The Norwich Homeopath

What is Homeopathy?

What is homeopathy??
Many people today are familiar with the term homeopathy, but often the meaning is misunderstood, or considered as similar to or the same as herbal medicine. In reality this form of medicine (favoured by the Royal Family no less!) is a system with its own unique approach to healing, and was one of the main forms of medicine used in the UK until the early 1900's. In many countries around the world, it is still one of the main forms of medicine practiced in hospitals and by GP's. Today in the UK we still have 3 homeopathic hospitals, providing treatment through the NHS.
Homeopathy is a system of medicine which was developed in the eighteenth century by Dr Samuel Hahnemann. His work as a toxicologist and immunologist gave him unique insight into the body's reactions to a wide range of substances in very tiny amounts. It is this research which forms the basis of modern homeopathic medicine.
Homeopathy is based upon the principle of "like curing like", and provides a safe, gentle and effective form of medicine which can be used for all ages from infancy to the elderly, as well as being suitable for use during pregnancy and childbirth.
Homeopathy employs the use of substances from the plant, mineral and animal kingdoms. When in their crude forms, these substances can often cause unwanted effects in the human body. In homeopathic preparations however these substances are diluted down to tiny amounts, and potentised by a method called succussion, in order to extinguish their toxic properties. These preparations are then chosen and employed for their ability to match the symptoms from which a person is suffering.
A classic example of this is the use of the remedy Allium cepa (extract of common onion) which is very successfully used in cases of hayfever and the like where the eyes are very irritated, red and runny. Another example often used is Tarentula hispanica (Lycosa Tarantula, a poisonous spider from Spain). When bitten by this spider the poison acts upon the nervous system creating constriction of various muscles, and a state of restlessness in which the patient feels s/he must keep moving. Hence, this remedy is often employed to great effect in cases of restless legs; a most bothersome complaint for many people. 
One of the many greatest benefits of homeopathy is its safety alongside other medications and therapies. Dues to the nature of the homeopathic medications, it may be confidently and safely used even where there are already conventional drugs in use. This makes it particularly useful for those using treatments such as blood pressure medications or long term analgesics. This is an area that sets homeopathy aside from therapies such as herbal medicine, where great care must be taken with situations such as pregnancy and childbirth, and also to avoid medicinal clashes where conventional medications are already in use.
Homeopathy is extremely useful in acute and first aid situations in everyday life. Homeopathic Arnica (a flower found in mountainous areas) is commonly used by parents for their little ones. Every parent is familiar with the inevitable accidents associated with learning to walk or ride a bike. Arnica 30c is invaluable in reducing bruising; it is also soothing for any shock or distress associated with such accidents.
In higher potency's, Arnica has been shown to significantly reduce recovery after times of trauma on the body such as operations and child birth.
Other common homeopathic remedies include Hepar Sulph (Calcium Sulphide) often thought of as a natural antibiotic; Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) fantastic where high fevers are present; Ledum (Wild Rosemary) is an incredible tool in halting reactions to mosquito and other insect bites; and Nux Vomica (Poison Nut) for that headache after a night on the tiles!
The use of homeopathy does not stop here however; more serious and long standing conditions can react amazingly well to homeopathic treatment. Everything from depression to eating disorders; menopausal or prostate symptoms, eczema and rheumatism to MS; ME and IBS, all these and many other disorders and diseases may be treated successfully by homeopathy. For chronic conditions, it is necessary to consult a fully trained and registered homeopath who will spend time looking at all aspects of your life, health tendencies and personality before choosing a suitable remedy. This will usually take at least an hour. There are many thousands of homeopathic remedies available and the one which helped your grandmother's arthritic pains, may not necessarily be the one to help you! By providing your homeopath with as much information as possible you will be assisting them in choosing the best remedy possible for you, as well as taking part in your own personal healing process.

For a list of homeopaths in your local area, check out the websites for the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths, The Society of Homeopaths, or The Homeopathic Medical Association. 

Using homeopathy at home

Using homeopathy in the home is probably the very best way for those unsure of its efficacy, to see the  work in action.  Most commonly it will be employed in moments where discomfort is at its greatest.  It is at the these times that the fastest and most dramatic results can be acheived.  I sill remember the first time I thought 'Wow!  This stuff actually works!'  I had recently bought a homeopathic first aid kit from the Natural Food Store in Norwich where I was working as a part time shop assistant.  It was a beautiful summers day, and I pulled out my favourite pair of linen trousers for the day.  Before I had even got them past my knee I discovered two wasps hed set up camp in them.  Both of them were pretty bummed out by the intrusion, and in my usual Zen fashion I cursed the house down at the top of my voice. It burning was ridiculous!  My housemate (who luckily had used homeopathy for years,) came in to see what all the fuss was about and between ill-concealed snorts of laughter, gave me some Urtica 30c. (A remedy made from the leaves of stinging nettles.)  I kid you not, the pain disappeared almost as soon as those two little tiny balls hit my mouth.  This may sound far fetched (and I would have thought so too,) but the effect was brilliant!  I have been stung several times before, and vinegar, lemon juice, Savlon and all kinds of stuff had been chucked on, but none took the pain away like that.  Had I have cleared a cold for example, I may have just thought, "Ahh, good old immune system!"  ThusI have a challenge for all out there  If you are in any of these situations below, get yourself a small packet of the remedies described, and watch homeopathy do it's thing....

