Complementary therapy 1: Homeopathy, Bach Remedies and aromatherapy

Question 1

What are the different types of complementary therapy (3)?

Answer 1

Alternative medicine
Holistic medicine
Natural therapies

Question 2

What are the traditional forms of medicine (3)?

Answer 2

Allopathic medicine
Western medicine
Orthodox medicine

Question 3

Whats the scope of complementary therapy (10) ?

Answer 3

• Homeopathy
• Aromatherapy
• Bach remedies
• Herbal medicine
• Hypnotherapists
• Acupuncture
• Osteopaths
• Chiropractice
• Shiatsu
• Psychotherapy

Question 4

Who regulates Complementary therapies?

Answer 4

The General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies (GRCCT)

Question 5

What do the GRCCT have?

Answer 5

 a Code of Conduct and Ethics
 a Requirement for member to complete CPD
 a complaints procedure
 produced National Occupational Standards (NOS)
• NOS have been published for aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, massage, reflexology, Reiki

Question 6

Is registration and regulation with the GRCCT obligatory?

Answer 6

NO - it is voluntary

Question 7

What minor ailments are complementary therapies used for?

Answer 7

Back pain – very common, not easy to treat 
Depression
Insomnia
Severe headache or migraine, 
Stomach or intestinal illnesses

Question 8

What does holistic mean?

Answer 8

characterised by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease.

Question 9

Who is the founder of homeopathy?

Answer 9

Dr Samuel Hahnemann

- believed medical interventions should not be harmful

Question 10

What was carried out in the observation stage of Homeopathy?

Answer 10

• He took cinchona bark - used to treat fever
• he developed symptoms of fever
• give less of the substance to increase the potency

Question 11

What is the hypothesis of homeopathy?

Answer 11

“Remedy effective against a disease would produce symptoms resembling those of the disease when given to a healthy person

Question 12

How was homeopathy tested?

Answer 12

• he repeated the tests on his family

- he also tested other products

Question 13

What does Similia Similibus Curantur mean?

Answer 13

• Let like be treated with like (use something that causes the symptoms to treat the condition)
  Treatments stimulate the body in a way which oppose the disorder

Question 14

What makes homeopathic medicines more effective?

Answer 14

• Dilution

- Shaking

Question 15

Explain the preparation of homeopathy

Answer 15

1. Preparation of mother tincture (plant extract, animal origin etc)
   a. source material
   i. If soluble, with alcohol/water
   ii. If insoluble, titrated with lactose until can be suspended
2. Mother tincture diluted to required potency
   a. Succussion – shake in between each dilution
   b. Diluted homeopathic liquid added to blank pellets, dried and packaged

Question 16

How are preparations expressed?

Answer 16

As potencies:

• 1x = 1 in 10
• 3x = 1 in 10, followed by 1 in 10, followed by 1 in 10 (shake between each dilution)
• 1c = 1 in 100 etc

Question 17

What happens to the potency the more you dilute?

Answer 17

The more you dilute, the HIGHER the potency

Question 18

What are some homeopathic preparations?

Answer 18

• Tinctures
• Tablets
• Powders
• Pills
• Creams

Question 19

How should homeopathics be stored?

Answer 19

• Protect from sunlight and strong smelling
• Ideally in glass containers
• No fixed shelf life

Question 20

Quantity expressed as number of grams which equates to:

Answer 20

o 1g = 10 tablets
o 2.5g = 18 tablets
o 7g = 50 tablets

Question 21

What are some considerations regarding administration?

Answer 21

o Not handled
o Suck or chew
o Avoid taking anything oral within 15 minutes

Question 22

Is homeopathy available via the NHS, and can they be prescribed on an NHS prescription?

Answer 22

Yes (although not widely available/used as there is no clear or robust evidence to support the use)

Question 23

Many homeopathic remedies are available for self management by patients. How would you advise a patient which to take?

Answer 23

o Complete a diploma in Homeopathy

o Homeopathic formularies

Question 24

What are the organisations concerning Homeopathy?

Answer 24

• The Society of Homeopaths
-Society for professional homeopaths
• The Faculty of Homeopathy
-Regulator for homeopathic training for health professions
-DFHom
-MFHom
• The British Homeopathic Association
-Lay members plus health professional

Question 25

Who is Dr Edward Bach, and what did he do?

Answer 25

He believed diseases arose when there was a disharmony between mind and body
- remedies worked on the negative state of the mind

Question 26

How were Bach’s Flower Remedies prepared?

Answer 26

o Flowers floated on spring water and exposed to sunlight
o Diluted 50% with brandy
o Further diluted with water and brandy

Question 27

How were Bach’s Flower Remedies administered?

Answer 27

o Several drops taken in spoonful of water at least four times a day
o Can be applied to lips, temples, wrists or behind ears

Question 28

What is aromatherapy?

Answer 28

• A holistic approach
• Essential oils have a systemic action to balance toxic effects and restore balance
• Usually oils are administered via a massage or inhalation

Question 29

What are the different types of oil used in aromatherapy?

Answer 29

• Essential oils or essences obtained by distillation or extracted by pressure
• Infused oil – infuse into base oil
• Oils are then diluted with a base or carrier oil

Question 30

What is a safety consideration about lipid soluble extracts for essential oils?

Answer 30

They are more concentrated than whole herb