Sharon

them straight from the jar. She used to eat a lot

of salt and lemons. She also liked to suck on

ice.

Sharon discontinued the stimulant medication and took Vera-

trum album (white hellebore) and returned doing extremely well. Her

in five weeks.

She was

test grades were improving. The last time

she had tried to stop taking the medicine, she had gotten

remarked that she had found our parking

lot

all

F s. She

without directions,

something she could normally do only while on the stimulant med-

Why Choose Homeopathy? Her parents reported that her energy was much more positive.

ication.

She no longer stared blankly. Her friends told her that she "wasn't crazy as she used to be." She was not as fidgety

more controlled. She now had "a real appetite" urges.

anymore and

felt

as

a lot

instead of just sporadic

She was no longer poking, hugging, and pulling other people.

Her leg wasn't restless anymore and she had stopped clicking her nails against her teeth. She didn't have "that special taste" for pickles any-

more, but she was

still

thirsty

and procrastinated just as much.

Sharon was given another dose of the Veratrum three months later after eating coffee-flavored

A

remedy.

year

later,

candy that interfered with the

she continued to do remarkably well. She

began to experience some sensations and

was a

since she

noticed

when

little girl.

tastes that she

she became hyperactive and could stop

had been unable

to

do before the homeopathy.

opened the curtains and

had not had

She was no longer staring into space. She

let

me

see."

She was

it,

which she

"It's like

somebody

now

able to notice

when her voice got loud and quieted down. She became fidgety only once in a while. Sharon was a changed young woman. As you experience the are likely to experience

sharper

benefits of homeopathic treatment,

more

you

energy, to have a clearer mind, a

memory, and more balanced emotions. After being given

remedy, homeopathic patients often report,

a

myself

"I feel like

You may not even notice all the changes in yourself at first, but others will. They may ask, "What did you do for yourself? You seem so happy and healthy!" You may also respond differently to others. You may find that you are more tolerant with people who again."

used to

you.

irritate

one who used

to

You may also

find yourself standing

Sometimes these changes take some getting used tionships

may shift as your internal

yourself being

and

this

givers. let

less

patterns change.

dependent on others

can be disconcerting to those

You

up

to

some-

dominate you.

are likely to be stronger

the people around

you know

as

who

you

rela-

find

to.

your health improves

and more

that

Your

You may

have been your careresilient. It

is

good

to

are going through a heal-

ing process, that they can expect you to be different, and that you

might be making some changes

in

your

life

that

may surprise them.

3

1

32 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathy and psychotherapy often work well together. This combination of therapies

is

especially

important in people who have

been sexually abused or have experienced other types of trauma and

need extensive help

to process these experiences. Patients

with

anorexia or bulimia or with chemical dependencies also benefit

most from using both

therapies.

Homeopathic treatment can speed

the process of psychotherapy by allowing the patient to access

deeper issues more quickly. Patients often

make

psychological

breakthroughs using homeopathy and subsequently decide to begin

psychotherapy to explore their issues on a deeper level. Psychother-

apy allows people to process the

feelings that

come up

as

become healthier emotionally during the homeopathic process. chotherapy also helps patients integrate into their that result

lives

they Psy-

the changes

from homeopathic treatment.

Callie Callie, age 35,

came from an

abusive, alcoholic

home. Her parents

always told her that she was ugly and couldn't do anything right. She eventually believed them. She

demeaning job and sulted a

went from one oppressive and

relationship to another.

homeopath, she was

By

the time she con-

suicidally depressed

and very

angry.

She hated her boss. She didn't have the courage to stand up to him to his face,

but she would go

her lungs.

A

home and

swear at him at the top of

combination of treatment with homeopathic Ana-

cardium (marking nut) and intensive work with a psychotherapist helped to relieve her suicidal feelings and allow her to itive

about her own

same

abilities.

boss, but realizes that

move on

At this

it is

time, she

is still

feel

more pos-

working for the

only a matter of time before she will

to a job that better suits her.

Ashley Ashley, a

37 year old kindergarten

teacher,

was

referred for

homeo-

pathic treatment by her psychotherapist because of depression, profuse menstrual bleeding, chronic

abuse. She complained to her

muscle pain, and a history of sexual

homeopath of a painful whiplash injury

Why Choose Homeopathy? which occurred during a recent ther,

car accident.

Ashley recounted a history of a

the history of accidents Ashley's right eye, her

When questioned fur-

of car accidents. Hearing

series

and noticing the broken blood

homeopath began

to consider the

remedy Arnica montana, mentioned previously as for trauma, whiplash, bruising, bleeding

a

and muscle

vessel in

homeopathic

major remedy soreness.

Ashley shared that each time her sexual abuser had assaulted he would push her

her,

down on

would feel Knowing that an

the ground. She

extremely sore and bruised the following day.

individual's pattern or story frequently reflects itself in dreams, her

homeopath inquired about any recurrent dreams. Ashley dreamed jumping from one

repeatedly of being a frog

next. Despite the soft surface of the lily pads,

would

she

feel

sore

and bruised. She

lily

pad

to the

wherever she landed,

dreamed of

also

car

accidents.

In an effort to understand the origin of this

homeopath inquired

theme of injury, the

any trauma during birth or

as to

Ashley reported that she was given a transfusion

in utero.

at birth, at

which

time she was separated from her mother. After receiving Arnica, not only did Ashley's muscle pain,

heavy menstrual bleeding, and depression improve, but her

dreams changed. She dreamed that she backed up her car parking

almost

lot.

hit,

in her past

Another car backed up

but they

She thought

didn't.

dreams the two

Ashley reported,

this

at the

cars

this

would

was curious because

collide.

very incident occurred in

accident was avoided. This

is

the level of

in a

same time and they

The

next day,

real life

and an

reprogramming

that

is

possible with homeopathy.

The homeopath then

inquired as

to

whether Ashley's

mother experienced any traumas or accidents during her pregnancy with Ashley. Ashley didn't know back the next day

mother was four or

after five

at the time,

speaking with her mother.

months pregnant with

husband were on the way

to an

but called

When

her, she

appointment with the

her

and her

obstetri-

when a trailer truck pulled out and headed straight towards them. The only way they could avoid an accident was for her hus-

cian

band

to

immediately veer off the road.

It

was

a frightening expe-

33

34 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine rience for both of them

and may have

dents and trauma in Ashley's

theme of acci-

initiated the

life.

Homeopathyfor Animals Opponents of homeopathy say only as a placebo, but so well to

if this

were

that

homeopathic medicines

true,

why would animals respond

act

homeopathic treatment? A number of homeopathy books

have been written by veterinarians, of whom a small, but growing,

number now incorporate homeopathy into

We

their practices.

have found excellent success in treating our

own

animals

with homeopathy over the past ten years.

Jasmine

Our

month old golden retriever puppy, Jasmine, began to limp after we took her jogging for a couple of days. The veterisix

narian diagnosed her condition as osteochondritis dessicans, an

inflammation of the

no

that she be given

cartilage.

The

exercise for a

veterinarian

recommended

few weeks and that surgery

would probably be needed. We treated her with Calcarea phosphorica, a well known remedy for bone and cartilage problems. Several days later she was

puppy

self.

Now,

bouncing around

her exuberant

like

three years later, she jogs with us regularly

and

has had no further problems.

We also have a

13 year old golden retriever

Every time she went backpacking with cold stream she could find.

us,

she

named

Leila Rose.

would lie in every icy,

We would wake the next morning in our

tent to find Leila stiff and shivering.

By

the time

we

got home, she

could barely jump out of our station wagon. She would limp inside the door

and fall into a heap. She was

not even walk up the shivering. This first

stairs to

so stiff and sore that she could

happened when she was

very frightened that she might die.

emergency room. They

didn't

thought about what caused

lie

limp and

six years old.

We were

her dinner. She would just

We

took her to a veterinary

know what was wrong with her. We

this state

and realized

tion of her exposure to the cold streams

it

was a combina-

and overexertion.

We gave

her homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron and she was back to her

Why Choose Homeopathy? playful self within hours. Leila has continued to benefit

from Rhus

toxicodendron for the past seven years.

Homeopathy Is Safe

Homeopathy is one of the safest forms of medicine, even nant women, infants, and the

elderly.

when

substance in nature disappear

homeopathically. In order for

medicine, the substance

is

Any toxic effects

it

that substance

to be

made

into a

for preg-

of a crude

is

prepared

homeopathic

diluted sufficiently to eliminate

all

toxic effects.

many children have swallowed an entire bottle of homeopathic medicine, with no ill effects. HomeoBecause

it

tastes like candy,

pathic medicines do not cause allergic reactions. If a person repeat-

edly takes a specific homeopathic medicine that

is

not appropriate

him or her, it is possible for that individual to begin to experience some new symptoms, called proving symptoms, but this rarely occurs when a patient is treated by an experienced prescriber. When proving symptoms do occur, they are generally mild and usually disappear when the medicine is stopped. Homeopathic medicines are recognized by the United States Food and Drug Administration to for

be so safe that most are

classified as over the

counter medicines.

Homeopathy is Cost Effective Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, homeopathic medicines are very inexpensive. years

is

Enough homeopathic medicine

likely to cost less

cost of homeopathy

is

to last several

months or

than a single course of antibiotics. The main

the office

visit.

Many people consider home-

treatment options.

when compared with the other available Homeopathy may prevent future hospitalizations

by keeping you

good

opathic treatment a bargain

in

health, resulting in substantial long-term

savings. Patient visits are generally infrequent tional medicine, acupuncture,

and

compared

to

conven-

chiropractic care.

Insurance reimbursement for homeopathy depends on the terms of your policy and the license of your practitioner. If your

company does not

cover your homeopathic practitioner, you

may

wish to request that the coverage be added to your policy or consider switching insurance companies. Even

if

homeopathic treatment

is

35

36 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine not covered by your insurance,

many

patients find that

well

it is

worth the additional expense. Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska

set

up

a series of

town

meetings throughout the state of Washington to find out what type

of medical treatment people wanted.

A

large

number of people

attending these meetings strongly expressed their desire to have

homeopathic medicine covered by

their insurance,

which

led Blue

Cross of Washington to establish, in 1994, their Alternapath pilot

program covering homeopathy, naturopathy, and acupuncture. Hopefully other companies will follow suit.

Homeopathy Can Enhance the Effects of Conventional Medicine

When conventional medicine is necessary, homeopathy can still be of great benefit. If you take the remedy Arnica before and surgery,

your healing process will generally be

seen this repeatedly with

many

and plastic surgery. Sur-

geons are often surprised that their patients little

use

homeopathy

often relieve the nausea which results as a side

from chemotherapy. In

remedies

who

or no pain medication after surgery and recover quickly.

Homeopathy can effect

much faster. We have

types of surgery, including dental

surgery, repair of fractures, hysterectomies,

need

after

homeopathic

cases of terminal illness,

may ease the transition

into death.

Madeline Robert was able to attend his mother

month of her life

as she

at her

bedside during the

last

was dying from lung cancer. Although the

cancer had metastasized and

it

was no longer possible

death, her suffering was considerably relieved.

to prevent her

One

of her main

problems, towards the end, was difficulty in breathing due to mucus congestion in her lungs. She had been prescribed morphine and sco-

palamine patches to ease her breathing.

The morphine made

her

drowsy and the scopalamine caused confusion and hallucinations. Robert prescribed the homeopathic medicine Carbo (charcoal)

which helped her breathe more

easily,

vegetabilis

making the other

medications unnecessary. She was able to die peacefully at home,

Why Choose Homeopathy? 37 surrounded by her family,

free

of pain, and was lucid until just

before she died.

Notes Kleijnan J, Knipschild,

1

P,

ter Riet G., "Clinical Trials

of Homeopathy."

Brit MedJ 1991; 302:316-323.

2

Murphy

R.,

Homeopathic Medicine and Cancer, Portland: Murphy,

1983.

Homeopathic Medical

3 Ullman, D., Address to the California

Society,

April 2 1,1992.

4 Standish L, Guiltanan J, Trial

McMahon E,

Lindstrom,

C, "One Year Open

of Naturopathic Treatment of HIV Infection Class IV-A in men."

J Naturopathic Med,

1992;3:42-64.

"

"Poisons

kill.

Poisons cure. It

depends on how

you use them.

—

Indian sage.

From Snake Venom to Squid Ink The Source ofHomeopathic Medicines Homeopathic remedies the exotic to the is

from

collected

are derived

from substances ranging from

mundane. The material plants, animals,

is

making homeopathic medicines and

symptoms

that

it

homeopathic remedies

and minerals from

world. Everything in the natural world to

for

all

game when

fair

over the it

comes

will act curatively if the

causes in a healthy person

match those of the

person being treated.

Nux vomica, a remedy for ambitious, people with spasmodic symptoms,

comes from

a plant

hard driving, workaholic

irritability

and

from the Phillippines known

as

sleeplessness,

Quaker's but-

tons or poison nut. Arnica montana, for bruises, sprained ankles

and traumatic

injuries,

comes from

a pretty yellow flower that

grows in the mountains, where such injuries are Sepia

irritable,

morning

are feeling depressed,

weepy, and have lost their sex drive.

They may suffer from

sickness, hot flashes, or menstrual or liver problems.

Patients needing Sepia generally feel exercise. Sepia

comes from squid

over a century ago.

ink,

Women who

much

better after vigorous

which was used

in quill

pens

repeatedly licked the quills to

moisten their pens developed these symptoms. sionally

likely to occur.

women who

primarily a remedy for

is

Men also may occa-

need Sepia.

Ted Ted sought help for a chronic hepatitis that drained him of his energy

He

was a triathlete, but his fatigue left him unable to compete, even though he found exercise exhilarating. Ted was skinny, sallow, and looked very sad.

During the course of the

that his

first

homeopathic

Ted

revealed

symptoms had begun while he was working as a prep cook 39

..

interview,

in a

40 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine natural foods restaurant. His job, each day,

was

squid to be served as a macrobiotic delicacy.

up hundreds of

to cut

The more he handled the

squid, the sicker he became. His direct contact with the squid, along with

symptoms, led us to prescribe Sepia. This remedy helped him

his specific

to regain his stamina

Other remedies

and he was once again entering triathalons. are

made from very common

as table salt, coffee beans, sand, oyster shells,

aluminum, and

iron, copper,

medicines are

made from

example,

may

be used for

Platinum

is

the

gold.

these

substances, such

and metals including

A few currently used allopathic

same substances. Gold

difficult cases

shots, for

of rheumatoid

main constituent of a widely used drug

arthritis.

for cancer

treatment.

Poisons as Medicine

venom of the become nontoxic when prepared

Even extremely poisonous substances such Bushmaster snake

{Lachesis),

as the

homeopathically.

Natalie Natalie, pregnant for the

first

time

at age 33,

opath for severe varicose veins of her

months pregnant. At the suggestion of her wearing support hose able.

What

all

the time, but

felt

no

sought out a home-

when

left leg

she was seven

obstetrician, she relief.

was

She was miser-

bothered her the most was the severe throbbing and

which was worse from standing

for even a short

time. Six days after she received Lachesis, the pain

was completely

aching of her

leg,

gone. She no longer wore support hose except stand

all

day.

when

ered a healthy

little girl.

Thorn apple {Datura stramonium),

a poisonous

the source of the homeopathic medicine Stramonium to

treat

she needed to

She enjoyed the remainder of her pregnancy and deliv-

patients suffering

from hallucinations,

and

rage,

plant, is

is

known

violence,

nightmares, and strong fears of the dark or water. This remedy, due to the strongly violent nature of contemporary American culture

media,

is

prescribed with great frequency by

and

modern homeopaths.

From Snake Venom

to

Squid Ink 41

Mark Mark, age

5,

was brought

things at people,

and

conscious control.

and Mr. Hyde.

by

his

mother because of his violent

screamed, scratched, cursed, threw

bit people, all

He

child in the face. His

in

He

and abusive behavior.

of which seemed to be out of his

once pounded

mother described

When

a

developmentally disabled

his personality as Dr. Jekyll

asked what he most liked to do,

Mark

when he was

angry,

responded, "Kill dinosaurs." This child cursed

which happened every ing,

day.

Mark also had facial

tics,

tongue

and grimaces. After being given Stramonium, Mark's

grimaces disappeared within one month.

He

click-

tics

and

completely stopped

cursing and had only rare angry outbursts, with none of the previ-

ous violence and intensity.

