What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is the use of specially prepared remedies to induce healing. Homeopathy does not treat disease as conventional medicine does. Homeopathy does not offer a “cure” for any particular disease. Classical homeopathy is based on the principle that the person heals him or herself, to the extent possible, in response to a well-selected remedy. The remedy is selected for the person, not for a particular disease. A well-selected remedy is known as the simillimum.

What is a homeopathic remedy?

A homeopathic remedy may be made from any substance. We have remedies from the plant, animal and mineral kingdoms. When a substance has been made into a remedy it is referred to as “potentized”. A remedy contains only an imprint of “information” from the original substance. That is why remedies can be made from anything, including substances that would be poisonous in their original state. In fact, a remedy chemically contains none of the substance from which it is made.  It is not known (scientifically) how homeopathic remedies contain the imprint of the original substance, or how they have their effects. A great deal is known (practically) about how to create the remedies, and how to select them for individuals. This practical knowledge is based on careful observations by homeopaths over the past 200 years. In the beginning, homeopaths worked with less than 100 remedies. Now we have several thousand, and more are created all the time.

What is the simillimum?

This is the principle of “like cures like” which is fundamental to homeopathy. The simillimum is the remedy that is “similar” to the state of the individual. Traditionally, the simillimum is defined as the remedy that can produce a set of symptoms in a healthy person that are similar to the individual’s disease symptoms. However, this can be misleading because the similarity is not based in the symptoms, but in the underlying state that is causing the symptoms. Homeopaths view symptoms as only the signs of disease.

Is homeopathy medical treatment?

No, homeopathy is not medical treatment. Homeopathy is not a substitute for regular medical treatment and I am not a medical professional. I have extensively studied homeopathy, but I have no standard medical training. I cannot assess whether you have a serious or life-threatening illness. It is very important that you maintain regular medical care. I do not recommend making any changes in your current medical treatments.

What conditions can be addressed with homeopathy?

Because the selection of a homeopathic remedy is based on the state of the whole person, not a particular disease, I can consult with you regardless of the nature of your diagnosis or symptoms. The focus of your problem can be mental, emotional or physical, or some combination of these.

I am a constitutional homeopath. This means that I select a remedy for the long-term state of a client. I generally do not select remedies for acute conditions such as colds, flu, etc., though a tendency to have a lots of colds, for example, can be an aspect of a person’s long-term state.

If you are currently undergoing treatment for serious disease, I can consult with you, but it can be difficult. I can always consult with you after you complete the treatment. For chronic, non-life-threatening problems, even if you are currently taking medication for the condition, I can consult with you at any time.

What is it like to be a homeopathic client?

Homeopathy is cost effective, both financially and in terms of your time. Although it is always important to be living a healthy lifestyle with regard to food, sleep, exercise, etc., homeopathy itself requires very little of your time and involves no regimen. Homeopathy fits perfectly with today’s busy lifestyles.

The initial interview is scheduled for two hours. This allows plenty of time for any questions that you may have. Also, it allows us to discuss your health issues without feeling hurried. The pace is relaxed.

There is no pressure to talk about any particular issue. In order to find a remedy for you, I need you to be willing to talk about yourself, and about what problem has caused you to seek out homeopathy. Beyond that, each interview is unique, as it is your interview, in which I listen to you in order to hear the pattern of your remedy.

Homeopathy does not involve any psychological diagnosis. With thousands of remedies to choose from, it is not a matter of fitting you into a set pattern. Instead, I try to gain of sense of you as a unique person, and then find a remedy that is “similar” to that.

Where will my remedy come from?

I will obtain the remedy for you from one of a few specialized companies. The three I use most often are located in California, England and Austria. My remedy selection for you is not a “prescription” but a recommendation based on application of my knowledge of homeopathy. Remedies are not controlled substances, by either state or federal government, and you can buy them yourself directly if you so desire. I do not charge any “mark up” on remedies.

What can I expect after taking a remedy?

Each person reacts individually. Some people get an “aggravation”, and some do not. Aggravation is a positive sign in homeopathy, and consists of a brief increase in some symptoms, or sometimes a new symptom. Aggravations typically are not severe, and usually will not interfere with your daily activities. Changes in symptoms can also be a good sign. At the end of one or a few months, we will evaluate whether you have reacted positively to the remedy. If you have had no positive reaction, we can seek a better remedy. Homeopathy is not a quick process — it involves a lot of waiting!

More information on homeopathy

You may still have questions. You may schedule a short telephone or in person consultation, free of charge, if you have questions that you want to discuss before you decide whether to schedule a full appointment.

I can present a one hour talk on homeopathy and its history to a group of any size, at no charge.  I will come to your location, or I can provide a location if you provide the audience.  Just give me a call or e-mail.

If you want to do further reading, here is a printable list of readily available books.