The Consultation

The initial consultation will last approximately one and a half hours.  I will ask questions about your physical symptoms as well as general things about food likes and dislikes, thirst, perspiration and sleep etc.  I will also ask you about your personality, fears and anxieties in order to get a clear picture of how you respond to certain situations.  This will help me to determine which remedy is best for you.  In some circumstances, I may advise you to contact a medical practitioner to have tests or discuss other options.  All consultations are conducted in the strictest confidence, and all your personal information is kept secure in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

What will happen after my consultation?

After the first consultation I will send you the remedy I have prescribed.  It will be in the form of either drops or tablets.  I will usually ask you to make another appointment in 4 to 6 weeks' time so that we can review how things are going.

During this period you may notice certain changes.  Sometimes there is a reaction after taking the remedy, which often takes the form of a discharge (for example, a runny nose).  Or you may notice a temporary release of emotional symptoms.  Later, you may notice that old, sometimes forgotten, symptoms appear briefly.  Homeopaths believe this is a good sign, as it means the body is dealing with conditions that were previously suppressed or not dealt with at the time.

Do I have to avoid eating or drinking anything while I am being treated?

It is best to avoid eating, drinking or cleaning your teeth for 15 minutes before and after taking a remedy, as this can reduce its effectiveness.

How are homeopathic remedies made?

There are five regulated homeopathic pharmacies in the UK which make remedies.  There are more than 3,000 of these made from a wide variety of plants, minerals and the animal kingdom.  They are prepared by a sophisticated process of dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking), after which very little of the original substance remains.  Homeopaths believe that remedies work by using the energy of the original substance, rather than its material properties.

Homeopathic medicines come in different potencies (strengths) in the form of liquid, powders, and hard or soft pills.

Isn’t it dangerous to use poisonous herbs?

It is easy to confuse homeopathy with herbalism, because we also use plants in some of our medicines.  Herbalists use tinctures (crude doses), but, although many medicinal plants are POTENTIALLY poisonous, our medicine is highly diluted, so there is no chance of toxicity.

How long will my treatment last?

This can vary because each individual case is different. Some patients report changes within hours or days, but deep-seated conditions which have been around for years do not disappear overnight and can take some time to resolve, so please be patient.

Can you treat serious diseases?

It’s important to remember that homeopathy treats the individual and how they experience their symptoms, rather than named diseases.  So, ten people suffering with eczema are likely to need different remedies.  Potentially homeopathy may be helpful in any illness, but it really depends on the kind of illness and how far on the disease is. 

Can homeopathy be used alongside conventional medicine?

Yes, because homeopathy works in a different way, it can safely be used alongside conventional medicine. 

Is it true that homeopaths don’t agree with vaccination?

Homeopaths specialise in the treatment of individuals and their unique responses to disease.  So we work with a different health model from the conventional one, which aims to increase 'herd immunity'.  The Society of Homeopaths acknowledges that there is much anecdotal and scientific evidence to support the arguments presented for and against vaccination.  We believe that parents should be supported in making rational, informed decisions on the short and long-term implications of vaccination.

What if my symptoms persist?

If your symptoms persist you should always consult a doctor.

Can homeopathy treat pregnant women and small babies?

Homeopathy comes into its own when we treat women with common problems of pregnancy, such as morning sickness, back-ache and fatigue.  Because the medicines are non-toxic, even very small babies can be treated, for problems such as failure to feed, indigestion and colic.

Do I have to believe in homeopathy for it to work for me?

No.  Newborn babies, young children and even animals are regularly treated with homeopathic remedies.

How do we know homeopathy works?  Could it just be a placebo?

Homeopathy has been in continued use for over 200 years and its success rates are much higher than that which could be attributed to placebo.  While it is true that there is an element of placebo in any therapeutic relationship, homeopathic remedies are just as effective on babies and animals.  Many meta-analysis trials have shown that homepathy is more than placebo, for example:

     K. Linde, N. Clausius, G. Ramirez, et al

     Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials.

     Lancet 1997:350:834-43

     J. Kleijnen, P. Knipschild, G. ter Riet

     Clinical trials of homeopathy

     Br Ned J 1991:302:316-23

     M. Cucherat, M.C. Haugh, M. Gooch, J-P. Boissel

     Evidence of clinical efficacy of homeopathy. A meta-analysis of clinical trials.