Who ivy?

can forget the red, itching blistering eruptions of poison

Known as Rhus toxicodendron, poison ivy is an excellent medicine

for skin eruptions, arthritis, injuries,

Called the "rusty gate remedy," develops after exposure to cold,

it

and ailments from overexertion.

relieves joint stiffness

death.

is

one of the best reme-

and insomnia. People who have been poisoned with

become extremely

arsenic

that

damp weather or cold water.

Arsenicum album, made from arsenic, dies for anxiety

and pain

restless, chilly, agitated,

Homeopathic Arsenicum album can bring

and

terrified

of

great relief to a

person in such a state of anxiety.

Evelyn Evelyn,

64

years old,

was

in a terrible state.

from tremendous anxiety with a racing a

tremendous

fear

She had been suffering

heart, feelings

of panic, and

of being alone, which was quite unlike her usual

self. She woke at three in the morning with a dry mouth worrying about who would take care of her if she became ill.

independent

She feared that she would be taken to a mental hospital or have a heart attack or a stroke. She

felt

very jittery and had developed a ner-

vous stomach. She vacillated between feeling very hot, with needle-like sensations, to having "nervous chills." Arsenicum relieved her of the anxiety

and allowed her

album

to "feel like herself again."

42 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine

Salts

ofthe Earth

Many minerals have found their way into the homeopathic materia medica. The most common of these is table salt, known as Natrum muriaticum

.

allergies,

tis,

It is

a useful medicine for headaches, cold sores, sinusi-

and conditions

in

which the person

being out in the sun. People needing sitive

and

this

get their feelings hurt easily.

feels

worse from

remedy are extremely sen-

They isolate themselves and

cry their salty tears only in solitude.

Karen Karen's chief complaints were a rash around her rent genital herpes. She

rienced grief due to an

was

a very sensitive

unhappy childhood.

food cravings, she said she loved taking

that this

woman was a musician,

potato chips. After

skin rashes were gone,

herpes outbreaks were few and far between.

recur-

woman who had expeWhen asked about her

salty foods like

Natrum muriaticum, her

mouth and

It is

and her

interesting to note

because people needing Natrum

muriaticum are known to be very deeply affected by music. Kali carbonicum (potassium carbonate), joint pain, asthma,

and

gas. Patients

complain of a feeling of anxiety

is

a useful medicine for

needing

in their

this

remedy often

stomach. They commonly

wake at night between two and four a.m.

Doris

While on vacation, Doris developed an acute sciatica that woke her up

at three a.m. every night.

was

to get

The only way she could relieve her pain

up and walk around. Kali carbonicum

relieved the pain

considerably and allowed Doris to enjoy the rest of her travels.

From Dogs Milk to Red Ants Animal substances make an important contribution to the homeopathic materia medica. We have already mentioned honeybee and squid ink. Dog's milk (Lac caninum)

of nursing mothers.

It is

is

also useful for

helpful for breast problems

some people with low

self-

From Snake Venom esteem, a disconnected or floating sensation, and

Squid Ink 43

to

symptoms

that

alternate sides.

Ginny Ginny, age 38, suffered the devastating

due

to

loss

of her infant daughter

sudden infant death syndrome. Her breast milk continued

flow, continually

When we

reminding her of the

to

of her precious child.

gave her Lac caninum, her breast milk quickly dried up

within a few days.

Ginny went on

Red ants (Formica for eruptions that

ligencer

loss

to

have a healthy son.

rufa) are used for wandering arthritic pains

and

look like ant bites. An article in the Seattle Post-Intel-

began by saying, "A handful of ants a day keeps the doctor

away." The article explained that ants had been found to be especially effective against society,

rheumatism, according to the Chinese entomological

because of the formic acid in the insects.

More than 250,000

rheumatism sufferers had been successfully treated by using ant remedies.

Ants wander and bite. What they cause, they can cure. Theridion (the

tremendous

Orange

spider),

sensitivity to noise,

is

good

for

which seems

anyone who has

to

a

go right through

them, especially into the teeth, causing nausea and dizziness.

Danny Danny, a 5 year old boy, was brought

mother because of his insomnia.

for

homeopathic care by

his

He would wake in the middle of the When asked

night with great fear and crawl into his parents' bed.

what he was

it

was the noises outside the

house that scared him and woke him up.

He would always cover his

ears

afraid of, he replied that

when he heard loud

noises

and had

a frequent habit of making

nervous grimaces. After being treated with Theridion, able to sleep through the night

and was no longer

Danny was

fearful

of noises.

His nervous system was calmed and the grimaces disappeared.

The Homeopathic Healing Power of Plants

One of the most important sources of homeopathic medicine is the plant kingdom. Chamomile tea (Chamomilla), a common herbal

44 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine beverage, child

is

the friend of

is

in great pain

who

many

a

mother with a cranky,

irritable

from teething or an earache.

Johnny Johnny's

mom

was

at

her wit's end with her 18

because nothing pleased him.

pushed other kids who were

month

old son

He had a tough kid look on his face,

in his way,

and always seemed

wake

to

up grumpy. Johnny suffered from chronic ear infections and the doctors

were recommending myringotomy tubes. His parents remem-

bered that homeopathic Chamomilla had helped

him

in the past

with his teething. After another dose of Chamomilla, he was easier to live

much

with again and his ear infections improved dramatically.

wind flower, is highly effective in many cases of women with menstrual difficulties or irregularities. It is also used for people who are suffering from a "ripe" cold with proPulsatilla, the

gentle, tearful

fuse yellow nasal discharge. People needing Pulsatilla often feel too

hot and love the open

air.

They are

usually not very thirsty.

Susie Susie tried

homeopathy because of her mood swings and

depres-

sion.

She had recently remembered a history of sexual abuse

as a

child

and

plump and had

the

felt

very sad and angry. She was

appearance of a

little girl,

She talked about her

was very young.

fear

even though she was in her

late thirties.

of abandonment, which began when she

Susie's periods

were painful and

irregular.

She had

of gas, especially when she ate fried foods or meat. Pulsatilla helped Susie to feel much stronger within herself. Her mood swings lots

and weepiness improved, her menstrual

cycle

became

regular,

and

she could handle fried foods without indigestion,

New Remedies Even though the number of remedies still

being discovered.

is

already large,

new ones

are

New remedies are being added to information

on homeopathic remedies,

called the materia medica,

as

they are

From Snake Venom

to

Squid Ink 45

proven. Recent provings of Hydrogen, Chocolate, and Scorpion have

been conducted by a British homeopath, Jeremy Sherr. People taking

Hydrogen experienced a great feeling of lightness and exhilaration followed by a profound sense of disconnectedness. Chocolate, in

homeopathic form, tional feelings

is

useful for certain people

who have strong emo-

about mothering and being nurtured. These people

often have a strong craving for chocolate. ate

its

One woman in his study

two pounds of chocolate a day! Those proving Scorpion devel-

oped tendencies of maliciousness and most comfortable

in isolation.

antisocial behavior

and

felt

The

more homeopathic

remedies are diluted and shaken, the stronger their

action becomes.

The Unique Preparation of Homeopathic Medicines The Homeopathic Paradox: Weaker Is Stronger Homeopathic remedies and shaking known dies are diluted

are prepared

as potentization.

Hahnemann found

tized, the less often

curative action after

The more homeopathic reme-

and shaken, the stronger

Chemically, the substance becomes

however,

by a process of serial dilution

needed

it

their action

becomes.

more and more dilute.

Clinically,

that the

more

a substance

was poten-

to be given to the patient to

and the deeper was

its effect.

produce a

Now, over 150

Hahnemann's death, homeopaths continue

years

to validate this

observation and cure patients with what seem to be infinitesimally small doses of natural substances.

The

degree of dilution of homeopathic remedies

extraordinary. Imagine

one drop of ink dissolved

may seem

in ten drops of

Only 1/10 of the ink would be present. If you diluted it again, only 1 / 1 00 of the ink would remain. Barely any color would still be visible. Now, repeat this process until you have made six dilutions. Only one part per million of the original drop of ink would remain in water.

and the mixture would appear

the solution,

potency is one of the

least diluted,

colorless.

This 6x

or weakest, potencies

commonly

how dilute

drop of ink

used in homeopathic practice. Imagine

that

would be after being diluted one thousand, ten thousand or even one million times!

The "more

is

be true.

caused

popularly held better." It is

this

belief,

when

it

comes

Homeopaths have found

to medicine,

is

just the opposite to

concept of using infinitesimal doses that has

many people,

including most proponents of conventional

medicine, to reject homeopathy categorically without further investigation.

that allows

However,

homeopaths

it is

successful daily clinical experience

to accept this seemingly paradoxical

proposition as true. 47

48 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathy Potentization

The are

dilutions of the original substance are called potencies.

X potencies are diluted 99. To make an X potency,

tesimal.

to

added

to 9 parts of solvent.

original substance 1

There

two commonly used dilution scales, X or decimal, and C or cen-

is

part of the original substance

1

To make

added to 99

C potencies are diluted

and

to 9

1

a

C

potency,

1

1

is

part of the

The 6C potency is common potencies prepared range from 6C (6 dilutions) to

parts of solvent.

times as dilute as the 6X. The most

by pharmacies

in the

United States

CM (100,000 dilutions). Many homeopaths refer to potencies fo 30C

or below as low potencies and potencies of 200C or above as

high potencies.

The Importance ofSuccussion Shaking each dilution a

the crucial factor in preparation.

is

It

allows

homeopathic remedy to remain potent past the point where none

of the original molecules of the substance remain in the dilution. This vigorous shaking nally succussed each

is

known

as succussion.

remedy by rapping the

Hahnemann

origi-

vial against a large,

leatherbound book. In modern manufacturing,

it is

performed by

machine. Succussion allows the medicinal power of the substance to be

enhanced

far

beyond what

is

possible with simple dilution.

The purely chemical effect of a substance is lost as it is diluted more and more, but the homeopathic effects shaken.

With succussion,

dilution

is

stronger

and longer

lasting

remedy gets

with each successive dilution.

Hahnemann came upon

the idea of succussion after noticing

that the medicines he took with

potent than those he kept in his succuss, not just dilute, his

are released, as long as each

the homeopathic

him on house

office.

calls

were more

This observation led him to

homeopathic remedies.

How Homeopathic Medicines Are Dispensed and Sold Homeopathic remedies

are dispensed in the

dilutions, or tablets for internal use,

ments

for external use.

remedy to you

form of pellets, liquid

and salves,

Your homeopath

directly or will instruct

you

tinctures,

and oint-

will either dispense the

to obtain

it

from a home-

opathic pharmacy. Although most homeopaths in the United States

The Unique Preparation of Homeopathic Medicines 49 give the remedies in the also

form of pellets or tablets, the remedies may

be given in water.

As long

as the correct

remedy

is

patient went to her

The homeopath

any mode of One homeopathic

given, nearly

administration will produce a positive

effect.

homeopath for help with anxiety and insomnia.

prescribed Arsenicum

album

to take orally.

The

and dumped the contents of The remedy still worked.

patient misunderstood the instructions

the envelope in her bath water.

Many

herb and natural food stores and pharmacies stock

6X or 30C potency. Homeopathic pharmacies sometimes restrict the sale twenty or thirty single homeopathic remedies, usually in the

of high potency remedies to practitioners only,

as their safe use

requires adequate training. Kits of low potency remedies for

use are sold by

home

most homeopathic pharmacies.

Homeopathic Dosages

A dose

is

defined by the frequency of taking the remedy rather than

by the amount given. Your homeopath will instruct you to take a dose.

There

in deciding when If you are

are specific guidelines that

and how often

how often

homeopaths follow

to administer a particular remedy.

being treated by a homeopathic practitioner,

idea to ask her before self- administering

it is

a

good

any homeopathic medi-

cines, even for minor illnesses. Taking a homeopathic remedy at the wrong time can interfere with the healing process.

Willie Willie, 9 years old, disability

and

and aptitude

was being treated successfully

a recurrent

cough and

for learning, as

rash.

confirmed by

for a learning

His attentiveness his teachers,

improved substantially during the course of a year and

had

a half

of

homeopathic treatment with the remedy Baryta carbonica (barium carbonate). After Willie's mother prescribed several doses of Rhus toxicodendron for what she thought to be an outbreak of chicken pox, Willie relapsed within one week and needed another

dose of his original remedy.

If Willie's

mom had called his home-

opath before giving him the Rhus toxicodendron, an alternative

50 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathy could have been suggested that would have relieved the itching but

not interfered with his homeopathic treatment.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, your homeopath

may choose to administer the remedy either in a single dose, with a long period of time before repeating the medicine, or in

relatively

more frequent, perhaps even single high

potency dose

remedy given

daily, doses.

may

In other circumstances, a

be given followed by a low potency

daily or at other prescribed intervals.

The practitioner

may recommend that you continue to take the remedy for a certain time period, or that you stop taking it when you feel better. How often the dose is repeated depends on many factors including the strength of your vital force and whether

you

are taking allopathic

medications. Prescription drugs sometimes interfere with the action

of homeopathic medicines and make

necessary for your

it

home-

opath to instruct you to take your remedy more frequently. If your not very strong, or you are very sensitive to medica-

vital force

is

tions, the

remedy may be given more

potency, so as not to aggravate your

frequently, but in a lower

symptoms

unnecessarily.

Combination Remedies Combination remedies infections, sinusitis,

for teething, bedwetting, colds, flus, bladder

and other minor

don't have access to a trained

the most

common

hope that the

can be useful

if you

homeopath. Combinations contain

single remedies for a given condition, with the

single

remedy

that you

the combination. For example, a flu napelluSy

illnesses

need

will

be

among

those in

remedy might contain Aconitum

Gelsemium, Bryonia, and Eupatorium, the most prescribed

remedies for treating influenza. Teething

tablets,

produced by most

of the homeopathic pharmacies, are one the most effective of the

combination remedies.

A

large

number of

problems need Chamomilla, which in all

is

one of the remedies included

of the teething combinations.

Many people for

is

infants with teething

minor

report getting relief from combination remedies

illnesses,

but

if you

do not benefit from

because the single remedy you need

bination. This

is

is

these remedies,

it

not contained in the com-

the time to see an experienced homeopath.

Although combination remedies may be

effective in

some acute

The Unique Preparation of Homeopathic Medicines 51 they are never

illnesses,

recommended

for chronic conditions. If

taken over time, they can confuse a chronic case and cult for

make

it

diffi-

an experienced homeopath to find the correct remedy.

Experienced homeopaths find that the greatest and most long

last-

ing improvements in health result from taking the similliumum in the

form of a

single

remedy

rather than in

combination with other

remedies.

Billy

One mother complained

to a

work. Her son Billy had a

dry*,

a

homeopathic combination

Phosphorus, Drosera, Spongia, for coughs,

homeopath irritating

for

that

homeopathy

didn't

cough. She had purchased

coughs that contained Bryonia,

and Aconite,

all

but his cough did not improve.

of which are excellent

When

the

homeopath

asked about the cough, the child said he had a tickle and pointed to the base of his throat. Recognizing this to be a characteristic

tom of the medicine Rumex,

One dose was

all

that

the

was needed

homeopath gave

it

symp-

to the child.

to alleviate his cough.

Teething Children

Many crying,

teething children experience

initial relief from a

com-

bination teething remedy containing Chamomilla. Because combi-

nation remedies are low potency, they often need several doses a dav to get results. .After a

few days or weeks, mothers sometimes com-

plain that the combination

no longer works. In such

dose of Chamomilla in the combination remedy

exhausted

When

its

effectiveness

Chamomilla

potency; the effect

is

and

a higher

last

much

longer.

low

may have simply

potency may be needed.

given to these children by

may

cases, the

itself in a

higher

A common complaint

amongpatients of conventional medicine is

that their practitioners

do not listen

to

them.

You won 7 be able to say that about your homeopath.

Getting to Know the Patient from the Inside Out The Homeopathic Consultation

Homeopaths conduct an

extensive

taking lasting one to two hours thirty

minutes on return

and

careful interview or case

on the first visit and approximately

A common

visits.

patients of conventional medicine

is

complaint

that their practitioners

among do not

them. You homeopath. The purpose of the homeopathic consultation is to understand you as a whole person and how your vital force is expressing itself in won't be able to say that about your

listen to

the

form of symptoms. Your homeopath attempts

understand

to

An idiosyncrasy that you might have irrelevant may be the key your homeopath needs to

your unique symptoms. thought to be

find the right medicine for you. If you have asthma,

wheeze and

feel tightness in

your

chest.

