Holistic medicine can be good, but only if you know what you’re doing or can find a good holistic doctor. Unlike say in Germany (where holistic medicine is routinely offered by GPs), sometimes for minor illness (or when conventional medicine can’t help) you have to travel through a minefield of info online to find the truth. Which is not the best idea.
Homeopathy is one holistic medicine that gets a lot of flack, because it’s basically watered down so much, that it’s a bit like ‘water with a memory’. However (as long as you don’t use it alone in defiance of medical advice for serious conditions), unlike some medicines, it’s more or less harmless (especially as it’s kind of water!)
However, do be sure to check ingredients. Many pills use lactose (from milk) and a few remedies are not vegan (apis for instance is from bees, so not good for welfare).
The Theory Beyond Homeopathy
Homeopathy was actually ‘invented’ by an 18th century German medical doctor (Samuel Hahnemann), using the premise of ‘like cures like’. A simple example of this is a vaccine. If you have a vaccine for chickenpox, you are going to be receiving a tiny bit of chickenpox, so your body will fight it and gain immunity.
Likewise with homeopathy. For instance, a remedy for a streaming nose may contain onions! A remedy for insomnia may contain coffee. But seriously watered down. Homeopathy remedies are sold in the ‘law of minimum dose’. So they are made by serial dilution by vigorous shaking, to make the remedy more gentle (yet more potent).
Say you make a cup of tea and stir in sugar. If you keep adding water, the taste will grow less sweet. But the sugar is still there.
How Homeopathy Works in Practice
You can visit the health shop to find some gentle remedies. For instance, many people keep a tube of arnica (for bruises) on hand or a tube of calendula cream (to heal cuts). Also choice depends on type of illness. For instance, one person with a migraine may feel better in the fresh air, another feels better with firm pressure on the head.
That’s where professional homeopaths can help, as they are highly trained (for years) in knowing which remedies are best for which symptoms. They then prescribe remedies in different potencies (like 6C or 30C).
Remedies are stored in a cool dark place, and usually should not be used alongside minty (toothpaste, mints, breath freshener, gum, peppermint tea tea). Once opened, treat the bottles like would you spices, as they fade in effectiveness, if the tops are left open.
What Conditions Can Homeopathy Help?
Alongside lifestyle changes, some common conditions that homeopathy can sometimes help are:
- Allergies: Streaming eyes and noses, sneezing fits.
- Digestive upsets: Nausea, bloating and sluggish digestion.
- Stress and mood: Grief and mental fatigue.
- Minor injuries: Bruises and small cuts or grazes.
- Colds and flu: Heavy limbs, aching bones and droopy eyes!
Due to limited ‘evidence’, homeopathy is not that common on the NHS (it’s only allowed when there is evidence). But some GPs do train it or refer to others. Keep your GP informed of any possible treatments.
Benefits and Limitations of Homeopathy
Although not suitable for emergencies (an acute infection or road accident needs antibiotics or a medical doctor), for other conditions, many patients prefer its gentle approach. And the one-on-one deep discussion with a qualified practitioner, rather than just a 15-minute ‘doling out pills’ appointment.
Find qualified practitioners at Society of Homeopaths or the Faculty of Homeopathy (some insurance companies will pay out for properly trained and insured homeopaths). You must tell the practitioner if you take drugs, or are under a GP care for any medical condition).
What Does the Evidence Say on Homeopath?
There is not a lot of evidence on homeopathy. But that’s usually because (unlike medical acupuncture) not a lot of trials have been done). As you likely know, Queen Elizabeth II had her own personal homeopath (and whether it was good genes or not, she remained incredibly healthy for her age, right up until her death).
NICE (the organisation that approves medicines for the NHS) does not recommend it (nor does World Health Organisation for serious diseases like HIV, TB or malaria). However, it also must be said that many people die or get bad reactions from medically-approved pharmaceutical drugs, so the end result is not so clear-cut.
One good thing is that due to not being ‘approved for use’ for the NHS, it means that homeopathic medicines are not tested on animals (the law currently says that anything prescribed must be).
Further Reading
- Claire Gardener Homeopathy is proof that homeopaths can offer plant-based remedies in sustainable packaging. If she can do it, so can the others.
- Dr Jonathan Hardy is a medical homeopath with information on how it works. He switched from studying medicine after being amazed by results.
- Homeopathy & Natural Remedies for Children is a book by a homeopath who has treated many childhood ailments over the years. Her site offers information and courses from 17 years experience, including one patient’s story of recovering from a near-fatal brain injury.
How Homeopathy Can Help Animals
When Manchester’s Fox Rescuers have a fox with mange, they send out a homeopathic remedy (serious cases require wildlife rescues to humanely trap the fox for conventional medicine).
Homeopathy at Wellie Level offers help and vet-endorsed courses for farmers to help prevent and treat common conditions. One Irish vet had cattle recover from mastitis using homeopathy. Deciding it was a coincidence, he took them off it, the disease returned, so he put them back on homeopathic medicine, and is now a convert!
