Homeopathy: what is it and how can it work for me?

It treats each person as a unique individual with the aim of stimulating their own healing ability. A homeopath selects the most appropriate medicine based on the person’s specific symptoms and personal level of health.

Homeopathy can be used to treat both acute and chronic conditions in old and young people, including babies and pregnant women, and there’s even homeopathy for dogs. Treatment is most often taken in tablet form and can be safely used alongside conventional medicine. Homeopathy side effects can occur, but this is dependent on what ailment you’re looking to cure.

Is homeopathy a placebo?

If homeopathy really was just a placebo, then we could not explain the existence of positive, high quality trials. An impressive homeopathy example comes from a study, published in 2014 that found that homeopathic medicines – when prescribed during treatment – are 1.5-2 times more likely to have a beneficial effect than a placebo.

There was also a dramatic reduction in the leptospirosis infection rate (84%) observed in 2007 when the Cuban government – which did not have time to produce vaccines for the entire population during an epidemic outbreak – gave a homeopathic medicine to 2.3 million people.
There are currently 3,000 registered homeopaths in the UK, 7,400 homeopaths who are also qualified doctors, 60 homeopathic vets, four NHS funded homeopathic hospitals, several registers and 20 homeopathic schools. Registered homeopaths have undertaken rigorous academic and clinical training, are insured and adhere to a code of ethics.

“During an in-depth case-taking process, a homeopath will build up a picture of the patient, taking into account all of their symptoms and how they experience them, before prescribing,” says Zofia Dymitr, chairwoman of The Society of Homeopaths. “They will look at why they’re looking to try the treatment, for example are they looking to treat a mental health condition such as using homeopathy for depression? Or is it a physical ailment they’re looking to treat such as homeopathy for arthritis?”

It can even be used for lifestyle conditions, for example, homeopathy for weight loss can be applied. “During the case-taking, the practitioner is working to put together a picture of the patient; their personality, likes and dislikes, emotional state and medical history. All of this information is used to match a person and remedy.” adds Zofia. It takes real skill and knowledge to do this – a person must train for four years to become a homeopath.

What can homeopathy help?

A homeopathy NHS study included over 6,500 consecutive patients with over 23,000 attendances in a six-year period. 70% of follow-up patients reported improved health with 50% reporting major improvement. The largest improvements were reported in homeopathy for eczema or childhood homeopathy for asthma attacks.

Success was also found with irritable bowel syndrome and homeopathy for menopausal problems and symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes. Homeopathy for migraines also found improvements in symptoms .

Since its development over 200 years ago, homeopathy has benefited millions of people, young and old, from all walks of life, in countries all over the world. Research shows that 79% of the UK population is open to the idea of homeopathy and 15% of the population regularly use it. The thing that unites most of these people is that they have already tried everything that conventional medicine has to offer, yet continue to suffer.

Homeopathy for colds

Stay fighting fit this winter and get rid of a common cold quickly, with homeopathic cold remedies and top tips from leading homeopath, Lyndsey Booth.

“We know in layman’s terms that the immune system works by reacting to eliminate foreign factors which pose a threat to bodily functions, such as viruses. Your body needs the exposure to learn the appropriate response or antidote to prepare it in the future. We also need to support our immune system by stimulating it with natural processes which the body can recognise as friendly and helpful with herbs such as echinacea, good nutrition and exercise.

One thing that is not very popular in homeopathic treatments is the notion to go with the flow of the body. Most people who feel a cold coming on, immediately increase supplements in the hope that it will curtail the inevitable, but the immune system has to learn the lesson of the disease in order to recover from it fully, recognise it next time and disable it.

In homeopathic terms it actually diverts the energy or the attention of the body from the main attack on the body. By taking such actions it also interrupts the process of the illness and deprives the body of the opportunity to lay down a useful marker in the immune system. When your body starts going down with a cold it does not have the resources or energy to break down and utilise supplements.

Are you struggling with symptoms such as nasal discharge and a runny nose? There are remedies available when looking for homeopathy for your sinuses or a homeopathic remedy for a sore throat. These are known as ferrum phos and aconite; these will not stop the progress of the illness but will ease its passage.

Other popular ingredients used for the treatment of colds in the world of homeopathy are allium cepa, rhus toxicodendron and kali bichromicum.”

Homeopathic remedies for IBS

Homeopathy has a proven track record in helping alleviate chronic symptoms of IBS, gastritis and digestive tract issues. A study at Bristol Homoeopathic Hospital, showed over 70 percent of patients with chronic diseases including irritable bowel syndrome reported positive health changes after treatment. More than 6,500 patients took part in the six-year study with problems such as arthritis, eczema, asthma, migraines, depression and chronic fatigue.

Arsenicum album

This remedy suits people who always feel chilly, so much so that even eating cold foods such as ice cream aggravates their stomachs.

Argentum nitricum

This remedy can be used for patients that suffer with a lot of very loud and forceful belching or flatulence. Patients can benefit if they struggle with nausea and indigestion associated with nerves or anxiety, especially before a stressful event like a job interview or exam.

Natrum muriaticum

Do you struggle with indigestion after too much starchy food with sour belching and terrible hiccups? Do you also find you have painful stomach cramps, aggravated by touch? This remedy is beneficial for those who find their symptoms worsen with strong emotions such as grief or stewing on the past..

Homeopathy courses

Depending on your location, most cities have plenty of homeopathic pharmacies to choose from. If you’re UK-based, there are many homeopathic doctors in London, with the very popular Helios Homeopathy just 30 miles south-east of central London. There’s also London Homeopathic Clinic and Keith Smeaton.