The

you

fact that

wheeze at the seashore, when you hold a cat, while you after

you drink

a beer, or at exactly 2 a.m.,

are likely to

you only

are singing,

makes your asthma

unique and allows the correct remedy to be found.

Mary Mary, a 9 year old after

girl

with asthma, found that her wheezing came on

damp conditions like skiing or swimming The remedy that fit this symptom the best was Natrum

being exposed to cold,

in cold water.

sulphuricum (sodium sulphate), which rapidly helped her condition. After the

An

remedy she was much more

and damp.

conventional physician will generally ask you only about

your chief complaint.

A

homeopath views

only the beginning, and wants to will ask

tolerant to cold

the chief complaint as

know much more about you. He

you about your physical symptoms and your emotions. Trau-

matic incidents from the past that might shed light on your present

symptoms

are also important.

Your medical and family history 53

as

54 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine well as

what you were

like as a child are

taken into account. You will

be asked what was happening in your life appeared, what makes your

first

at the

symptoms

time your symptoms

better or worse,

and

under what circumstances they occur. Your homeopath will inquire about your memory and concentration and about your relationships with others. The more accurate the information you provide, the easier

it

will

be for your practitioner to prescribe correctly.

Once you have

told your story to the best of your ability, your

homeopath begins to see the patterns of possible remedies and will ask you

confirm the symptoms of certain remedies

specific questions to

under consideration crave

for

your case. You will be asked which foods you

and dislike and which ones make you sick; whether you like hot

or cold drinks or food; and sleep

is

if you are

a chilly or a

warm person. Your

important, including insomnia, dreams, favorite position,

whether you like the window open or closed, and whether you get hot in

bed at night. You may be questioned about how much you perspire

and about your sexual desire, whether you like the ocean or the mountains,

and what kind of weather makes you feel worse. Just relax and do

your best to share what

is

going on with you. Whatever information

you give will be carefully listened to,

respected,

and held in confidence.

Your unique symptoms are crucial to finding the correct homeopathic medicine.

The fine lines of difference between

important that you

tell

your homeopath

Your homeopath may perform

ommend

all

remedies

a physical examination or rec-

laboratory testing. Laboratory tests can rule out hidden

pathology and serve treatment. This

is

as a baseline for

measuring the progress of your

important, for example, in monitoring the

a uterine fibroid through pelvic ultrasounds or

thyroid levels in the case of a thyroid disorder.

is

and that

testing

is

not

as

size

of

measuring serum

You

will find that

homeopaths generally order only those laboratory tests essary

make it very

about yourself.

that are nec-

primary a source of information

as

it

for a conventional physician.

The Books ofthe Homeopath Books

are the tools

of the homeopath. You

homeopath, during the interview, indispensable

book

is

flips

may

notice that your

through a thick book. This

called a repertory

and includes nearly every

Getting

symptom

to

Know

imaginable, followed by a

icines that

have been

known

repet tory that has been used

some other excellent

The consult

the Patient from the Inside

most

universally

repertories have

is

symptom. The

Kent's Repertory,

been published

book

that your

but

recently.

homeopath

will

called a materia medica, consisting of many chapters, each

including most of the information

remedy.

of all the homeopathic med-

to cure that particular

other principal type of

is

list

Out

The Materia Medica

known about

a particular

with Repertory by Boericke, Lectures

on Homeopathic Materia Medica by Kent, and Desktop Guide

to

Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms by Morrison are widely used,

many other excellent materia medicas are available. These and many other books are now available in comprehensive comalthough

puter database programs such as MacRepertory, ReferenceWorks,

CARA, and RADAR (see Appendix).

5 5

"

"All these things

must be eliminated or

else

avoided as

much as possible if cure is

not to be

prevented or impeded.

— Samuel Hahnemann, Organon ofMedicine,

Sixth Edition.

dos and don'ts for Homeopathic Patients Taking the Remedy After taking your case, your practitioner will select the single

opathic medicine, or remedy, that best matches your will either give

home-

symptoms and

you the remedy or have you buy it at a homeopathic

The remedy is impregnated on grains, pellets or tablets, made of either table sugar (sucrose) or milk sugar (lactose). A dose of remedy is one or more of these grains, pellets or tablets placed on pharmacy.

or under the tongue. Unlike are sweet

and pleasant

to exactly

most medicine, homeopathic remedies

tasting.

how often to

Your practitioner will instruct you

take your

as

remedy

Dos and Don ts About Taking Homeopathic Remedies While under homeopathic treatment for chronic illness, notify your

homeopath

before taking any

homeopathic remedies. In ever,

and

a first aid or

it is

best to

new medications or other

emergency

situation,

how-

you should take the appropriate remedy or action immediately call

your practitioner afterwards.

Avoid touching the remedy with your hands

if

handled a strong smelling substance. Use the

you have recently

vial

cap or a clean

spoon, and place the remedy under your tongue to avoid contaminating the remedy.

Don't expose your remedy to direct sunlight, high temperatures, magnets, electromagnetic

fields,

or strong aromatic odors such as

camphor, solvents, paint, and chemicals.

Antidoting Certain substances or influences can disturb the fering with the action of the

enon

is

commonly known

vital force, inter-

homeopathic medicine. This phenom-

as antidoting.

57

When

antidoting occurs,

58 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine the healing effects of the

and your symptoms

nently, relapse

ing

usually sudden, but

is

unknown.

is

remedy stop,

It

either temporarily or

perma-

return, partially or completely. The may be gradual. The cause of antidot-

may occur at any point in treatment, in rare cases

even two years or more after a remedy has been given. After the healing response to a homeopathic remedy has stabilized, you

more

may

be

resistant to antidoting factors.

Debbie Debbie's health improved dramatically from Sulphur. irritation

strual

vaginal

symptoms were no longer

a problem, and her energy was some coffee-flavored cookies at a "A week later my constipation, hemorrhoids, and

much better. That is, Christmas

party.

until she ate

vaginal itching returned. so

Her

was improved, her hemorrhoids were gone, her premen-

good

for seven

nosedive.

I felt

months

dramatically different. After feeling

after taking Sulphur,

My energy lagged.

I

I

went back

took a

had headaches, mood swings, and

premenstrual acne again. By mid-January,

bad anymore.

my health

I

couldn't stand feeling so

to get another remedy.

cookies don't have espresso in them.

It's

really

Make sure

not worth

those

it."

Tess

Tess

had derived considerable benefit from Borax

and touchy moods.

Many of her symptoms

for her joint pains

returned

less

than one

month after she took her last homeopathic remedy. Her homeopath to wait another month to evaluate Tess'

was puzzled and decided

symptoms. As Tess checked out with the ajar out of her purse. is

clinic receptionist, she

"By the way, I want

to

compatible with homeopathic remedies.

homeopath noticed

that

took

make sure this lip balm

On reading the label, her

camphor was one of the

first

ingredients.

This explained why her symptoms had returned so soon.

The

substances and influences listed below

the action of homeopathic remedies

when

may interfere with

a sensitive patient

is

exposed to them, but the approach taken by each practitioner to the issue

of antidoting varies. Practitioners often give their patients a

list

Dos and Don'ts

for

Homeopathic Patients 59

of substances to avoid, which can be brief or more extensive. Other

homeopaths do not make antidoting an

their patients,

A

it

actually

Some homeopaths believe that antidoting never happens to

occurs.

not act

issue unless

long

as

and consider other explanations

if

the

remedy does

as expected.

number of homeopathic

practitioners estimate that the

treatment of approximately 60 percent of their patients will be adversely affected by ingesting coffee. Your

homeopath may

rec-

ommend that you avoid coffee entirely or she may say nothing at all until she sees

whether the treatment has been

successful.

The guidelines below are what we give to our patients based on our own clinical experience and a consensus of homeopaths we have consulted. Their opinions varied with their own experience with patients.

We

many

have seen

cases in

influences below have interfered with

which the substances and

homeopathic treatment.

We

prefer to err in the direction of being overcautious, particularly

while is

we are still trying to find the best remedy for the patient. What

most important

homeopath

is

that that

you follow the instructions of your

in this matter.

What to Avoid While Under Homeopathic Treatment Coffee:

This

is

the one substance that

homeopathic treatment. Even one

amount of coffee

sip

most often

candy may be

sufficient

Other patients

to drink several cups of coffee or drink coffee regularly

for a period

of time to cause their symptoms to return. In some

patients, coffee does not interfere.

pounds

with

of coffee, decaf, or a small

in ice cream, liqueur, or

to disturb the treatment in very sensitive patients.

may need

interferes

in coffee rather

It

appears to be a variety of com-

than just the caffeine that creates the prob-

lem. Other caffeinated substances, such as black tea

and cola drinks,

although not considered healthy, do not usually interfere with

homeopathic treatment. Electric blankets: They

can affect the action of remedies by affecting

your body's electromagnetic

field.

Aromatic substances: Avoid camphor, eucalyptus, and any products that contain

them including

liniments, lip balms, mouthwashes,

60 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine cough drops and lozenges. This includes aromatherapy oils and other aromatic compounds such oil

as tea tree products.

Strong fumes from

based paint, turpentine, and paint thinner, certain household

cleaning agents containing pine smelling industrial chemicals

oil

or phenol, as well as strong

may also interfere, depending on indi-

vidual sensitivity.

Medications: tion drugs

Homeopathic medicines

will

not prevent prescrip-

from working, but some prescription drugs may inter-

with homeopathic remedies. In individual

fere

oral medications interfere.

such

as antibiotics, narcotics

cases, topical or

and

steroids can

Consult with your practitioner about any drugs that you

are taking.

Immunizations: Immunizations sometimes interrupt the homeopathic healing process in certain individuals.

them or not

is

your personal choice, but you

Whether you

may want

take

to discuss

each specific immunization and your particular circumstances with

your homeopath.

Dental work: Dental

drilling

and the use of novocaine may disturb

the effects of homeopathic remedies.

It is

preferable, if possible, to

wait at least three or four months after taking a remedy to have dental

work done. This delay gives your vital

force

more time

to be

strengthened by homeopathy. In the case of emergency dental work,

have

done and call your homeopath afterwards. In

it

gency,

homeopathic remedies

have a chance to

visit

your

Recreational drugs: Av oid

cocaine, tion

is

LSD,

recreational drugs including marijuana,

and amphetamines. Alcohol

in

modera-

not a problem.

Other homeopathic remedies: Except in a use

you

dentist.

all

barbituates,

a dental emer-

will often relieve the pain until

first-aid situation,

them without discussing them with your homeopath

do not

first.

Check with your homeopath before using herbs for specific medicinal purposes. Herb teas for beverage use, when varied from day to day, are fine, as are culinary herbs. If you've been given Natrum muri-

Herbs:

aticum,

you will usually be advised to avoid menthol and peppermint

Dos and Don'ts in all forms, including tea.

not a problem. There

it

generally

be other specific substances that your

to avoid

when

Using a particular vitamin

tom may make

is

taking a particular remedy.

homeopath know which vitamins you

Vitamins: Let your taking.

Homeopathic Patients 61

For other patients, peppermint

may

homeopath will ask you

for

difficult for

to eliminate a particular

are

symp-

your homeopath to evaluate your

symptoms. Multivitamins and minerals

are generally compatible

with homeopathic treatment.

Permanent waves: These may interfere with remedies because of the harsh and aromatic chemicals used.

Other therapies: Acupuncture and therapeutic ultrasound have been

known to disturb homeopathic treatment in some cases, although both may also have significant therapeutic value. Please discuss these therapies with your practitioner.

Factors

Which Do Not Interfere with Homeopathic Treatment

Medications:

We have not seen aspirin, acetominophen, ibuprofen

and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications

interfere

with homeopathic treatment.

Heating pads and water bed heaters.

Medical tests: Blood

tests, x-rays,

mammograms, Pap

smears.

Dental examination and cleaning. Cleaning products: Ammonia and bleach. Personal care products:

Most

toothpastes, aftershaves,

ants that are not strongly aromatic

are fine.

and deodor-

Soaps, perfumes, and

colognes that do not contain the substances listed above are rarely

any problem. Therapies:

Massage (using nonaromatic

ments and other forms of bodywork homeopathy. joints,

it is

If your

oils),

chiropractic adjust-

are generally compatible with

complaints are primarily

in

your muscles and

best to discuss the frequency of these treatments with

your homeopath.

62 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine

The Patient's Freedom During Homeopathic Treatment

when starting anything new to have a period of adjustment. Avoiding some things like coffee or your electric blanket, which are important to you, or postponing dental work or your natural

It is

may seem like a big imposihomeopathy for the first time. If

next permanent wave appointment tion

when you

are just trying

your homeopath asks you to avoid certain things, you that he places too

many

on your

restrictions

life

may

feel

and makes you

feel rebellious.

Most patients who choose homeopathy find that it becomes reland

atively easy to avoid these substances

dies to

work over time

is

well worth the effort.

and increased freedom

better health

that allowing their reme-

homeopathy is more important than

They

find that the

in their lives resulting

from

the freedom to drink coffee or

use camphor.

Your homeopath does not want reason.

When

worked

for you,

the

treatment.

remedy you need

you may be able

you have avoided

to restrict

if

is

to use

you without good

and it has definitely some of the things which

clear

they do not interfere with your individual

The most crucial time

for avoiding antidoting factors

homeopath has evaluated the effectiveness of the prescribed remedy. If the remedy does not get a sufficient chance to act because of an antidoting factor, your symptoms may not improve. If your homeopath interprets this lack of improvement is

as

before your

an incorrect prescription and changes remedies, the correct

medicine

may be abandoned

If you feel too restricted

too soon.

by your homeopathic treatment,

cuss this with your practitioner. Perhaps

you

are avoiding

dis-

some

substances unnecessarily. If a potential antidoting substance

important to you, discuss using results. If

it

is

in a controlled way, noting the

your symptoms return or become worse, you can stop

and your homeopath can

using

it

if you

need

give

you another dose of remedy

it.

Give your homeopathic treatment a chance to work. In a chronic case,

it

may take several months before the correct remedy

has been found and has produced definite improvement.

You can

Dos and Don'ts

for

Homeopathic Patients 63

play an important role in your treatment success by carefully

following your homeopath's instructions and being patient with the process.

Many patients who are treated homeopathically

are so satisfied that they continue to use

homeopathyfor the rest of their

lives.

What Do Need to Know About I

Homeopathic Treatment? THERE

A DEFINITE COURSE of treatment

IS

of follow-up remedy,

visits,

when

to

that

homeopaths

number and frequency

follow with their patients. This includes the

change or repeat a homeopathic

how to deal with interfering factors, and what to do in case

of an emergency All of these depend on the symptoms, prognosis,

and circumstances of the individual

patient.

Willi Notice a Response to My Remedy?

How Soon

You may notice an immediate response from your homeopathic remedy,

as in the

following case:

Jody Jody, age 6, that she

came in because of left-sided ear pain. She was so lethargic

remained curled up in her mother's lap during the entire half

hour interview. She was fair-skinned with long blonde curly hair and blue eyes. Since she developed the ear pain, she was very

wanted to be with her mom all of the time. to drink anything.

Within

five

It

weepy and

was a struggle

to get her

She was given Pulsatilla (wind flower) in the

office.

minutes she was running around happily and said that

her ear pain was gone. She looked like a normal, healthy child again. In other cases,

it

may take several weeks or a couple months after

taking your remedy before you notice a change in your symptoms.

The

length of your treatment depends on

many

the severity of your illness, the clarity of your

factors,

including

symptoms, your past

medical and family health history, the type of treatments which you

have had in the past, and the overall strength of your body's defenses.

Acute

diseases,

such

as colds, flus,

tions respond very quickly to a

pneumonia, and bladder

homeopathy and will

few hours or one to two days. In chronic 65

infec-

usually be cured in

illnesses,

such

as arthritis,

66 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine allergies,

asthma, uterine fibroids, and

colitis, it

may take longer to may experi-

respond to the remedy. After you take your remedy, you ence a brief worsening of your symptoms. This tion.

is

called

an aggrava-

Most aggravations last from a few hours up to several days.

aggravation occurs, usually

means

it is

probably a normal part of treatment and

remedy has been

that the correct

Symptoms

that

If an

you have had

in the past

course of homeopathic treatment. This

symptoms. Usually they will

last for a

is

given.

may recur during the

called the return

few days, then recede.

though the body were remembering, then

of old It is

as

repairing, an old illness.

