Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

176 •SERIOUS AILMENTSCONSULTING A PRACTITIONERAn interview with a homeopathic practitioner will be likelylonger than a conventional medical consultation,and often involves a series of follow-up visits several weeksapart, especially if a long-term condition is being treated.This allows the progress of an ailment to be carefullyAmassing informationHomeopaths believe that a person’s state ofhealth reflects the level of their inner vitalityat the time, and that good health is definedas freedom from illness combined with generalphysical and emotional well-being. Homeopathsalso consider that certain health problemsdevelop from an acquired or inherited “root,”and that a person has a tendency to become illin a particular way—his or her susceptibility(see page 18). According to homeopathic theory,illness results from imbalances in body systems,which have a great capacity for self-healing.This can be stimulated and nurtured byhomeopathic treatment.MAXIMIZING EFFECTSWhen taking a homeopathic remedy, observethe following “rules” in order to ensure thatit has the best chance of working effectively.• Do not eat for 30 minutes before takinga homeopathic remedy, so that it entersthe system on its own.• Do not eat for 30 minutes after takinga remedy so as not to inhibit absorption.• Avoid strong foods and drinks, suchas spicy foods and alcohol, that affectbody systems, or consume them only inmoderation. Some, such as coffee, mayactually counteract the remedy.• Avoid using strong substances, such ashousehold cleaning products, that mighthave a poisoning effect on the body.• Avoid medicinal substances and certainproducts, such as some essentialoils, so that a remedy can get to workon its own. If in doubt, consult yourhomeopathic practitioner.• Do not touch or handle a remedy; use aclean, dry spoon to drop it into the mouth.If tablets are touched or dropped, theyshould not be returned to the container.• Store homeopathic remedies properly(see page 271). Make sure that the topsare securely in place before storage.Homeopathy presupposes that the humanbody is always adjusting positively tomaintain a healthy balance (see page 18), andhas a compulsion to flourish. If that balanceis threatened—from outside or within—thebody tries to reestablish it, and symptomsof an ailment are manifested as it does so.Symptoms develop as the body responds tothe stress of illness, and a person’s physicaland mental resources are temporarilyredeployed in order to deal with the illness.Profiling patientsMany factors constitute a whole person,so all sorts of information are needed inorder to build up a profile of a patient before“constitutional” homeopathic treatment canbe prescribed. Despite the individualisticnature of homeopathic assessment andtreatment, many people can be groupedaccording to “type.” Types are described interms of physical attributes as well as mentaland emotional traits. People of a particulartype very often have the same habits, developthe same likes and dislikes, and may wellshare a susceptibility to particular ailments.Searching for cluesFirst and foremost, a homeopathic practitionerrequires a full description of a patient’ssymptoms, how they have evolved sinceonset, and what makes them better or worse.The choice of remedy will ultimately be basedon the law of similars, which states that “likecures like” (see page 18). A person’s symptomsare seen as reliable clues to the most suitableremedy to activate the self-healing powers ofthe individual’s “vital force.” Characteristics ofbodily functions and functional disturbancesare also noted. So, for instance, someone mightbe prone to indigestion, which manifests itselfas heartburn when certain foods are eaten.Also of interest to a homeopathic practitionerare a person’s medical history, including detailsof pharmaceutical medications, othertreatments, and family medical history. Thismonitored and subtle changes noted. At the initialappointment, a person’s current state of health and previousmedical history will form the basis of a complete health,personality, and lifestyle profile as the foundation ofhomeopathic prescription.information may reveal significant evidenceof both genetic tendency and susceptibility.Describing personalityA homeopathic practitioner will then aska person to describe themselves in termsof basic temperament, moods, feelings,and beliefs. This will include temporarypsychological factors associated with theirphysical symptoms, such as irritability oran aversion to sympathy. Of significance aredetails about any emotional traumas—fromdeep-seated, childhood experiences to eventsof the recent past, such as bereavement.Details such as how the weather, seasons, andtimes of day affect the individual, personallikes and dislikes, and in particular objectsof fear, are all important in building upa complete picture of that person.Looking at lifestyleFinally, general features of a person’s lifestyleare considered. Dietary factors of significanceinclude food preferences and aversions, andpotential sources of irritation or digestiveupset. Stress levels are also significant.Collating informationMuch disparate information is collected duringa consultation. Examinations and tests arecarried out on physical symptoms as necessary.Practitioners draw on their experiences ofsimilar symptom pictures and personality types,and compare the information they have withthat in a homeopathic repertory, which listssymptoms, remedies, and provings.Prescribing individuallyGiven the highly individualistic nature ofhomeopathic prescription, two people areunlikely to be prescribed the same remedy,even if their symptoms are identical. For thesame reason, they may find that theirremedies do not match any of the generalprofiles of remedies listed for their ailment inpopular homeopathic source books.