What does homeopathy treat?
Because it is used to treat the person, most anyone can benefit from homeopathy. It can work very quickly in most first aid and acute situations (e.g. the flu, seasickness, a sprained ankle.) But where homeopathy really shines is in its success with more chronic, long-standing problems.
People who consult with homeopaths come with a very broad range of complaints, for example,
- Migraine headaches, insomnia, allergies, hay fever
- Hormonal, menopausal symptoms, PMS, interstitial cystitis, bladder infections
- Stress, prolonged grief, life transitions, anxiety, depression, eating disorders
- ADHD; Autism, Asperger Syndrome and other autistic spectrum disorders
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis, sports injuries, chronic pain
- Digestive problems, constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, GERD
- Skin conditions, warts, eczema, herpes
….and many, many others. Again, these are just a few examples. Remember that the way homeopathy works is by stimulating self-healing, not by directly targeting a diagnosis or particular symptom.
Homeopathy is rarely able to reverse the progression of advanced pathology. However, in these situations, it can often reduce the severity of pain or other symptoms as well as help a person’s overall vitality (e.g. increased energy, better sleep, improved mood etc.)
What about other medications I am taking?
With a few exceptions, homeopathy can work well along side conventional medications so it can usually be used in a complementary manner. Homeopathic remedies do not medicate you like a drug, they stimulate the healing process. There are no known or suspected drug interactions between homeopathic remedies and conventional medicines. As your general, overall health improves with homeopathic treatment, your medication requirements MAY change so it is important to see your doctor for regular evaluations. As always, if you are on any prescribed medications you should not stop or adjust medications without first consulting with your doctor or prescribing practitioner.
What is involved in a visit to the homeopath?
You will be asked to describe your symptoms in much detail. The homeopath needs to understand very clearly how YOU experience your condition. If your main complaint is emotional or mental in nature, you will also be asked about your physical and general health; and if your main complaint is physical, you will also be asked about your emotional and mental state. All of this information is necessary to choose the best remedy. With young children and others who can not verbally express themselves, observation by the homeopath as well as conversations with parents or other family members help complete the picture.
The first consultation usually lasts at least 2 hours, with considerably less time spent in most follow-up visits. Often your homeopath will need to study your “case” after you have left in order to select the best remedy for you.
Although it is generally best to consult in person with a homeopath, telephone or Skype consultations can be appropriate if there is not a qualified homeopath near by or if it is difficult to travel.
What Can I Expect from Homeopathic Treatment?
In classical homeopathy, only a single remedy is taken at a time. So if you have a few complaints, just one remedy will be selected to “cover” them all. Your overall, general state of health (things like your energy level, sense of well-being, sleep quality, etc) may first improve, followed by or combined with improvements in your main complaint.
Sometimes your symptoms will get worse for a short time. If this happens, it is a good sign; it is part of the healing process and should be accompanied by an improved sense of well-being. During the course of treatment, some old symptoms you had in the past (sometimes from very long ago!) may also return for a short time. Again, this is an excellent sign that deep healing is taking place.
The extent of improvements, and how long it takes to see them, generally depends on the severity of your symptoms, how long you have had them, and, of course, the accuracy of the remedy choice. Some people experience almost immediate and dramatic improvement in their symptoms but many people will have a more gradual improvement over several weeks and months, and years in some cases.
What most people also find is that less limiting problems which they had gotten used to over time also improve after a period of treatment. This, again, can occur on any level of experience. For example, many people become less sensitive to certain foods they used to have to avoid. Improvement in the one’s ability to handle stress is also a very common benefit of homeopathic treatment, even if that was not the reason the person sought treatment.
Along with a healthy lifestyle, homeopathy plays a preventative role by strengthening the immune system and keeping the body in a healthy, balanced state. After a period of homeopathic treatment, it is very common to experience far fewer acute illnesses, like colds and the flu, or if you get them, the symptoms are often very mild and short-lived.
How often do I need to visit a homeopath?
The first few follow-up visits are usually 4-8 weeks apart and as your health improves, the time between visits lengthens gradually, until you are just coming in as needed. Even though you may feel great after just a few months, in most chronic cases, longer treatment is necessary to remove the tendency of the body to produce your symptoms again (e.g. prevent relapse).
Is homeopathy covered by insurance?
Insurance coverage for alternative health care really varies with insurance plans. You should check with your provider. You may also be able to use your Flexible Spending Account or Health Saving Account. The good news is that visits to the homeopath are infrequent. Further, many people find that as their overall health improves with homeopathy, their need for multiple supplements or various other treatments they had been using is often greatly reduced or eliminated. The immediate, preventative and long term health benefits of homeopathic treatment make it a cost effective solution to health care.
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