Often these symptoms will not return again.

Homeopathic treatment is analogous and digging up weeds by the

to

both peeling an onion

root. If you are trying to clear a black-

berry patch to plant a garden, you need to eradicate the plants at the roots.

Cutting back the vines

is

only a temporary solution.

Home-

opathy heals by finding and curing the roots of disease. As symp-

toms from the past appear, your homeopath will recognize a layer of illness as

it

comes

to the surface to be healed, or a predisposition that

needs to be eliminated. She will prescribe a remedy that matches the

symptoms of the

layer.

This process continues until

all

the layers,

even back to your childhood and your hereditary predispositions,

have been removed. During the

this process,

you may continue

same homeopathic medicine, or you may need

dies,

need

to

different reme-

depending on your state of health.

Sunita Sunita, age 25, heard about

homeopathy from

a close friend

hay fever had been cured. She suffered from chronic

hoped

whose

allergies

and

that she could be helped, too. Because of her particular

emo-

Nux vomica.

This

tional state

and

allergy

remedy made the

months

later,

symptoms, she was given

allergy

symptoms 80 percent

better.

Three

Sunita had a flareup of her eczema, which had been

suppressed with hydrocortisone cream since childhood. She had

ter-

night scratching herself raw. She

felt

rible itching

and was awake

very hot in bed at

all

night. These symptoms are characteristic of home-

opathic Sulphur. After receiving Sulphur, Sunita had an aggravation

What Do

I

Need

Know About Homeopathic Treatment? 67

to

of the eczema for two months. She had a strong belief in homeopathy and her homeopath assured her that the flareup of the eczema

was necessary

for her healing to

be completed. Afterwards her

eczema was 90 percent better and the improvement has continued.

How Do I Know If The Remedy is Working? Four to eight weeks

after

will evaluate the results

There are a

you take your remedy, your homeopath

of the prescription

specific criteria

which he

at the first

follow-up

visit.

uses to evaluate your response to

homeopathic remedy, including how much energy you have,

whether your chief complaint

is

better,

and whether you

are better

mentally and emotionally. By comparing your current symptoms

with

how you were

before the remedy, he decides what to do next.

He looks for what has changed and what has stayed the same in your may be obvious to you that you have improved, but some-

case. It

times our memories are long for pleasure and short for suffering.

You might be surprised when he reminds you of all of the symptoms you reported before you took the remedy.

Kristy Kristy sought treatment for her chronic headaches

During the

initial interview,

we asked how

anger.

she stated that she had suffered from

headaches every single day of her later,

and

life.

On her return visit five weeks

she was doing. She replied that she wasn't sure.

She had not noticed a change

in her anger. Yet she

enced one single headache, for the

first

had not

experi-

time in over forty years. Kristy

had quickly forgotten how debilitating her chronic headaches had been. She had been given

Nux vomica,

a

remedy

for

both headaches

and anger. As her homeopath suspected, by the time of her next visit two months

later,

her anger had diminished considerably.

What If My Progress Seems If you

tient

to

have a chronic

illness,

Too Slow?

there

and want mote immediate

remember how long

it

may be times when you feel impa-

results

from homeopathy.

took to develop the

stand that the healing of chronic

illness

illness

may take time.

It is

useful

and

to under-

It is

unrealistic

68 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine to expect that

you will be completely better

have suffered from an cumulative.

illness for years.

in a

few days when you

Homeopathic healing

is

A patient who continues with treatment for more than a

year generally finds that her overall level of health improves considerably.

Her complaints become more minor.

asthma, she

may

Instead of having

only experience a mild bout of hay

fever.

Rather

than the suicidal depression she experienced before homeopathy, she

may have only an occasional day of "the blues."

Barbara Barbara began homeopathic treatment twelve years ago. At that time, she complained of terrible headaches, premenstrual syndrome which

and asthma. She was married

nearly incapacitated her,

to a

man who

constantly put her down. She wanted desperately to leave the marriage,

but didn't feel strong enough to do

so.

cession of homeopathic remedies.

Over the first few years after starting

She responded very well to a suc-

treatment, her premenstrual symptoms, asthma,

and headaches

improved. After four years, she left her husband and felt much happier.

She found a more lucrative job, which she liked much better. A couple of years later she started a relationship with a man who treated her tenderly

and was very supportive. She has had no problems with asthma

for seven years. For the past

few years, her homeopath has seen her only

two or three times a year for periodic episodes of neck stiffness and pain

and mild premenstrual symptoms. She has been given remedies these feels

for

symptoms and felt better within days. She is happy with her life,

good, and has few colds or minor

How Often

illnesses.

Will I Need to Take a Remedy?

Your homeopath

will

determine

when you need

to take a

remedy

based on your progress. She will decide whether or not to repeat or to

change your remedy.

It

important thatyou return for your scheduled

is

appointments at specified

intervals,

even ifyou are doing well, so that

your practitioner can carefully evaluate your progress and see if a new

remedy or potency

is

scheduled every one to If,

for

some

reason,

needed. Follow-up appointments are usually six

it is

months, depending on

how you are doing.

impossible for you to return for a follow-up

What Do visit, at least

Need

I

to

Know About Homeopathic Treatment? 69 knows what is happening

write to your homeopath so she

with you and are willing to

how the remedy has

do phone interviews

Many homeopaths

affected you.

if an in

person visit

is

not possible.

Do not be surprised if your homeopath decides to wait weeks or months before prescribing another remedy. More harm is likely to be done by giving a remedy too soon than by waiting too

long, or

changing the remedy before the first remedy has completed Prescription

may

by

action.

Drugs and Homeopathy

If you are taking prescription

he

its

prescribe the

drugs when you

homeopathic remedy

first

see a

homeopath,

low potency daily

in

doses. This often involves a delicate balance of gradually decreasing

the dosage of your prescription medication as your

symptoms

are

improving, with the guidance of the prescribing physician. If you

have taken thyroid medications for years or are on heart medication or insulin,

you will probably need to remain on

your physician prescribes them, for the

rest

these medications, as

of your life, with or with-

out homeopathic treatment. Another alternative

is

to wait to begin

your remedy until nonessential medications are stopped so that there will

be no confusion between the

results

of starting the remedy and

stopping the prescription drug. This requires coordination between the patient, the

homeopath, and the prescribing physician.

Some homeopaths

not

will

on

treat patients

because they think that prescription medications less favorable.

The

despite the drugs

allopathic drugs,

make the prognosis

majority of homeopaths, however, will treat you

you are taking. Certain drugs may not be compatible

with homeopathic treatment, including antibiotics, steroids and

chemotherapeutic drugs

when used on an ongoing

ication that suppresses the likely to interfere

may work control

symptoms

with homeopathic treatment.

at cross purposes.

One example

pills specifically to treat irregular

comfort.

body

the

By preventing ovulation,

may be masked, making the

the real

The two

of this

is

is

treatments

symptoms of menstruation true

This

and

Any med-

the use of birth

task of finding the correct

to suppress a discharge or a skin eruptions. for healing

basis.

trying to express

periods and menstrual dis-

remedy difficult or impossible. The same is your body needs

is

these drugs

if you

homeopathic

are taking drugs

may be the outlet that may thwart that process.

70 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine

Willi Have Yes

to

Take a Homeopathic Remedy Forever?

and no. As long as you

the better,

are well, or in the process

you may not need a remedy

for

of changing for

months or even

years.

Homeopathy makes you more resistant to disease, but life is stressful and you may not

ment

stay well forever, even if your

has been effective. If you develop

symptoms return, see if you

it is

need to be treated again.

rest

new symptoms

treat-

or your old

important to check in with your homeopath to

homeopathically are so thy for the

homeopathic

of their

satisfied that

Many

patients

who

are treated

they continue to use homeopa-

lives.

When Should I Contact My Homeopath? Ifyou develop an acute

illness

that needs treatment. Call your

opath before seeking other forms of treatment for acute

you have a medical emergency such

home-

illnesses. If

as a car accident, severe bleed-

ing, heart attack, stroke, or poisoning, get

emergency medical

treat-

ment immediately, then call your homeopath as soon as possible. If you have rapidly progressing acute symptoms such as an earache, pain when urinating, or an unusually bad cough, call your homeopath immediately.

If you

cannot reach your homeopath, seek con-

ventional medical care for severe acute illnesses.

Ifyou think that you have been exposed interfere

to

to

one of the substances that

with homeopathic treatment. Your homeopath

may wait one

two weeks before re-evaluating your case and deciding whether to

repeat your remedy. This waiting period evaluate whether your previous

is

symptoms

sometimes necessary return

and

to give

to

you a

chance to recover without the need for repeating the remedy. Ifyou think nothing has happenedfrom the remedy andyou want to use another form of treatment

to alleviate

have waited long enough to

feel

the

have been given, or another remedy

your symptoms. You full effect

may

not

of the remedy you

may be needed.

In either case,

using another treatment before the action of the remedy has been evaluated

may confuse your case. Your practitioner may be able

recommend something

to

that will alleviate your discomfort yet will

not interfere with your homeopathic treatment.

What Do

Need

I

Know About Homeopathic Treatment? 71

to

Ifyou experience a severe aggravation after you take a remedy This unusual, but

about

it

it

can happen and your practitioner should

is

know

immediately.

Ifyou experience significant symptoms that you have never had before

These may come from the remedy you have taken or from another cause, but they

need

promptly evaluated by your homeopath.

to be

Ifold symptoms return severelyfor more than two weeks.

symptoms

is

usually mild

A return of old

and short lasting, but occasionally the

sit-

uation needs evaluation and treatment.

Ifyou want

to use prescription

discussed with

anti-inflammatories, that

medications that you have not already

your homeopath. This includes

antibiotics, steroids,

hormones and other strong

prescription drugs

may disturb your treatment.

Ifyou need to have dental work or surgery. If it

is

an emergency and

you can not reach your homeopath, have the work done. dental care can wait, your

when the dental work

is

homeopath may have

least likely to interfere

If the

a preference as to

with your homeo-

pathic treatment.

Ifyou need extensive diagnostic procedures. Invasive diagnostic inter-

may affect your treatment. You should use these diagnostic techniques when nec-

ventions such as exploratory surgery or other procedures

essary,

but

let

Ifyou do not

your homeopath know.

know when

to

come

in for your next follow-up appoint-

ment or you are unsure whether

to

Your homeopath can guide you

to the

your healing process.

which

is

If

continue homeopathic treatment.

most appropriate next step

homeopathy has not worked

occasionally the case, your

in

well for you,

homeopath may

refer

you

to

another homeopath or to a different type of practitioner. Ifyou are traveling and need medical care. Your homeopath able to treat

you by telephone, or

to

recommend

nearby. In emergencies, remedies can be sent

taken on your trip in a traveling interfering with your treatment.

kit.

This

is

a

may be

homeopath

by overnight mail or

far better

than to risk

"

"I sank

deeper into

depression. It was at this

time that I saw

article

an

by a homeopathic

doctor and decided that I would try, one time, to get

more

my life on

an even keel

.

.

That was

the best decision I have

ever made.

Real Patients, Real Cures The FOLLOWING ARE TRUE

CASES from our

clinical practice. All

of the patients whose stories are told gave their permission and

were eager to share their positive experiences with homeopathy.

The names have been changed, in the

book, to protect privacy.

the patients themselves. cases

from our

as

have

the other patients'

all

The stories

The

names

in quotations are told

by

others are narrative summaries of

practice.

Cliff: Allergies "It

for

wasn't until

I

got better that

restful sleep, feeling

crashing, dog-tired, to be alone. life

My typical day

was just

haunted by past events for most of the

From time to

time,

everyone

else's,

like

was

allergic to

I

except

was

I

trees, grass,

I

genetic?

me

gave

I

me

allergies.

and molds,

all

of which

and sneezing. After taking the

concluded that

"Unfortunately, a few years later

was inside of

had

began taking injections of a dark syrupy sub-

few years,

I

I

A series of skin tests indicated

14.

stance that relieved the congestion

but were worse.

day,

At the time I thought my

sneezed.

I

tomatoes, dusts,

seemed unavoidable.

injections for a

so

by four in the afternoon, and then going home

"I battled allergies since I

saw how sick I was.

I

most of my 36 years consisted of slowly waking from a not

I

my allergies not only returned,

had not been cured

as

I

had thought. Whatever

that caused the allergies

had never had

a

good

was cured.

was

relationship with

still

there.

Was

it

it

my father and this

even more reason to resent him. After millions of years of

genetic evolution, this was the best

my body could

manage?

"My medical doctors suggested surgical desensitization ing the nerve endings out of my nose.

It

ble believing that the nerve endings in

problem and

I

didn't

want to

seemed so

on

of me that

my part,

73

I

by scrap-

had trou-

my nose were the fundamental

lose a part

"After considerable study

barbaric.

I

I

couldn't get back.

found that

if I ate

only

74 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine rice

and frozen vegetables and took seventy-five assorted

day

I

was

fine.

With my health under

tion to working out

control,

I

turned

pills

each

my atten-

my anger towards my father. At 33, 1 went to a

few Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings and began to explore

my past. "My

decision to seek additional help at this time was purely

economic.

someone

I

was spending a fortune on

to help

me

my homeopathic doctor.

found

inventory of vitamins, extracts,

Ours was

taking.

extensive detail events, gies.

I

each

pills

determine which ones

to be a short

month and wanted

didn't really need.

I

I

him I just wanted to cut the and unknown compounds I was

I

told

term relationship.

I

explained in

poor nutrition, resentments about past

that

and bad luck had conspired against me and

resulted in aller-

was sure that better nutrition was the answer.

"He

listened to

me

a lot during that

without saying much about

first

appointment. Then,

my medicine cabinet full of pills, he gave

me a little envelope filled with a small amount of white granules. He said

it

"I

was a preparation of salt.

I

took it in the evening before bed.

woke the next morning from the most restful sleep I had had To my disbelief, both of my nostrils were open and clear! I

in years.

felt fifteen

years younger, could breathe easily,

throughout the day.

was not that felt

I

I

was delighted

could eat anything.

And

I

to find that afternoon fatigue

human

a typical part of the adult

"My body worked better and I It felt like

experience.

did, with great relish.

bloated or poisoned by foods that

had changed.

and had high energy

I

I

also I

found

no longer

ate.

that

something deep inside

a big tuning fork in

my abdomen had been

felt

given a big whap. Every part of my felt

the need for the

pills

I

body worked better. I no longer was taking. It seemed like magic.

"Over the next few months myself gradually improved.

I

I

noticed that

my attitude toward

was no longer as self critical and

afraid

I became more vulnerable. Then a few months after first taking the remedy I began to feel such deep emotions that I thought I was going crazy. The remedy seemed to nudge

of being hurt emotionally.

to

life

"I

feelings that

had been suppressed very deeply.

took the

remedy, Natrum muriaticum, for about a year.

salt

was very pleased with what was happening.

I

My only complaint was

Real Patients, Real Cures

my case was apparently so simple and that something as basic as

that

had needed

all

along.

some changes

in

my disposition.

was the cure

salt

then

"I

felt

again for the care to sively

I

first

time in months.

I

felt like

do anything or go anywhere.

and began

period in

I

I

began

to sneeze

couch potato.

a

did not

I

found myself working obses-

to snap at people at work.

I

recalled

an

earlier

my life that was very similar.

"My homeopath prescribed another remedy, Nux vomica. I no longer

time

I

felt

driven to work.

My sneezing stopped once again. By the

recognized that the intense anger

healing process started by the remedy,

"Over the

five years

I

I

it

was was

tive

by the old negative

longer a problem.

opathy helped

which enabled

I

me me

feelings that

my

release

fears

I

guided

can eat any food;

to get

over.

have been under homeopathic

has improved steadily and dramatically.

life

feeling was part of the

I

care,

my

am no longer held cap-

my life. Allergies are no

have more energy.

Home-

about intimate relationships,

married and have a child.

My wife

and

daughter have also enjoyed the benefits of homeopathy."

Donna: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Donna was

a bright

29 year old

office

manager who sought out

homeopathy because she was tired. Really tired. She had been that way for close to five years. Donna loved to sleep. When she woke up morning, she was

still

exhausted and

another two hours. She

felt

exhausted after work. Even

in the

wasn't working, she

was

still

felt like

she could sleep

when

she

extremely fatigued at the end of the day.