     Eur J Chin Pharmacol 2000:56:27-33

If the remedies are so dilute, how can they work?

Unlike other forms of medicine, homeopathy does not work on the material level.  The remedies are so dilute that there is little or no molecule of the original substance remaining.  Homeopaths  believe - and there is mounting evidence to suggest - that homeopathy is what is known as an ‘energy medicine’.  In other words, that homeopathic remedies work by using the energy from the original substance.  Experiments in the area of quantum physics, that is, at the sub-molecular level, tend to support our theory that homeopathy is rather like a message to the body to heal itself.

There is also some evidence that water has a 'memory', and research into that is ongoing.  A study by Masaru Emoto has shown that water contains 'messages' of any thoughts or emotions it is exposed to: http://www.whatthebleep.com/crystals/

An interesting book about water, including the memory of water in the quantum field, is The Story of Water: Source of Life by Alick Bartholomew (Floris Books. ISBN-13: 9780863157387).

Is there any real evidence that homeopathy works?

Yes, there is a good evidence base for homeopathy.

By the end of 2007, 134 Randomised Controlled Trials of homeopathy had been published in peer-reviewed journals.  Of these trials, 59 are positive (i.e. demonstrating that homeopathy has an effect beyond placebo), 8 are negative and the remaining 67 are inconclusive.  This is despite the fact that RCTs are not a good way to trial homeopathy because it is an individual treatment.

In 2005, the largest service evaluation of homeopathic treatment, carried out at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital, reported that 70 per cent of 6,500 follow-up patients experienced improvement in their health:

     D.S. Spence, E.A. Thompson, S.J. Barron

     Homeopathic Treatment for Chronic Disease: A 6-Year, University-Hospital Outpatient Observational Study

     Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2005, 11:793-798.

There have been many other studies, as well as meta-analysis trials like those listed in the How do we know homeopathy works?  Could it just be a placebo? section above, which demonstrate that homeopathy does work. Below is just some of the more recent research:

     Dr. Concepción Campa, Dr. Luis E. Varela, Dr. Esperanza Gilling, MCs. Rolando Fernández, Tec. Bárbara Ordaz,

     Homeoprophylaxis: Cuban Experiences on Leptospirosis

     Presented at the International Meeting on Homeoprophylaxis, Homeopathic Immunization and Nosodes against

     Epidemics, 2008, Havana

     A. Steinsbekk, R. Lüdtke

     Patients' assessments of the effectiveness of homeopathic care in Norway: A prospective observational

     Homeopathy, 94 (2005), 10-16

     http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-11844297403&origin=inward&txGid=79ie_u0p0cPFoTLkdzTDA2p%3a2 

     Claudia M. Witt, Rainer Lüdtke, Nils Mengler, and Stefan N. Willich

     How healthy are chronically ill patients after eight years of homeopathic treatment? – Results from a long-term

     observational study

     BMC Public Health, 8 (2008), 413

     http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2630323/

For laboratory evidence see:

     Memorandum submitted by Dr Peter Fisher' (HO 21), House of Commons Science and Technology Committee

     Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy

     London: The Stationery Office Limited, 2010, pp. Ev 25-26.

For further examples of studies of clinical practice, in addition to those above, see:

     Donal McDade

     Evaluation [of a] Complementary and Alternative Medicines Pilot Project

     London: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 2008

     Dr. Adrian Hunnisett

     Homeopathy Service Survey

     Cirencester: The Park Surgery, 2005

     M. Brook et al

     Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, Effects of homeopathic Arnica Montana on bruising in face-lifts – results of a

     Volume 8, No 1, Jan-Feb 2006

For the latest research updates click this link to the Society of Homeopaths website:

     http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/whats-new/research/evid/clinical-trials.aspx

Can I treat myself with homeopathic remedies?

You can try some common over-the-counter remedies at home to alleviate minor ailments or injuries such as colds, earaches and bruises.  However, recurrent problems such as ear infections or cystitis need proper assessment by a qualified homeopath who can examine the underlying causes and determine the most appropriate treatment.  If your symptoms persist you should always consult a doctor.