Holistic Medicine (that you can trust)
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!
What Are The Benefits of Medical Acupuncture?
In England, we are fortunate to have an NHS. But of course that often means that if you choose holistic medicine, only a few therapies are available. This is kind of good, because it means that quacks can’t rip you off and do you harm. But it also means that sometimes beneficial medicines that could help, are only available privately.
The good news is that some reputable medical acupuncture is available on the NHS, but you may have to ask your GP (especially sceptical ones) although some GPs are actually trained in acupuncture too. But they can legally refer in most cases, if there is one that is licensed to practice to NHS guidelines.
Acupuncture is often not given to people with pacemakers/implants, bleeding disorders (including those on medication) and those at risk of infection. And nobody with a metal allergy!
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a holistic medicine that is widely practiced worldwide. It works in a very different way to conventional western medicine, in that it uses very thin needles (they don’t hurt!) to ‘open up meridians’. We won’t go into the science, as only the practitioner can really tell you in detail, and you likely just want to feel better.
There have been quite a few double-blind trials to show that medical acupuncture can be affected for various conditions, the most common is long-term chronic back pain. And other kinds of pain like arthritis or migraine. It kind of works by stimulating nerves to prompt your body to release endorphins (natural pain killers) and improve blood flow.
It will only work in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle. So if you visit an acupuncturist say for bad migraines, the practitioner could possibly help with improving blood flow and relieving pain over a number of weeks. But if you go home and then live on black coffee and red wine, it won’t cure your migraine! Holistic medicine always involves lifestyle changes.
Acupuncture is pretty safe when done professionally, there are a few caveats (above) and some people may feel a tingle or dull ache during treatment (which lasts 20 to 40 minutes). But for most people it doesn’t hurt, and some people even find it relaxing. Your practitioner is also sure to give healthy lifestyle tips, to continue between treatments.
Be careful, as a few may recommend herbal medicine. This DOES often have serious side effects (and should never be given without consultation with your GP). Which is why it’s so important to only use properly registered medical acupuncturists.
Another reason is that some unlicensed practitioners still (illegally) use medicine that uses animal parts (like powdered tiger and rhino horn, bear bile or ingredients critically endangered pangolins (all victims of wildlife crime).
Don’t worry about infections, as acupuncture needles are all sterile, and single-use (just like syringes).
Where To Find Qualified Acupuncturists
Enter your postcode at British Acupuncture Council to find one of 3000 members, who belong to an accredited register that is regulated and approved by the Professional Standards Agency for Health & Social Care. GPs can legally refer.
More affordable are community acupuncture clinics across England that offer the same, bringing the price down to around £20 (rather than £40 to £80). One practitioner treats several people in one room, each person behind a privacy screen.
Reasons to Only Use Qualified Medical Herbalists
Herbal medicine is popular in England, but it’s very important to only use qualified herbal medicine. Unlike homeopathy and medical acupuncture, there are more contraindications – natural is not always safe. Herbal medicines can have serious side effects if you start playing around with them, and often interact with other medicines and supplements.
Always tell your GP if considering using herbal medicine or supplements (or are pregnant/nursing). And only use a qualified practitioner. Find one at National Institute of Medical Herbalists or College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy Side effects are reported to MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
A qualified medical herbalist is educated to degree level, and will know of interactions with other medicines and supplements. This is far safer than asking an assistant in a health shop, who won’t be trained to know medicines (and herbal teas) to avoid recommending.
Good examples of when to use caution:
- Although recommended by many German medical doctors (as an alternative to Prozac), St John’s Wort (a herbal medicine to treat depression) can interact with anti-depressants, contraceptive pills and some heart medicines.
- Liquorice can affect people on blood pressure medication.
- Ginkgo and ginseng can thin the blood (which could affect medicines like Warfarin).
- Goldenseal can affect drug metabolism, including statins and antihistamines.
- Kava has in some cases, been linked to liver damage.
- Peppermint oil may affect antacids, and should be avoided for acid reflux
The good news is that when used correctly, herbal medicines (which can be very powerful) that do a lot of good. If you’re a sceptic, think of aspirin. This is the likely the most popular herbal medicine. And keeping rainforests safe from logging is one way to protect medicines that could indeed cure major diseases, but perhaps are not yet found.
Evidence-Based Treatments for Better Results
Qualified medical herbalists draw on research and clinical trials, and use help from guidelines like the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association. They will look at evidence for herbs like valerian (for sleep), peppermint (for IBS) and chamomile (for anxiety).
They also use different prescriptions for different people, combined with lifestyle change advice. For example, a herbal prescription for anxiety may also include tips on nutrition, gentle exercise and better sleep. Then if there are no positive results, medicines will be adjusted.
Avoid Herbalists That Use Animal Parts
MHRA’s Traditional Herbal Registration scheme sets quality standards for over-the-counter products. This is not just to ensure plants are sustainable, but to avoid unregulated and illegal use of animal parts from endangered species. Such as bear bile, sea horse parts or ground-up bones from tigers and rhinos.
It’s illegal to use these in the UK anyway. Another reason why it’s so important to choose reputable medically-trained herbal practitioners, like those above.