When Donna was tired, she felt like a cloud came over her. Her body felt like it just

was too but

faded away and, before she

tired for sex.

when she was

knew it,

she was asleep. She

She was normally a very kind and gentle person,

tired,

she became defensive and grumpy.

Before the fatigue began,

Donna was

quite industrious and

enjoyed cooking and gardening. She enjoyed her challenging job,

Donna didn't want to change jobs because she and she had a fear of new situations.

but worked too hard. "wasn't a risk taker"

Donna complained of severe,

debilitating headaches.

bowel movements only every three days. She was very

She had

chilly,

espe-

75

76 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine her

cially

sun.

feet.

She loved

Her overall

to

wrap up

health had been

in a blanket

good

and be out

in the

until the fatigue set in.

Donna was given Silica (sand). This is a homeopathic mediwho lack "grit." They just don't have the energy to

cine for people

respond to the demands placed upon them. They have desires and it is just too much effort to act on them. They beome very fatigued when they work too hard. Their nature is to be gentle, refined, and timid. They are chilly and often constipated like Donna. After one month Donna reported that she was no longer

strong opinions, but

exhausted, just normally tired at the end of the week, and she

needed

She

less sleep.

Her mind was

felt

good when she woke up

report that her sexual energy was back to normal.

warmer.

Donna

noticed that she stood up for

newfound energy enabled her began

sailing lessons,

in the

morning.

She had no headaches, and she was happy

clearer.

to enjoy her

which she

to

Her body also felt herself more. Her

weekends again. She

really enjoyed.

By six weeks after the homeopathic remedy, Donnas energy was back to normal and she no longer felt

irritable.

Even though she was

under stress, she was coping quite well. Her improvement has for

lasted

more than two years.

Sally: Depression "I

decided to visit a homeopathic doctor after several years of battling

depression.

I

was able

to maintain an

tency and appeared to deal with sion

and deep

feelings

counseling, had read

reconnected with

life,

outward appearance of compe-

but inside I was fighting depres-

of inadequacy. Over the years

all

of the

self help

books

I

I

had been

in

could find, and had

my spiritual beliefs. For the first time I truly felt that

my life did make sense and that there was a reason to live. But the sadness

and lack of self-confidence remained. Every avenue of self help

that

I

last. I

would help for a short period of time, but the effect did not felt at that time like I was on an endless pendulum. Each time it

tried

swung,

I

sank deeper into depression.

It

was at this time that I saw an

article

by a homeopathic doctor and decided that

more

my life on an even keel.

time, to get

I

would

try,

one

Real Patients, Real Cures

"That was the best decision

I

have ever made. After several years

of counseling and homeopathy,

I

have

life

where

I

feel

stop the pendulum. Finally

about

life,

myself,

effect

my

reached a point in

finally

good about myself. The

of homeopathy was to

have a feeling of quiet peace and joy

I

and the people around me.

I

do not consider

homeopathy the answer to the questions of life. What it has done

is

of fear which resulted in depression.

It

to reduce the endless feelings

reduced

my emotional swings to the normal variations in mood that What

everyone must experience.

is

even more important,

now

I

have enough peace to search and can take joy in that search for the

answer to

'Why am I

here?'"

Sonya: Menopause Sonya, a 44 year old

artist,

periodically for years.

had received homeopathic treatment

During

that time she

and

fully for depression, headaches,

homeopath because of anxiety

sulted a

was treated success-

digestive problems.

that

seemed

to

She con-

come on

with menopause.

Sonya told her homeopath, pressure in

my head. My mind

burning hot

my head mind

is

flashes

and

"My brain has been

used up.

does not want to function.

I

I

feel

have

from the slightest excitement. They spread from

my whole

face to

body.

My whole

constantly thinking about business.

I

body

sweats.

My

wake frequently

at

am always figuring things out during my sleep. I organize my mind for work. I'm always taking care of business. "My fingers and arms get numb easily on waking. It is worse from sleeping on my left side. have an aching sensation in my forenight.

I

things in

I

arms and

on the

wrist, especially

but kind of feels icy cold and

right side.

tingles.

almost a burning,

It is

My lower eyelids, back and legs

are twitching lately. "I

have a hurried

enough time. effort. I

I

have to

feeling.

Nothing connects.

get so speedy that

I

It's

overwhelming. There's not

myself to slow down.

tell I

lose

I

can't think.

my train of thought.

I

It's

an

forget words.

forget half of what I'm thinking about.

"I'm bloated and

I

have

inner gnawing feeling. If

I

gas.

My bowels are sluggish.

get hungry,

I

have an

watch out and don't get

77

78 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine near me!

have a tightness in

I

my larynx.

It feels

Sonya had had no menstrual period months. She was generally

tense."

for the previous five

much warmer

since the hot flashes

began. She couldn't find a comfortable sleep position because her

mind was "chewing" all the time. She desired sweets and spicy food. She was thirsty for cool drinks. The sun and light were bothering her again lately and she noticed recently that she was more afraid of heights.

Sonya was very anxious

to feel better.

Sonya was treated with Iodum people whose metabolism restless. It is as

They

speed.

when

though

feel

all

Iodum

(Iodine).

extremely high.

their engines

is

remedy

a

They are

all

the time

for

hurried and

were revved up to

they must be busy

they are quiet.

of heat

is

.

and

maximum

are anxious

They become very warm and can have flushes

over the body, with red cheeks, and profuse perspiration.

They often have voracious appetites, feeling in the larynx

Sonya

as

Sonya did,

and a gnawing sensation

called her

homeopath

several

as well as a tight

in the stomach.

weeks

after she

took the

remedy to say how well the remedy had worked. The rushed feeling in her

mind and

restlessness

were gone within twenty-four hours.

track." The hot flashes disapThe numbness in the fingers and arms was gone, aching of the wrist. These symptoms were still better

Within two weeks, she was "back on peared completely. as well as the

two years

later.

Lucy: PMS, Endometriosisy

and Infertility

Lucy, a 29 year old realtor, sought out

homeopathy because of years

of endometriosis, an abnormal growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus.

She had undergone laparascopic surgery a year and a half

earlier to

remove endometrial

tailbone.

She had been

tissue in the area

infertile for the

of the rectum and

previous three years and very

much wanted a child. Lucy had a miscarriage shortly before coming to see us.

She drank heavily during the pregnancy, but had been

in

recovery and completely free of alcohol since that time.

"My PMS inside.

I

try

is

ridiculous.

not to take

get angry even at

it

I

get really aggravated.

out on others, but

the way my husband

I

I

feel

think they're

breathes.

I

snap

at

angry

idiots!

him.

I

If he

1

Real Patients, Real Cures

me to make a decision, I'm short. I say, 'Don't ask me.' or 'Give me my space.' I'm like this for about ten days every month. I feel

asks

few hours

better a

after

my period arrives."

Lucy had plenty of premenstrual symptoms:

have massive

"I

My eyelids get puffy and my abdomen bloats. My breasts get really sore. My uterus feels heavy, like a rock. have uterine pain during sex before my period. My sex desire goes down with the

water retention.

I

PMS.

get

I

my back.

I

low back pain,

during a bowel "I

too. It

movement if I

was bulimic

for

about

are

I

bear down. five years.

I

didn't have

tage cheese every day, then I

hard to

for

sit

supposed

1

My periods

only ate a small amount of cot-

when I was

17.

then cheap white wine.

to. I've it

been

rains.

I

minutes.

five

movies or a car.

the day before

this

It's

way

1 I

to 26,

drank hard liquor

would drink half a

can only stand in one spot without I

my knees often. It's my knees don't fit where they're

have to crack

as if

since

They ache.

Lucy complained of little cuts.

flowed heavily for three

vomited at night. From age 2 1

are often sore.

about

in

for

days.

"My knees moving

I

started drinking

for the first four years,

two

I

any periods

my uterus hurts when I put in a tampon. My

bulimia lasted from age 19 to 25.

gallon in

drawn out of

had to put in a tampon every hour or two.

okay now, except

drank all day.

is

my rectum before my period and

four of those years. Then, for three years, or four days.

blood

as if all the

is

get a sharp pain inside

I

I

was

12.

can't crawl

My knees are worse

around on

my knees."

They felt like Her wrists had

sores inside her nose.

A couple of her teeth turned black as a child.

always been weak.

"I'm

chilly.

My extremities are cold, but

makes

me cranky.

about

five years ago.

her

left side.

I

can't

I

don't like the heat.

stand saunas or hot baths.

When

it

snows,

it

I

broke

really hurts."

It

my ankle

Lucy

slept

on

She was diagnosed with an iron deficiency starting

at

age 12 and often took iron supplements.

Lucy was usually easy going and self in

fear

relaxed.

new situations, but once she did,

It

was hard

to

put her-

she was fine. She had a great

of spiders. She would sweat, shake, and become paralyzed

saw a spider on TV. She couldn't even of her husband leaving

her.

talk

about them. She had

if she

fears

79

80 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine "I

my parents

was 12 when

separated.

was horrible

It

My world blew apart. There were four of us. That's when doing drugs.

G.E.D.

family. All three years.

want

I

alcoholic.

is still

it

my

from an alcoholic been married

I've

five

can be too sympathetic with people.

I

for everyone.

is

me.

started

and got

senior year

My mother

of my siblings are in recovery.

get very jealous.

to fix

my

quit high school in

I

My father

for

I

Then

I

berate myself when

I

I

can't."

Lucy received Calcarea phosphorica (calcium phosphate), an important remedy for dental problems,

remedy

also a

PMS, bone and joint weakness and pain, and an inability to assimilate calcium.

related to

all

for menstrual or

puberty, for anemia, jealousy,

It is

hormonal problems beginning

and

is

a

common remedy

for

at

knee

pain as well as for incomplete healing of fractures.

At her next visit,

five

weeks

later,

she reported that she had no

emotional symptoms before her period. tenderness was mild. Sex was pain

free.

The premenstrual breast The shooting rectal pain

was gone. She hadn't had a premenstrual time this too it.

good

to be true?" she asked.

He asked Lucy in disbelief, five

absolutely

no premenstrual

to

Her energy was

remarkably

it

couldn't believe

here already?" She did not gain

seven pounds before her period. She had

her usual

better.

"Is

this easy in years. "Is

Her husband

irritability.

increased.

Her knees were

She was

less jealous.

a

little

She

felt

better.

When Lucy consulted her homeopathy four months later, her main complaint was nausea of pregnancy! She was very excited about being pregnant, felt

horrible

all

after three years

the time.

"It's as if I

of unsuccessful

have the

flu,

but

I

efforts,

but

don't throw

moment she woke up in the morning. p.m. "I feel like I'm gonna die." The

up." She had nausea from the It

was worse around 2 to 3

nausea was worse from laughing, from the smell of car exhaust,

smoke and pregnant.

coffee.

Her

sexual energy was "zip" since she

became

Her breasts were tender. some of Lucy's old symptoms were back. She

In addition,

felt

the sharp pain in the rectum again. She was angry with her hus-

band

like before the

remedy.

the previous two days. She

one day for the

first

The low back pain had

returned over

experienced a little twinge of jealousy

time since the remedy. Lucy was given another

Real Patients, Real Cures

dose of Calcarea phosphorica because her symptoms this

remedy

picture. This

still

matched

was four and a half months

after the

original dose.

Lucy

much drive

homeopath

called her

less

nauseous.

a

Her energy

was coming back. She was

week

was a

level

was feeling

later to say she

Her sex Now, over receives home-

little better.

feeling less irritable.

three years later, she has a healthy daughter who also

opathic treatment and Lucy continues to be very healthy.

Helen: Eczema years, I had seen eight medical doctors in my my eczema. The medical doctors prescribed drugs

"Over the past four attempt to cure

and ointments that were as as the disease itself.

debilitating, physically

They told me,

and 'Maybe you should

it

I

did as

I

live

with

was told

to

it'

do

only suppressed the symptoms and

did nothing to cure the disease.

I

and emotionally,

have to learn to

see a psychologist.'

by the medical doctors, but thoughts of suicide.

'You'll

My

skin was so bad

I

even had

My quality of life became the issue. am so glad I

looked for help once more and tried homeopathy. "It's

able

all

a miracle.

I

can wear clothes.

can

I

sleep.

I

can be comfort-

day without drugs or medicated ointments. These

ments bring

tears

of joy to

my

eyes.

I

had suffered from skin

eruptions and constant, uncontrollable itching. ing skin wounds.

state-

I

had open, weep-

My scratches became so infected that

I still

have

my body."

scars all over

Gina: Arthritis Gina, 72 years old, had suffered from arthritis

all

her

life.

When she

was a child her mother had always told her she wasn't strong, which

had angered she

her. Gina's

knees hurt from age

1

2 until her

20's,

when

became pregnant. She had always had weak ankles and had

turned them frequently in the past.

Now she was stooped over with

osteoporosis.

At the time of her heaviness

and tension

first

in her

homeopathic low back.

visit,

she complained of

It felt "all

bound

up."

It

was

8

1

82 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine worse on

getting

first

everyday Gina

up and

felt tired

better

from loosening up. By noon

and she would nap

after lunch.

She

felt

that

she just didn't have enough energy. Gina's knees hurt to walk.

Putting weight on them gave her a sharp pain, especially her

left

knee. This caused her to lose her balance. She complained of upper

back pain when she was

tired

and experienced a continuous pain

between her shoulder blades. This pain was better for fifteen ful

if

she lay

down

minutes with her knees up. At age 52, she had a success-

laminectomy

to relieve sciatic pain.

She complained of having

always had "lousy hair and nails."

Gina was

way

to eat.

a

raw foods vegan and

felt this

She had been constipated

eating raw foods exclusively. She

had

all

was the only correct

her

life

until she

began

a healthy appetite, but never

gained weight. She had been manic depressive in her 30's and took lithium carbonate for eight years. She had an early menopause at age 39. She tried estrogen for a few years.

Gina had two and four

a

problem with insomnia. She often woke between

in the

morning. The insomnia was worse

worried or upset. Her sleep was not very sound. to relax.

She

felt

It

she was

if

was hard

for

Gina

a sense of anxiety in her stomach, like "butterflies."

She hated deadlines, but she was extremely punctual. She didn't like it

when

other people were

late.

Gina was quite neat and did not

appreciate her roommate's sloppiness. She was very sensitive to the

cold and

felt chilly

even in

warm weather.

Her homeopath gave Gina Kali carbonicum (potassium bonate), a prominent homeopathic arthritis medicine. for people

who suffer from

It is

car-

helpful

pain in the low back and shoulder blade

and who wake between two and four a.m. Pain

in the knees

is

also

common in people needing this medicine, as well as a sensitivity to cold weather and a feeling of anxiety in the stomach or solar plexus.

how

They

are often quite proper, with fixed ideas

ought

to be. Gina's stringent dietary regimen, punctuality

tidiousness are typical of the rigid

way

in

about

things

and

fas-

which someone needing

Kali carbonicum might think.

At her

first

follow-up appointment, one

after the

felt much better. She was sleeping well and much warmer. Her joint symptoms were much better. She was

remedy, Gina said she felt

month

Real Patients, Real Cures

not having pain in the lower back, knees, ankles, or the upper back.

Her energy was

By

greatly improved.

the time of the second

visit, five

weeks

that she felt better with every passing day. hurt.

later,

Her

Gina reported

joints

still

did not

She had gained a few pounds and was 118 now. Her ankles

stronger.

felt

now than I have been for a much stronger. She felt feelings much more freely, and she

She commented, "I'm better

long time." Her hair and nails had grown that she

was able

to express her

was more accepting of herself. Gina's

symptoms have con-

arthritic

tinued to improve.

Carlos: Obsessive Jealousy "I

have suffered chronic back pain and persistent stomach prob-

lems for the past sixteen years. times in

my

Some

life.

removed with a

have also had kidney stones several

I

stones required surgery; others were

great deal of discomfort.

As

a result,

I

learned to

deal with pain firsthand.

learned to deal with adversity early in

"I also

a

humble

I

was 10 years

rural

old.

I

my mother's

arated after

were sent to

live

life. I

was born

in

My mother died when was the oldest of seven children. We were sep-

community in Puerto death.

Rico.

Our home was

with different

relatives.

