What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a system of medicine that seeks to restore or maintain your health in a natural way by working in harmony with your body to trigger your innate healing response.
Coming for homeopathy begins with a 60 - 90 minute consultation which looks in depth at your health as a whole. A homeopathic medicine is prescribed to match your full symptom picture. The remedies are made from naturally occurring substances and are prepared in highly diluted form.
Homeopathy is a truly holistic medicine in that a single homeopathic remedy can simultaneously address physical, mental and emotional symptoms.
Are there Different Homeopathic Remedies for Different Complaints?
Most of the time, homeopathic remedies are not prescribed according to the complaint but rather according to a person's individual symptoms.
We do have different kinds of remedies depending on the reason for your visit:
- If we only want to treat a specific short-term health issue, it's likely that I will prescribe an acute remedy.
- For longer-term conditions, I may prefer to give you a constitutional remedy, to treat the bigger picture of your health as a whole.
- My "homeopathic toolkit" also contains other types of treatment to support the constitutional remedy. These could be therapeutic remedies known to be effective in particular complaints or they could be specific organ support remedies or I may recommend a course of specific homeopathic detoxification remedies. The methods I use are highly individualised to each case.
Sometimes I will use a number of these remedies simultaneously, to bring the greatest benefit in the shortest amount of time.
What is a Constitutional Homeopathic Remedy?
There are different kinds of homeopaths. My training is in classical homeopathy, which puts a big emphasis on giving a remedy to suit you as a whole person, rather than aimed at a single complaint. This “whole-person remedy” is referred to as your “constitutional remedy”.
A homeopath who prescribes a constitutional remedy is likely to take more careful note of your individual symptoms and ask you questions related to your disposition and general health as well as questions about your main complaint.
By treating you as a whole, the aim is to boost your health as a whole. This is why people find that taking a constitutional remedy can help them to overcome several symptoms at once, even though they are only taking one single medicine. A constitutional remedy can work at a deeper level than a remedy which is aimed at one symptom alone.
To sum up:
A constitutional remedy…
- is chosen to suit the person, rather than the complaint
- is prescribed with great care and attention to the whole case
- addresses the patient’s emotional state leading up to illness
- considers the complaint in relation to the health history as a whole
- improves health on all levels, mental, emotional and physical
- stimulates the immune system to better function
- enhances the body’s ability to overcome illness
- speeds healing and recovery
How Does Homeopathy Work?
Your homeopathic remedy works by triggering your body’s own inbuilt healing mechanism, helping you to regain your health and balance.
By taking the time to treat the root causes of illness, homeopathy can heal at a deep level, giving powerful and long-lasting results.
My Child Won't Take Tablets. What are Homeopathic Remedies Like?
Homeopathic remedies are really easy to give to a baby or small child. There is no unpleasant taste. The remedy can be given in the form of a powder or pill which is allowed to dissolve on the tongue or it can be given as drops.
The remedy can also be dissolved in water or juice.
Can I take Homeopathic Remedies if I'm on Medication?
Homeopathic remedies do not have a chemical effect in the body and will not interact with conventional medication. Ethically and practically, a homeopath does not make recommendations about medication prescribed by your doctor. No change in medication should be made without your prescribing doctor’s permission and you should continue to see your doctor for monitoring.
As your body starts to heal, the condition for which you are taking medication can improve and your doctor may suggest that some medications could be reduced or discontinued.
How Much Does Homeopathy Cost?
In constitutional homeopathy and homeopathic detox therapy, a course of homeopathic remedies is usually prescribed to last for several weeks. This means that the treatment is continuous, even though the visits can be 4 to 6 weeks apart.
Homeopathic remedies themselves are not expensive. The main cost of homeopathic care is the homeopath’s time and expertise. An experienced homeopath who has attended many extra training courses or gained specialist knowledge and expertise is likely to charge a little more than a newly qualified homeopath. See here for details of my fees.
How Do I Know if a Homeopath Is Qualified?
If you're considering attending a homeopath, there's no harm in asking what training they received and where. You can ask to see a copy of their qualification to practice and their insurance certificate. You can also ask if they are registered members of any homeopathic organisation. The Irish Society of Homeopaths is the main self-regulatory body for professional homeopaths in Ireland. You can check their register of members here.
Registered members of the society have graduated from a recognised school, hold professional insurance, agree to be bound by the society’s code of ethics and to take part in ongoing professional development. I attend ongoing workshops and lecture days organised by the society 2 or 3 times a year.
Is Homeopathy Covered by Private Medical Insurance?
In Ireland, Laya Healthcare, Irish Life Health, and the Hospital Saturday Fund (HSF) all have policies which refund a percentage of consultation fees with a registered Homeopath. Check with your own insurer to see if your policy gives a refund on homeopathic consultation fees.
3 Good Reasons to Choose Homeopathy!
Homeopathic remedies have a wonderful safety record and are free from toxic ingredients.
Homeopathy is a highly effective system of medicine which stimulates the body’s own natural healing abilities.
Homeopathic remedies can bring ease to emotional symptoms as well as physical ones.