Homeopath I - Homeopathy in Practice:

Question 1

Homeopathic case taking:

Answer 1

Homeopathic case taking:
* When taking case notes from a client, a homeopath needs to record as much detail as possible:
‒ Characteristic nature and onset of symptoms.
‒ How the person feels (sensation, emotional response, what makes symptoms better or worse).
‒ Past medical history.
‒ Family medical history.
* A thorough case taking investigates the whole person —mental, emotional and physical symptoms with emphasis on how the individual client experiences those symptoms.

Question 2

Modalities

Answer 2

• Modalities: Refer to certain factors that affect or modify a symptom i.e., make the symptom better or worse. Denoted by:
  >Better for (ameliorated by)

<Worse for (aggravated by)
* Modalities include: Time of day, posture (e.g., sitting, lying), movement, weather, temperature, light, noise, touch / pressure.
* E.g., someone needing the remedy Arsenicum album may present with food poisoning where vomiting and diarrhoea is:
< midnight to 3 am
> warmth and lying down

Question 3

Prescribing homeopathic remedies:

Answer 3

Prescribing homeopathic remedies:
Individualised: Looks at the totality of Sx in the individual and:
* Matches them to the remedy picture (simillimum) —like cures like.
* Determines the correct potency and frequency of dose. Influenced by whether the condition is acute or chronic, the state of the Vital Force (weak to robust). The potency ideally needs to be slightly stronger than the Vital Force.
* Considers obstacles to cure e.g., a client with a poor diet, disrupts the Vital Force and therefore the ability to respond to the remedy. A client with eczema who continues to use a corticosteroid cream (suppression).

Question 4

Remedy repetition (time between each dose):

Answer 4

Remedy repetition (time between each dose):
* Generally, the repetition times are shorter the more acute the situation is.
* An acute response requires more Vital Force energy, therefore, more frequent doses are required to maintain the healing response.
* In chronic states, the Vital Force is usually weaker, thus the remedy is repeated at less frequent intervals to match the level of vitality.
* Once there is no further improvement, the remedy should be stopped. If the symptoms have resolved the remedy is no longer a match i.e., you are no longer matching a simillimum (like cures like).

Question 5

Why the remedy may stop working:

Answer 5

Why the remedy may stop working:
1. The patient is cured! I.e., all presenting complaints have been removed and the patient is in an overall state of homeostasis. Stop taking the remedy!
2. The remedy has been suppressed e.g., having peppermint or menthol (toothpaste, chewing gum etc.) at the same time as the remedy. This can affect the potency and / or absorption.
3. Patient needs a ‘stronger’ remedy i.e., a higher potency. The remedy is a match but the potency is not adequate.
4. Change of remedy needed —change of state has occurred and the original simillimum no longer applies.

Question 6

What about the placebo effect?

Answer 6

What about the placebo effect?
Critics of homeopathy often attribute improvements to the placebo effect. Yet!
* Shown to be effective in babies and young children.
* Shown to be effective in patients who are comatose.
* Shown to be effective in treating animals.
* All are unlikely to be influenced by the placebo effect.
* Supported by clinical observation and research.

Question 7

When can a naturopathic practitioner use homeopathy?

Answer 7

When can a naturopathic practitioner use homeopathy?
* First aid —used to provide rapid relief as sole treatment or, if required, until further medical attention can be sought.
* Remedies may be given every 15 minutes e.g., bee sting, consider apisor ledum 30C until swelling subsides.

Acute and chronic prescribing —refer to a Homeopathic Practitioner.
* Acute prescribing can overlap with first aid prescribing, however in general, is more serious requiring more in-depth knowledge.
* Chronic—lower potencies (15C–30C) with less frequent repetition but taken for a longer period of time. Is focused more on constitutional prescribing.

Question 8

How to take homeopathic remedies:

Answer 8

How to take homeopathic remedies:
* Ensure the mouth is clean.
* Avoid using mint / peppermint toothpaste, teas etc. 30 mins before and after —can inhibit absorption of the remedy.
* Place pills directly into the mouth from the bottle cap and avoid handling the pills as it may reduce their effectiveness.
* Pills should be sucked or chewed, not swallowed with water.
* Avoid food and drink for 15 minutes before and after.
* Store them in a dry, dark place away from strong odours.
* Keep out of reach of children.