I

destroyed and

we

experienced hunger

and hardship. "Last

summer,

no apparent reason,

for

became extremely

I

I found no comfort in my loving family. me so much joy before. Now I felt as if they

despondent and depressed. Their love had brought didn't

me and

need

could have been further from the truth, but

became insanely jealous of my wife without death with each sunrise and sunset. quately express what

I

I

I

Within

was willing a

is I

how

I

felt.

wished for

I

my

can find no words to ade-

was

I

to try

few months

my homeopathic doctor.

met

with alternative medicine,

perate that

I

this

cause.

was feeling at that time.

"In this state of mind, iar

nothing

didn't care if I lived or died. In reality,

a little apprehensive,

Unfamil-

but so des-

almost anything.

after

experiencing subtle changes in

beginning homeopathy,

I

started

my personality and my thinking.

I

83

84 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine developed a new, positive outlook on

was able

to release

tience. In the past,

that

much I

excused

have a Latin temper.

I

life

and

rejuvenated.

I

my bad temper with the simple alibi I

don't need this excuse anymore.

enjoy a sense of serenity which

I

never before experienced.

formerly indispensable bottle of antacids in

been replaced with

felt

of my insecurity, intolerance and impa-

classical

music

tapes.

I

my

I

The

nightstand has

have never

felt

so good."

Charles: Flu Charles, age 61

asked

him

weak and office.

to

it

,

sounded desperate when he called. His homeopath

come

was

in immediately.

difficult for

him

He looked awful. He was very

to climb the flight of stairs to the

He complained of a recurrent fever with chills

over the pre-

vious ten days. His fever, about 102 degrees Fahrenheit,

begin at

five

or six p.m. and

last until

about four a.m.

extremely confused, which was quite unusual for him. appetite

do was

and had lost twenty pounds

lie

in

down. He had no energy or

worried him a great deal. His wife,

would

He was

He had no

two weeks. All he wanted to interest for anything,

who

which

brought him in for his

appointment, was also quite concerned. Charles received China (cinchona bark), to take every four hours until

he

felt better.

great weakness

China

and

is

an important homeopathic medicine for

for fevers that periodically

go up and

down

at

consistent times. Charles called the next day to say he was feeling better. clearer,

He had more and the

energy, the diarrhea stopped, his

mind was

fever did not last as long the night he started the

He called the following day to say all of his flu symptoms were markedly better. He was much relieved and his appetite was back. China.

We hope these stories of homeopathic cures will motivate you to seek

homeopathic treatment

stay with treatment until

you

for yourself and

your family, and to

receive the benefits

you

desire.

These

show the kinds of improvement you might expect during your own treatment. Homeopathy can help you change your life and health in dramatic ways. Since homeopathy inspiring case histories

treats the

whole person,

positive changes

may occur on any level,

Real Patients, Real Cures

physical,

mental or emotional. The cases in

this

chapter and

throughout the book indicate only a few of the conditions for

which homeopathy is

useful.

Consult with your homeopath to find

out what kind of results you might expect from homeopathy in

your

case.

A

well -trained

homeopath has spent hundreds or thousands of hours learning homeopathy, often in addition to years of

prior medical training.

Mastery of homeopathy is

not something that

can be acquired in a

few weekend seminars or even in practicingfor

a couple ofyears.

How to

Find

the Right Homeopath The Legal Status of Homeopathy Certification through examination

is

offered

tute of Homeopathy for medical doctors

the

by the American

Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians

pathic physicians

homeopaths

(DHANP). There

in the

United

Insti-

and osteopaths (DHt) and

no

is

for naturo-

specific licensing for

States except in Arizona,

Connecticut

and Nevada. The North American Society of Homeopaths

(NASH)

is

homeopaths

establishing standards for unlicensed professional in the

will hopefully

United

States

and Canada. Such standardization

pave the way for homeopathic licensure.

practice of homeopathy vary from state to Homeopathy can be practiced in most states, depending on the

Laws regarding the state.

licensure of the practitioner. Naturopathic physicians are licensed to practice shire,

homeopathy in Arizona, Alaska, Connecticut,

Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Florida, and

the District of Columbia.

where licensure ers

New Hamp-

efforts are

and the public inform

tions that they want

They

also practice in

under way.

many

other states

important that practition-

It is

their legislators

and

state

medical associa-

continued access to homeopathic medicine.

Choosing Your Homeopath

Most homeopathic

practitioners have a degree, are licensed in a

health care profession, and have taken postgraduate training in

homeopathy. Some

lay or professional

formal medical training, but

A

homeopaths do not have

may be highly skilled

in

homeopathy.

homeopath has spent hundreds or thousands of hours learning homeopathy, often in addition to years of prior medwell-trained

ical training.

Mastery of homeopathy

is

not something that can be

acquired in a few weekend seminars or even in practicing for

couple of years.

a

88 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine

One important factor in choosing a homeopathic practitionet is

the level of experience. Find out

devoted to homeopathy and

what percentage of her practice

if homeopathy

is

her primary

of treatment. Most serious homeopaths will devote precent of their practices to homeopathy, even therapies.

Homeopaths improve with

complicated condition, you specialized in

likely

to

experience. If

be well worth

it.

use other

you have

a

may wish to find a practitioner who has

homeopathy for at least five years. Even

travel to see a well-trained,

50 to 75

at least

if they also

is

method

if you

have to

experienced homeopath, the results will

We and many other homeopaths are willing

do long distance phone consultations since there

are

many areas

without trained homeopaths. Directories of homeopaths in the United States are published

by the International Foundation

for

National Center for Homeopathy.

A

physicians

who

board

are

Homeopathy and The

directory of naturopathic

certified in

homeopathy

is

available

through the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians.

Are There Different Kinds ofHomeopaths? Practitioners

be

classical

follow the principles of Hahnemann are said to

who

homeopaths. Classical homeopaths conduct the type

of extensive interview we have mentioned and base their prescripof the symptoms that the patient relates during the They prescribe only one remedy at a time, based on the law of similars. We strongly recommend that you find a classical homeopath for the most effective and long lasting results. If you have any doubt as to whether a particular homeopath follows a tion

on

all

interview.

classical

approach, ask that question

uncertain, select a

homeopath

listed

specifically. If

you

are

still

in one of the directories

mentioned above. Practitioners

who use electrodiagnosis, auricular therapy,

pen-

dulums, radionics or kinesiology to determine the correct

remedy may use homeopathic medicines, but they are not practicing homeopathy as it was developed by Hahnemann. They usually prescribe many remedies in combination and do not base their prescriptions

matches the

on

careful selection of the

patient's

symptoms.

one remedy that best

How

How Can The

I

Tell

criteria that

right for

If I

Am

you use

Find the Right Homeopath

to

Seeing The Right Homeopath? for determining if

your homeopath

is

you are personal, but the following general guidelines may

be useful:

Does he listen

to you

and to your concerns?

Does she seem interested in your progress and well-being?

Are you improving from the treatment? Is

your chief complaint better? Have you improved mentally and

your energy and

Are other symptoms

emotionally?

Is

improving?

your improvement generally following the laws of cure?

Is

Have you been If there

is

vitality better?

treatedfor a longtime without success?

no improvement

ment, perhaps

months

after six

to

one year of treat-

it is

time to find another prescriber or ask for a con-

sult or a referral to

another homeopath. If you decide to change to

another practitioner, discuss your decision with your present

homeopath. Does he behave unethically or abusively

Abuse or unethical behavior

is

to you in

any way?

never appropriate in the homeo-

pathic process.

Does she inform you about your treatment andprognosis?

Honest communication between homeopathic practitioner and patient

is

Do you

usually have to return for visits

It is

essential.

more often than monthly?

unusual that your homeopath would need to see you more than

monthly, except for very serious chronic

illness,

acute illnesses, or

emergencies.

Does he keep complete and confidential records? This

is

important not only to accurately document your

progress, but also for insurance later to

and

legal purposes. If

clinical

you decide

switch to another homeopath, a transfer of your complete

homeopathic treatment history

is

important.

89

Homeopathic treatment

can open a door to a healthier

life.

You have

the choice whether or

not to walk through the

door and make the

changes in your life that will prevent the same

patterns of illnessfrom

emerging again.

Making the Most of Your Homeopathic Treatment Its

Never Too Late

The

homeopathic treatment

best time to start

matter what your health problems

are,

is

now.

It

does not

how old you are, how many

doctors you have seen, what treatments you have already tried, and

what has and has not worked understand where you are

Homeopathy cannot

it.

Your homeopath will work to

now and what can

benefit

dering if you should try

for you.

you

be done to help you.

if you are still

on the

We can only encourage you to give

and make the most of what homeopathy can do

won-

fence,

it

a try

for you.

The Role of Homeopathy in Your Life Life, health, career,

you adapt

and relationships

to the changes impacts

are

all

subject to change.

How

your well-being and provides an

Homeopathy cannot prevent you may experience in life; but home-

opportunity for personal growth. every illness or trauma that

opathy can help you maintain the energy, physical well-being, ity

of mind,

and equanimity

creativity,

that

you need

clar-

to learn the

most from and cope with the ups and downs of life.

Homeopathy is a wonderful tool for regaining health and maintaining balance in your

Homeopathy

you.

you

life.

As with any tool, how you use

to heal a sprained ankle or get over a cold or the flu.

level

you choose

up

to

At whatever

homeopathy can help. For those of you treating yourselves and your families, we hope

to use

who are interested in

it,

you understand the importance of seeking care from

homeopath

it is

can treat severe chronic illness, or simply help

for chronic illnesses,

and only

treating

a professional

minor conditions

on your own.

The best way to maximize it

as part

of an integrated

network of family and

the benefits of homeopathy

lifestyle

is

to use

including a loving and supportive

friends, challenging 91

and meaningful work,

a

92 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine healthy diet and exercise program, and a spiritual

you peace and healthier

Homeopathic treatment can open

joy.

You must choose to walk through

life.

the changes in your terns of illness

which brings

life

life

a

door to a

the door

and make

that are necessary to prevent the

same

pat-

from emerging again.

Your Responsibility as a Patient Your understanding of the homeopathic process and your willingness

you by your practititioner can make

to follow the guidelines given to

a big difference in the success of your treatment. to play in the process.

You have a vital role

You have the power to use homeopathy in many

ways to enhance your well-being.

It is

not just in your homeopaths

hands, but in yours, too. Take an active role in your treatment. Observe

Ask questions. Be aware of your response

yourself and your symptoms. to the treatment

It is

your respon-

or see your homeopath regularly and whenever questions

sibility to call

or problems

and tell your homeopath about it.

arise. It is

up

to

you

to be aware of those influences that

may interfere with your homeopathic treatment and to avoid them. Your participation

is

vital to

The most important cess in treatment

is

your success with homeopathy.

make towards sucover months and years.

contribution you can

to stay with the process

As your overall health improves, you will need fewer office visits, but regular follow-up will help

opath can observe

slight

you remain

treatment before any significant essential part

healthy.

An

astute

home-

changes in your health and adjust your illness occurs.

Prevention

of the homeopathic process, just as important

is

an

as treat-

ing your acute and chronic illnesses.

Our Goal and Your Goal Our goal in writing this book is to experience the benefits

happy lives.

to help as

If your goal in reading

better so that

you can

many of you as possible

of homeopathy and to

get well

it is

and

to

live healthy,

understand homeopathy

stay well, please use the infor-

mation we have given you to truly make the most of your homeopathic experience.

We hope all of the guidelines and suggestions we

have offered throughout the book do help you to better understand

and make use of this fascinating

art

and

science.

Making

the

Most of Your Homeopathic Treatment 93

Whether homeopathy cine for

you or you

is

an entirely new philosophy of medi-

are a seasoned

homeopathic

always more to learn. Reading this book

books,

articles, classes

and courses

knowledge. For those of you

about

it,

we

who

is

a

patient, there

is

good beginning. Other

are available to

expand your

just can't wait to learn

more

offer the following resources for further exploration.

.

Appendix:

Learning

More

Recommended Books General In terest The Patient Not the Cure. Santa Barbara: Woodbridge

Blackie, Margery.

1978.

Press,

Handley, Rima. A Homeopathic Love Story. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1990.

Johnston, Linda. Everyday Miracles. Van Nuys: Christine Kent Agency, 1991. Neustaedter, Randall. The Immunization Decision:

A

Guide for

Parents.

North Atlantic, 1990. Ullman, Dana. Discovering Homeopathy: Your Introduction to the Art and Science of Homeopathic Medicine. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1988, rev. Berkeley:

1991. Vithoulkas, George. Homeopathy: Medicine for the

New Man. New York:

Arco, 1979. Weiner, Michael and Goss, Kathleen. The Complete Book of Homeopathy. New York, Toronto: Bantam, 1982.

Whitmont, Edward. Psyche and Substance: Essays on Homeopathy Light of Jungian Psychology. Richmond: North Atlantic, 1980.

Wood, Robert

S.

in the

Homeopathy, Medicine That Works. Pollock Pines:

Condor, 1990.

Self-

Treatment

Castro, Miranda. The Complete

Homeopathy Handbook.

New

York:

St.

Martin's, 1990.

Castro, Miranda.

York: Kruzel,

St.

Homeopathyfor Pregnancy,

Birth,

and the First Year. New

Martin's, 1992, 1993.

Tom. The Homeopathy Emergency Guide. Berkeley: North Homeopathic Educational Services, 1992. Maesimund and Heimlich, Jane. Homeopathic Medicine at Home.

Atlantic,

Panos,

Los Angeles: J.P.Tarcher, 1980.

Ullman, Dana and Cummings, Stephen. Everybody's Guide pathic Medicine. Los Angeles:

J. P.

to

Homeo-

Tarcher, 1991

Ullman, Dana. Homeopathic Medicines for Our Infants and Children. Los Angeles: J.P.Tarcher, 1992. 94

Appendix: Learning More 95

For the Homeopath or Serious Student Agarwal, M.L. Materia Medica ofthe Human Mind, Sixth edition. Delhi: Pankaj Publications, 1993. Barthel,

H. and Klunker, W. Synthetic

Repertory.

New

Delhi: B. Jain,

1990.

Wm., M.D. Materia Medica

Boericke,

with Repertory. Santa Rosa:

Boericke and Tafel, 1927. Coulter, Catherine R. Portraits ofHomeopathic Medicines. Three volumes.

Berkeley:

North Atlantic, 1986.

Coulter, Harris. Divided Legacy:

A

History of the Schism in Medical

Thought. Vol 3. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1981.

Hahnemann, Samuel. Organon of Reprint. Los Angeles:

J. P.

Medicine.

Sixth

1842.

edition,

Tarcher, 1982.

Herscu, Paul. The Homeopathic Treatment of Children: Pediatric Constitutional Types. Berkeley: North Atlantic, Homeopathic Educational Services, 1991. Julian,

O.A. Materia Medica of New Homeopathic Remedies. Oxford:

Beaconsfield, 1979.

Kent, James T., Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1979.

Kent, James T., Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica. Reprint.

New

Delhi: B.Jain, 1982.

Kent, James T., Repertory of the Homeopathic Materia Medica. Reprint. New Delhi: B.Jain, 1991.

Morrison, Roger. Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms. Albany:

Hahnemann

Clinic, 1993.

Moskowitz, Richard. Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy and Childbirth. Berkeley:

North Atlantic, 1992.

Phatak, S.R. Materia Medica of Homeopathic Medicines.

New

Delhi:

Indian Books and Periodicals Syndicate, 1977. Sankaran, Rajan. The Spirit ofHomeopathy. Bombay: Homeopathic ical

Med-

Publishers, 1991.

Sankaran, Rajan. The Substance ofHomeopathy. Bombay: Homeopathic Medical Publishers, 1994. Schroyens, Frederik, ed. Synthethis: Repertorium Homeopathicum Syn-

London: Homeopathic Book Publishers, 1993. M.L, Homeopathic Drug Pictures. Devon: Homeopathic Research

theticum. Tyler,

and Educational Trust, 1952.

Van Zandvoort, Roger, Leidshendam: Institute

ed.

The Complete Repertory: mind. Homeopathic Information and

for Research in

Symptomatology, 1994. Vithoulkas, George. The Science ofHomeopathy.

New York:

Grove, 1980.

96 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine

Resources Homeopathic Book Distributors

Homeopathic Educational

Ser-

American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists PO Box 61067 Los Angeles, CA 90061

vices

2124KittredgeSt.,#71-Q Berkeley,

CA 94704

(510)649-0294 (800)359-9051

Foundation

for

Homeopathic

Education and Research 2124KittredgeSt.

(orders only)

Berkeley,

CA 94704

(510)-649-0294 (inquiries and

Homeopathic Informational Resources,

LTD.

catalogues)

(800)359-9051 (orders only)

9099 Oneida River Park Drive Clay,

NY 13041

Homeopathic Academy

(800) 289-4447

of Naturopathic Physicians

PO Box 69565 The Minimum 250

Price

H St., PO Box 2187,

Blaine,

WA

98231

Portland,

OR

97201

(503) 795-0579 Journal: Simillimum

(800) 663-8272

Conference transcripts

for sale.

Directory of Practitioners

Homeopathic Books and Supplies 250 H St., PO Box 2904 Blaine, 98231 (604) 572-8879 (800) 572-7765 (orders only) Pacific

WA

available.

Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States

PO Box 40360 4974 Quebec

St.

N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20016

Homeopathic Organizations American

Institute

of

Homeopathy

International Foundation for

Homeopathy 2366 Eastlake Dr., E. Seattle, WA 98102 (206) 324-8230

1585Glencoe CO 80220 (303)370-9164

Journal: Resonance

Journal Journal ofthe American

Conference transcripts for sale.

Denver,

:

Institute

ofHomeopathy

Directory of Graduates of the Professional Course available.

Appendix: Learning More 97

The National Center for Homeopathy 801 N.Fairfax, #306 Alexandria,

VA 223 14

(703) 548-7790

548-7792 Homeopathy Today Journal: Directory of Practitioners and Study Groups available.

Hahnemann Society Avenue Lodge, Bounds Green Road London N22 4EU, England Journal: Homoeopathy Today

Fax: (703)

The Homeopathic Education Society

Natakkar Gadkari Road, Ida, Vile Parle (West)

North American Society of

Bombay 400 056,

Homeopaths 10700 Old County Road 15

Journal: Indian Journal of

Plymouth,

India

Homeopathic Medicine

MN 55441

Journal: The American

Homeopath

International Homeopathic

Homeopathic Links Bantigerstrasse 37 CH 3006 Bern, Switzerland

Fax004l31352 73 83

Organizations

Journal: Homeopathic Links British Homeopathic Association 27 A Devonshire Street London, WIN 1RJ England Journal: Homoeopathy

Liga

Medicorum

Homeopathica Internationalis P.O. Box 66, 2060 AB Bloemendaal, Netherlands

Centre D'Etudes

Homeopathiques De France 228 Boulevard Raspail Paris, France 75014

Journal: Journal ofthe

Pan-American Homeopathic Medical Congress Edificio 166, Entrada

The European and

International

LMHI.

D.

Unidad Kennedy, Mexico

9, D.F.

Councils for Classical

Homeopathy

ECCH and ICCH Secretariat School House, Market Place Kenninghall, Norfolk

NR16 2AH, Tel/Fax: 01

The

England

Royal London Homeopathic Hospital

Ormond Street

London,

Wl

IDF, England

Journal: The British Homoeopathic

Journal

Homeopaths

Northampton, NN1 4HU United Kingdom. Journal: The Homoeopath

144 953 88 163

Faculty of Homeopathy

Great

Society of

2 Artizan Road

Homeopathic Pharmacies Ainsworth's Homeopathic

Pharmacy 39

New Cavendish Street,

London W1M7LH, England 0114471935 5330

98 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine Boericke and Tafel, Inc. 2381 Circadian Way

Santa Rosa,

CA 95407

(800) 876-9505 (West Coast)

Boiron

USA

de Mexico CalleMirtoll6yll8 Mexico, D.F. Mexico 06400

Standard Homeopathic Co.

98-C W.Cochran St. Simi Valley, CA 93065 (800)

Propulsora Homeopatia

BLU-TUBE

Campus Blvd. Bldg. A Newtown Square PA 1 9073

210

W

131st

Los Angeles,

St.,

Box61067

CA 90061

(800) 624-9659

or 6

,

(800) 876-0066

Dolissos America, Inc.

3014

Rigel Ave.,

Las Vegas,

NV 89 102

Washington Homeopathic Products, Inc.

4914 Del Ray Ave. Bethesda,MD 20814 (301)656-1695 (800) 336-1695

(orders only)

(800) 365-4767

Homeopathic Software Ehrhart and Karl

33 N.Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60602

(312)332-1046

Organizations

CARA Distributors:

Homeopathic

Educational Services

Hahnemann Pharmacy

2124KittredgeSt.

1918 Bonita Ave.,

Berkeley,

(415)548-5015

CA 94704 510)649-0294 (800)359-9051 (orders

Homeoden

HomeoNet

76-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Institute for Global

0119125 87 33

18DeBoomSt.

Berkeley,

CA 94704

Kasteellaan

only)

Communications

CA 94107 (415)923-0900 or Kent Homeopathic Associates San Francisco,

Homeopathy Overnight 4111 Simon Rd. Youngstown, 44512 (800) ARNICA 30, ext. 140

OH

MacRepertory and ReferenceWorks

Kent Homeopathic Associates Luyties Pharmacal Co.

4200 Laclede St.

Louis,

St.

MO 63108

(800) 325-8080

POBox39

CA 94978 (415)457-0678

Fairfax,

Appendix: Learning More 99

RADAR Homeovia P.O. Box 56603 8601 Warden Avenue Markham, Ontario L3R OM6

Hahnemann College of Homeopathy 1918 Bonita Ave., Berkeley,

CA 94704

(415)849-1925

(800) 668-7543 International Foundation for

Homeopathic Training Programs Academy for Classical Homeopathy 7549 Louise Ave., Van Nuys,CA 91406 (818)776-0078

Homeopathy 2366 Eastlake Dr., E. Seattle, WA 98102 (206) 324-8230 National Center for

Alexandria,

Academy of Classical Homeopathy 21 West 58th St., Suite 6E

Atlantic

New York, NY

10019

(718)518-4593

144

VA 223 14

(703) 548-7790

National College of

Naturopathic Medicine

11231 SE Market Portland,

Bastyr University

Homeopathy

801 N.Fairfax, #306

St.

OR 972 16

(503) 255-4860

NE 54th

Seattle,

WA 98 105

(206) 523-9585

New England School of Homeopathy 356 Middle

Street

MA 01 002

British Institute of Homeopathy

Amherst,

520 Washington Blvd., Suite 423 Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 (310)306-5408

(203)763-1255 Pacific

Academy of Homeopathic

Medicine

The College of Homeopathy 1101 E. Third

St.

Long Beach, CA 90802 (310)306-5408

l678ShattuckAve.#42 CA 94709 (510)549-3475

Berkeley,

The School of Homeopathy Four Winds Seminars

187 Hillside Drive Fairfax,

CA 94930

(415)457-8452

(Devon, England) Center for Preventive Medicine

and Homeopathy 111 Bala Ave.

BalaCynwyd, PA 19004 (610)667-2927

Glossary acute illness - a condition which

is

self-limiting

and short-lived, generally

only lasting a few days to a couple of months.

aggravation - a temporary worsening of already existing symptoms

after

taking a homeopathic remedy.

allopathic medicine

produce opposite

— treatment of disease through using drugs which

such as conventional medicine. antidote — a substance or influence which interferes with homeopathic effects,

treatment. artificial disease

- an

illness

which

is

given to a person intentionally, in

the form of a homeopathic medicine, in order to overpower the already existing disease.

case taking - the process of the in-depth homeopathic interview.

centesimal - a type of preparation of homeopathic medicines which based on

serial dilutions

chief complaint

-

the

of

1

to 99, designated

by the

main problem which causes

letter

is

"C".

a patient to visit a

health care practitioner. classical

homeopathy -

a

method of homeopathic

only one remedy, based on the a time, followed

totality

prescribing in

of the patients symptoms

is

which

given at

by a period of waiting to evaluate the action of the remedy.

combination remedy -

a mixture containing

more than one homeo-

pathic medicine.

common symptoms - those signs and symptoms which are common to any person carrying

a particular diagnosis.

constitutional treatment

- homeopathic treatment based on

the whole

person, involving an extensive interview and careful follow-up.

decimal - a type of preparation of homeopathic of homeopathic medicines

which defense

is

based on

serial dilutions

mechanism -

of

1

to 9, designated

that aspect of the vital force

by the letter "X".

whose purpose

is

to

maintain health and defend the body against disease.

empiricism — a method of scientific inquiry which

is

based on observation

and experience.

symptoms - those symptoms pertaining to the body as a whole. Herings law of cure - the principle that cure occurs from the top to the bottom, from the inside out, from the most important organs to the least, and in the reverse order in which the symptoms presented. high potency remedies - remedies of a 200C potency or higher. homeopathic medicine - a medicine which acts according to the princi-

general

ples of homeopathy.

100

Glossary: Learning

homeopathy—

More 101

same substance which causes a particular same symptoms. HPUS - the standard homeopathic pharmacopeia of the United States. law of similars - the concept that like cures like. low potency remedies - remedies of a 30C potency or lower. materia medica - a book which includes individual homeopathic remeset

and

dies

relieve those

their indications.

mechanism - a a

the use of the

of symptoms to

type of scientific thought which views the individual as

machine whose individual

parts can be understood

and

miasm — an

inherited or acquired layer of predisposition.

minimum

dose - the

a

change

least

repaired.

quantity of a medicine which produces

in the patient.

modality — those

factors that

mother tincture —

the

make

initial,

a particular

symptom

better or worse.

standardized alcohol preparation from

which homeopathic dilutions are subsequently made. nosodes - homeopathic medicines made from the products of disease. particulars — those

symptoms pertaining to an individual part of the body. polychrest - a widely used homeopathic medicine which treats many symptoms. potency - the specific strength of a homeopathic medicine determined by the number of serial dilutions and succussions. potentization - the preparation of a homeopathic remedy through the process of serial dilution and succussion. prover- a person who takes place in a systematic experiment of taking a particular medicine for the purpose of eliciting symptoms. proving - an experiment in which a substance or medicine is taken repeatedly and the effects carefully documented. relapse — the return of symptoms when a homeopathic medicine is no

longer acting.

remedy -

homeopathic medicine prescribed according

a

to the law

of

known

to

similars.

repertory -

a

book which

lists

symptoms and

the medicines

have produced such symptoms in healthy provers or in patients. return of old

symptoms - the re-experiencing of symptoms from

after taking a

rubric - a

symptom

listed in a repertory

which may produce the

symptom

Schuessler

the past

homeopathic medicine. this

symptom

followed by a

in a healthy

list

of the medicines

person and

may

relieve

in a patient.

cell salts

-

a collection

of twelve low potency homeopathic

remedies which are taken individually or in combination.

simillimum - that one medicine which is nearest to the totality of the symptoms of the patient and which will produce the greates relief. single remedy- one single homeopathic remedy given at a time.

102 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine succussion - the systematic and repeated shaking of a homeopathic

medicine

after

each

serial dilution.

suppression - the elimination of a particular symptom without the force being strengthened,

totality

vital

and sometimes being weakened. comprehensive picture of the whole person:

of symptoms — a and emotional.

physical, mental, vital force

— the

invisible

energy present in

all

living things

which

creates

harmony, balance, and health. vitalism

-

the philosophy of science

with an all-pervading energy

force.

which imbues each

living

organism

1 1

1

1

Index Appendix, 95-99 Accreditation, 5

Arnica montana, 25, 33, 36

Acetominophen, 61

source of, 39 Aromatherapy oils, interference with medicines, 60

Aconite 51

Aconitum

napellus, 14,

50

Acupuncture, 36, 61

Arsenic, 2

Acute

Arsenicum album, 4

illness,

100

Aggravation of symptoms, 66, 100 Aging,

Arthritis,

AIDS, 27-28 10,25,66,73

Kali carbonicum

Natrum muriaticum

Artificial disease, for,

42

Nux vomica for, 66 cepa,

for,

16

See also Conventional medicine

for,

41

100

Aspirin, 61

Homeopathy, 6 Attention deficit disorder, 19,

29-30

Alternapath pilot program, 36

American Institute of Homeopathy, 3, 6, 87 American Medical Association, 3 Anacardium, 32

8 1- 83

Asthma, 21, 25, 42, 53 Atlantic Academy of

Allopathic medicine, 100

Auricular therapy, 88

Aurum

metallicum,

17,28-29

Autism, 28

Anger, 7

B

Anorexia, 32

Balance of energy, 10-11,91

Antibiotics, 60, 71

See also

Antidote, 100 Antidoting, 31,50, Antihistimines, and

57-62 symptom

suppression, 19

Anti-inflammatory drugs, 71 Antiperspirants,

and symptom

suppression, 20

Symptoms

Barium carbonate, 49 Baryta carbonica, 49 Bastyr University, 5, 28 Bee venom, 9 Belgium, 6 Belladonna, 2, 18 Bell's palsy,

26 69

Antisocial behavior, 45

Birth control

Ants (Formica

Bladder infections, 25

rufa),

43

pills,

Anxiety, 28, 29, 41

Bleeding, 25, 33

Apis mellifica, 9

Blindness,

103

1

9

Rhus toxicodendron

to cow's milk, 2

hay fever, 15-16,

Allium

for,

Formica rufa for, 43 gold shots for, 40

Alcohol use and abuse, 17, 60, 79 Allergies,

18,25

Apis mellifica

1

26—27

8

104 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine Blood

tests,

61

Chocolate,

Blue Cross, Alternapath pilot

program, 36 Body, natural ecology of the, 10 Boils,

25

Chronic fatigue syndrome, 75-76 Cinchona bark (China), 1-2, 84

94-96

Cleaning agents, interference with medicines, 60 Coffee, interference with

distributors,

96

medicines, 31, 58, 59

Colds, 25, 44

Borax, 58 Breastfeeding, 42,

Cold sores, 42 Combination remedies, 50-51,

43

6

100

Bronchitis, 25

Bruising,

homeopathy, 88, 100

Classical

Bone problems, 18, 20, 34 Books, recommended, 54-55,

Britain,

45

Cholera, 3

Common symptoms,

33

100

Communication homeopath to patient,

Bryonia, 50, 51

Bulimia, 32, 79

52,

53-54 Calcarea phosphorica, 34, 80

patient to homeopath, Compulsive behaviors, 19

Camphor,

Conjunctivitis, 9, 25

interference with

Cancer, 27

Constitutional treatment, 14, 100

easing transition to death, 36

Conventional medicine

platinum in chemotherapy, 40

comparison with homeopathy,

8,9,22,23,47,52-53

reduction of nausea from

chemotherapy, 36 vegetabilis,

in conjunction

prescription drugs, 50, 60,

Carpal tunnel syndrome, 26

69,71 supression of symptoms

Cases from clinical practice,

73-85

vs. cure,

3,

6

Cost effectiveness, 35-36

25

Centesimal preparation, 48, 100

26—27

tea.

Cough, 49, 51 Councils for Classical

Certification, of homeopaths,

Chamomile

19-20

views on homeopathy,

Case taking, 53-54, 100

Cerebral palsy,

with

homeopathy, 36-37

36

Carnegie Foundation, 3

Cellulitis,

92

Constipation, 75, 76

medicines, 58, 59

Carbo

ix,

87

See (Chamomilla)

Chamomilla, 43-44, 50, 51

Homeopathy, 6

C potencies, 48 Cullen, William,

1

Charaka, 2 Charcoal (Carbo

vegetabilis),

36

D

Chief complaint, 100

Datura stramonium, 40

China, 84

Deadly nightshade (Belladonna),

Chiropractic adjustments, 61

Deafness,

26—27

1

1

1

Ind

Decimal preparation, 48, 100 Defense mechanism, 12, 100

Electric blankets, interference

Dental work

Electrodiagnosis, 88

drilling

and novocaine,

with medicines, 59

interference

with medicines, 60, 71

examination and cleaning, 61

19,76-77,83

Depression,

Arnica montana

Aurum

metallicum

Pulsatilla for,

Desktop Guide

to

for, 17,

29

44

Endometriosis,

78-81

England, 6

Keynotes and

disabilities,

28

Diabetes, 25

Epilepsy,

26

Eucalyptus, interference with

medicines, 59

Eupatorium, 50 Evaluation of remedy, 67

Diagnoses interference factors,

from antidoting

39

Dilution, of medicines,

35,47-48

Dosages 49, 50

infinitesimally small, 35,

47-48 vs. cure,

75-76

maintain homeostasis,

(conventional), 71

Digestive disorders, 10, 25, 42, 83

of,

Fatigue, 39, 58, 74,

Feedback mechanisms, to

Diagnostic procedures

frequency

Exercise,

62

and philosophy of homeopathy, 8, 14

poison

to contact

health

Confirmatory Symptoms, 55

Developmental

when

homeopath, 70-71 Emotional problems. See Mental Empiricism, 100

33

for,

Emergencies,

France, 6

38

relationship with

1

Abraham, 3 Flint (Silica), 20, 76 Floating sensation, 43 Flu, 14-15,50,84 Food cravings, 42, 45, 54 Formica rufa, 43 Flexner,

symptoms

Fumes, interference with medicines, 60

of illness, 2

Dreams, 33, 54 Drosera, 51

Drug

use and abuse,

60

Gall bladder disease, 25

Gandhi, Mahatma, 24

Gelsemium sempervirens, Earache and infections, 17, 25,

15,

50

General symptoms, 100

Germany, 6

44,65 Eczema, 2 1 66-67, 8

Glossary,

,

Education and training,

5-6

funding for homeopathic schools,

programs,

3-4

103-104

study groups, 4

100-103

Gold, 17

Aurum

metallicum, 17,

shots for arthritis,

Greece, 6

40

28-29

105

106 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine

H

conventional medicine,

Hahnemann, Samuel,

8, 9,

22,23,47,52-53 the consultation, 53-54

1—3, 48, 56

Hahnemann College of Homeopathy, 6 40

controlled clinical research

Hallucinations,

studies,

27

Hay fever, 15-16

cost effectiveness,

Headaches, 25, 42, 67, 75

decline

35-36

3-4

of,

dos and don'ts for patients,

migraine, 18

57-63

Health, as an energy balance,

10-11

freedom during, 62-63

Heating pads, 61 Hepatitis,

background, 1-4

historical

39-40

international use of, 3, 6

Hering's law of cure, 21, 100

committment to, 91-92 reference sources, 54-55 renaissance of, 4 - 5

Herpes, 42 High potency remedies,

why choose, 25-37

Herbs, interference with

lifelong

medicines, 60

Hering, Constantine, 21

Hippocrates, 2

Homeostasis,

History, of homeopathic

balance,

medicine, 1—4

HPUS

Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians,

Homeopathic medicine.

5,

87, 88

Illness as

Homeopathic software, 98-99 Homeopaths

Immune system, of,

89

U.S., 5

70-71

Treatments

medicines, 60

6

Infections effectiveness of homeopathy

on, clinical practice,

comparison with

12

Immunizations, interference with

India,

Homeopathy, 9-22, 101. See also

73-85

18-19,66,67-68 of, 16-18

underlying cause

types of, 88

from

an energy imbalance, 10

chronic,

87-89

guidelines for evaluation

to contact,

29-31

Ibuprofen, 61

97-98

cases

(standard homeopathic

I

96-97

Homeopathic pharmacies,

when

71

pharmacopeia), 101

Hyperactivity,

Homeopathic organizations international, 97

number in

dynamic

Hydrogen, 45

See

Homeopathy

choosing,

as a

11—12

Hormone treatments, Hot flashes, 39

HIV infection, 27-28

national,

35

safety of,

48, 100

70,

9- 10, 25

HIV, 27-28 Infertility,

78-81

Inflammation, 25

2

18

Index 107 Lupus erythematosis, 25

14-15,50,84

Influenza,

Insomnia, 39, 41 42, 43, 54, 82 ,

Insurance coverage,

M

35-36

Interference with treatment

Malaria,

57-61, 62 self- administration, 49—50, 60 antidoting, 31, 50,

International Foundation for

Homeopathy,

88

6,

Interpersonal relationships, 31, 54

Interview of patients, 53 Iodine,

78

1-2

Maliciousness, 45

Mammograms, 61 Mana (vital force),

12

Marking nut (Anacardium), 32 Massage therapy, 6 Material Medica with Repertory, 55 Materia medica,

2, 44, 55,

101

computer database programs,

Iodum, 78 Irritability,

39,

55,98-99 Mechanism (the individual

44

as

machine), 101

J

Jealousy,

Medical emergency, when

19,83-84

Joint stiffness

and

contact homeopath,

pain, 4 1 42, ,

58,79,82

Medicines. See Treatments

Memory,

K

12,

54

Menopausal symptoms, 39,

77-78

Kali bromatum, 17 Kali carbonicum, 42, Kent's Repertory,

81-83

Menstrual problems, 32-33, 39,

69,79

55

Kidney stones, 25 Kinesiology, 88 Ki

to

70-71

(vital force),

Pulsatilla for,

44

Mental health 45 18,28,29,41 and the defense mechanism,

12

antisocial behavior, anxiety,

Laboratory testing, 54, 61

panic attacks,

Lac caninum, 42—43

phobias, 28,40,79 and sexual abuse, 1 8, 32, 33 and underlying cause of

Lachesis, 22,

40

Law of similars, Learning

Lectures on

Mediea,

9-10, 101

2,

49

disabilities,

Menthol, interference with medicines, 60

55

Leopard's bane (Arnica montana),

Mercury, 2

Miasm, 101

25,33,36,39

Micrencephaly, 26—27 Milk

Licensing, of homeopaths, 87 Life force, 12

Light, sensitivity to,

Like cures

like, 2,

16-18

illness,

Homeopathic Materia

1

1

8,

9- 10,

42

from cows, 21 from dogs,

101

Minimum

Liver problems, 39

Low potency remedies, 48, 49,

1

1

42-43

dose, 101

Modality, 101

1

6

1

2

1

108 The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine Morning sickness, 39

Parkinsonism, 26

Mothering, feelings about, 45

Particulars, 101

Mother

Patients

tincture, 101

Multiple

26

sclerosis, 18,

dos and don'ts

Muscle soreness, 33

informed,

for,

responsibilities of,

N

92

Pendulums, 88

National Center for Homeopathy,

The,

57—63

ix

4, 6,

88

Peppermint, interference with medicines,

National College of Naturopathic

Medicine, 5

60-61

Permanent waves, interference with medicines, 61

National Institutes of Health,

ix,

5

Personal care products, 61

Natrum muriaticum, 42, 74 Natrum sulphuricum, 53

Pharmaceutical industry, 3

Naturopathy, 36, 87

Phobias, 28, 40, 79

Nausea, 36, 80

Phosphorous, 29, 5

New England School of

Physical examination, 54

Homeopathy, 6 Nightmares, 40

Physicians (conventional). See

Noise, sensitivity

Pharmacies, homeopathic,

97- 98

Conventional medicine to,

43

87

Physicians, naturopathic,

North American Society of Homeopaths, 87

Pine

Nosodes, 101

Pinkeye

Novocaine, interference with

PMS

medicines, 60 Numbness, 26

Poison ivy (Rhus toxicondendron),

Nux vomica,

oil,

interference with

medicines, 60 (conjunctivitis), 9,

78-81

15, 39, 66,

75 Poison nut. See

O Onion

Poisons, 38,

(Allium cepa),

Organizations,

25

(Premenstrual Syndrome),

Polychrest, 101

1

96—97

Organon ofMedicine, Ovarian cysts, 22, 25

2,

Nux vomica

40-43

Postgraduate programs,

56

Overexertion, 4

Over-the-counter homeopathic medicines. See Self- administration

5,

6

Potassium bromate (Kali

bromatum), 17 Potassium carbonate (Kali carbonicum), 42, 8

1

—83

Potency, 48, 49, 101 Potentization, A7, 48, 101

Prana Pacific

Academy of Homeopathy, 6

Paint fumes, interference with

medicines, 60

Pap smears, 61 Paracelsus (medieval physician), 2

(vitalforce),

1

Pregnancy, 33, 40, 80

Premenstrual Syndrome, Prescription drugs,

78-81

and homeopathy

treatment, 50, 60, 69, 71

Proven 101

.

Index 109 Schizophrenia. 28

Proving, 2, 35. 101 Psoriasis,

25

Schuessler

cell salts,

1

1

42

Psychotherapy, 32

Sciatica, 26,

Publications, 5

Science of Homeopathy, The, 4

Pulsatilla, 44,

65

Scorpion,

45

Self-administration

caution

Quakers buttons. Quinine,

See

Nux vomica

in,

49-50

interference with medicines,

60

Sensitivity*

1

emotional. 42

R

to light.

Radionics, 88

to noise,

Recommended

books,

94—95

Recreational drugs, interference

with medicines, 60

Sepia,

42

43

39-40

Sex drive, 39, 54, 75 Sexual abuse, 18,

32-33

Shaking, of the medicines. 4", 48

Relapse, 101

Relationships with others, 31. 54

Sherr, Jeremy,

Remedv, 101

Side effects, 10, 35

Repertory, 101

Silica,

20, 76 Similhmum,

Research studies, 27 Resources,

96-99

Response time

45

13, 19. 101

Single remedy. 101

for treatment,

65-67

Sinus problems, 18, 42

Skin conditions. 25

Responsibility of patients,

ix,

eczema. 21.22,66-6", 81

'

57-63,92 Return of old symptoms, 66. ~ 1 101

Rheumatism, 43 Rhus toxicodendron, 34-35, 41, 49 Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, 6

Rubric, 101

eruptions, 41, 69

erythema nodosum, 19 rash, 13

Sleeping position, 54

Snake venom

(Lachesis), 22,

sulphuricum), 53

-99

Rumex, 51

Software, 98

"Rusn- gate remedy." See Rhus

Sore throat. 2^

toxicodendron

Sources or medicines,

39—45

Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, 6 Sabadilla, 16

Spanish spider, 2d

Safety of medicines, 35

Spasmodic symptoms. 39

(Natrum muriaticum), 42, 74 Sand (Silica), 20, 76

Spastic quadriplegia.

Salt

Scarlet fever, 3

Scleroderma, 25

40

Homeopaths. 6 Sodium sulphate (Natrum Society of

Spiders

(

Tarentula.

(Thendwn Spongia, 5

1

.

26—27

26

26, 43

1

1

10

1

1

The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine Squid ink

(Sepia),

39 -40

Thorn apple

Steroids, 60, 71

(Stramonium), 26,

40-41

Stramonium, 26, 40-41

Totality of symptoms, 102

Succussion, 47, 48, 102

Touching medicines, avoiding, 57 Training. See Education and

28-29, 32 Sulphur, 2, 58, 66 Sun, exposure to, 42 Suppression vs. cure, 19-21 Suicidal feelings,

training Traveling, 7

Treatments active observation of response

Surgery, 71

avoidance

of,

22, 25

to,

use of Arnica montana,

36

Symptoms

self- administration,

active observation of, illnesses

92 caution against

without

importance

of,

early,

13

100

constitutional, 14,

12—13

dos and don'ts for patients,

57-63

and individualization of treatment, 14-15, 53

evaluation

progression during cure,

follow-up appointments,

21-22

of,

67

68-69,71,92

recurring, 66, 71

how dispensed and sold, 48-49

response time for treatment,

if progess

proving, 35

65-67 suppression

seems slow, 67—68

individualization of, 14

significant new, 71

— 16,

53

now is the best time to start

of, vs. cure,

19-21

91

that alternate sides of the

preparation

body, 43

of,

46,

response times

for,

47-5 65-67

when to contact homeopath, 70-71

responsibility of the patient,

worsening of, 66

simillimum, 13, 19, 101

92 sources

of,

storage of,

Tarentula hispanica,

Tea

49—50

combination remedies, 50 -5

92

26

things to avoid during,

57-61,70

tree products, interference

16 — 18 when to contact homeopath, 70-71

with medicines, 60

for underlying cause,

Teething, 44, 50, 51

Temperature, feeling cold or hot,

Twitches, 26

54,75-76,79 Terminal

illnesses,

39-45 57

36

Terror,

U

Theridion,

Ultrasound, interference with

17,29 43 Thirst, 44

medicines, 61

1

Index United Kingdom, 6 U.S. Food and

Drug

Administration, 35

Uterine fibroids, 25

V Vaginal problems, 25, 58

Veratrum album, 30 Varicose veins, 40

Veterinary treatment, 34 Vital force,

11-12,50,53, 102

Vitalism, 102

Vitamins, 61 Vithoulkas, George, 4

w Washington, George, 1 Water bed heaters, 6 Weather, and symptoms, 54 Whiplash,

White 30

32-33

hellbore (Veratrum album),

Wind flower

(Pulsatilla),

Workaholics, 39

X X potencies, 48 X-rays, 61

Y Yellow

fever,

3

44, 65

1

1

1

About the Authors Robert Ullman, N.D. received

his B.S. in

Biology from Ursinus

College and did graduate study in psychology at Bucknell University.

He

graduated from

The National

Medicine with a Doctorate

College of Naturopathic

Naturopathic Medicine in 1981.

in

was formerly chair of homeopathic medicine

He is

He

at Bastyr University.

currently Vice President of the International Foundation for

Homeopathy (IFH). Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, N.D., M.S.W. graduated with a B.A. in Spanish Literature from George Washington University and a Master's in Psychiatric Social

Work from the University of Wash-

ington. She received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from

Bastyr University in 1983. She

President of the

is

IFH and former

Vice President of the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians.

She

on the faculty of the Southwest College of Naturopathic

is

They are

Medicine.

tation if there

number is

is

available to treat patients

no homeopath

in

your

area.

by telephone consul-

Their

office

telephone

(206) 774-5599.

Both Judyth and Robert

and board

certified

are licensed naturopathic physicians

members of

the

Homeopathic Academy of

Naturopathic Physicians. They are cofounders of The Northwest

Center for Homeopathic Medicine in Edmonds, Washington

where they

are in private practice.

They specialize

in

homeopathic

family medicine.

IFH Professional Course and teach They are columnists for Resonance, the publication of the IFH and The Townsend Letterfor Doctors. They have pubThey are

and

instructors in the

lecture widely.

lished over

150

articles in various

magazines and journals.

If you are

them speak to your organization, please contact Picnic Point Press, 131 3rd Avenue, N. Suite B, Edmonds,

interested in having

them

WA

at

98020.

Tel: (206)

233-1155.

Robert and Judyth reside with their two lovable golden retrievers

and one furry

overlooks beautiful Puget

Edmonds, Washington, which Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

feline in

Order form me

Please send

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EDICINE/HOMEOP

Robert Ullman and

Dr.

Ullman

Dr.

Judyth Reichenberg-

are board certified diplomates of the

Homeopathic Academy

of Naturopathic Physi-

They teach homeopathy

cians.

to health profes-

sionals through the International Foundation for

Homeopathy, of which President

and

Dr.

Ullman

is

They write,

Vice President.

Reichenberg-Ullman

Dr.

and

teach,

lecture widely.

is

They are

co-founders of The Northwest Center for Homeopathic Medicine in Edmonds, WA. where they are in private practice.

"This book

is

well-organized, comprehensive, easy to read and understand, and covers

all

the important topics of homeopathy. Well done!"

—

George Vithoulkas, xMIH.

Director,

Athenian School of Homeopath}'. Author of

The Science of Homeopathy and Homeopathy. Medicine of the

New Man

"Robert and Judyth have done an excellent job of creating an educational and inspiring

book for homeopathic

way which

is

patients.

The concepts

of

homeopathy

are presented in a practical

easily grasped by the lay reader."

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Dr.

Raj an Sankaran, Bombay, India. Author of Tl)e Spirit of Homeopathy and

The Substance of Homeopathy

"This book

is

a long-awaited event in the homeopathic community.

and accurate. The Patient's Guide

recommend

to his or

is

her patients so that they

pathic treatment."

—Nancy

Herrick,

P.A.,

It

answers

all of

the

is

their

homeo-

Medical Clinic, Albany, CA. Internationally

and teacher

The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine formative.

useful, readable,

may benefit the most from

Hahnemann

respected practitioner

u

It is

a must for every homeopathic practitioner to

of

homeopathic medicine

concise, yet comprehensive

and

in-

most frequently asked questions and should be

required reading for every homeopathic patient."

—

Jennifer Jacobs, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Washington School

of Public Health;

Member, Alternative Medicine Program Advisory Council,

National Institutes of Health

"Whether you are a homeopathic patient wanting of this wonderful system of medicine or

templating treatment, this book

— Miranda

is

to

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