Babies:   For a high fever, give a couple of doses of Belladonna 200c, for a teething baby, give Chamomilla 200c.  If the baby has Colic, try the Chamomilla again, or if the baby brings it's feet up to its chest in distress, try Coloccynthis 200c.

Sporty types:  For cramping during or after sport, (or at anytime really!) try Mag Phos 200c.  For achy muscles after a big workout try Arnica 30c or 200c.  (Vogel's Arnica gel externally is also fantastic.)

Home and family: Burns in the kitchen, try Causticum 30c - takes the pain down super fast.  A bout of food poisoning after a dodgy meal, Arsenicum 200c.  If the effects of said dodgy meal are restricted to bad smelly gas, try Carbo Veg 30c.  After too much wine, Nux Vom 30c.

These are just a few to be going on with.  I will be posting loads more as time goes on, and if you have any specific questions, email me and I'll let you know!   

Using homeopathy at home continued....

I should take the oppurtunity to mention here that over the next couple of weeks I am running workshops at the Complementary Health Care Clinic on Exchange Street.  These are day long courses providing you with the basic skills needed to use homeopathy in the home and for your family. 

Courses are running on Saturday 14th and Saturday 22nd November, 10am-4pm.  The cost is just £55, including a free 10 remedy starter kit worth £19.99.

Places are limited so please contact me at any of the above details, or call the clinic on 01603 665173. 

See you there!

What is homeopathy??
Many people today are familiar with the term homeopathy, but often the meaning is misunderstood, or considered as similar to or the same as herbal medicine. In reality this form of medicine (favoured by the Royal Family no less!) is a system with its own unique approach to healing, and was one of the main forms of medicine used in the UK until the early 1900's. In many countries around the world, it is still one of the main forms of medicine practiced in hospitals and by GP's. Today in the UK we still have 3 homeopathic hospitals, providing treatment through the NHS.
Homeopathy is a system of medicine which was developed in the eighteenth century by Dr Samuel Hahnemann. His work as a toxicologist and immunologist gave him unique insight into the body's reactions to a wide range of substances in very tiny amounts. It is this research which forms the basis of modern homeopathic medicine.
Homeopathy is based upon the principle of "like curing like", and provides a safe, gentle and effective form of medicine which can be used for all ages from infancy to the elderly, as well as being suitable for use during pregnancy and childbirth.
Homeopathy employs the use of substances from the plant, mineral and animal kingdoms. When in their crude forms, these substances can often cause unwanted effects in the human body. In homeopathic preparations however these substances are diluted down to tiny amounts, and potentised by a method called succussion, in order to extinguish their toxic properties. These preparations are then chosen and employed for their ability to match the symptoms from which a person is suffering.
A classic example of this is the use of the remedy Allium cepa (extract of common onion) which is very successfully used in cases of hayfever and the like where the eyes are very irritated, red and runny. Another example often used is Tarentula hispanica (Lycosa Tarantula, a poisonous spider from Spain). When bitten by this spider the poison acts upon the nervous system creating constriction of various muscles, and a state of restlessness in which the patient feels s/he must keep moving. Hence, this remedy is often employed to great effect in cases of restless legs; a most bothersome complaint for many people. 
One of the many greatest benefits of homeopathy is its safety alongside other medications and therapies. Dues to the nature of the homeopathic medications, it may be confidently and safely used even where there are already conventional drugs in use. This makes it particularly useful for those using treatments such as blood pressure medications or long term analgesics. This is an area that sets homeopathy aside from therapies such as herbal medicine, where great care must be taken with situations such as pregnancy and childbirth, and also to avoid medicinal clashes where conventional medications are already in use.
Homeopathy is extremely useful in acute and first aid situations in everyday life. Homeopathic Arnica (a flower found in mountainous areas) is commonly used by parents for their little ones. Every parent is familiar with the inevitable accidents associated with learning to walk or ride a bike. Arnica 30c is invaluable in reducing bruising; it is also soothing for any shock or distress associated with such accidents.
In higher potency's, Arnica has been shown to significantly reduce recovery after times of trauma on the body such as operations and child birth.
Other common homeopathic remedies include Hepar Sulph (Calcium Sulphide) often thought of as a natural antibiotic; Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) fantastic where high fevers are present; Ledum (Wild Rosemary) is an incredible tool in halting reactions to mosquito and other insect bites; and Nux Vomica (Poison Nut) for that headache after a night on the tiles!
The use of homeopathy does not stop here however; more serious and long standing conditions can react amazingly well to homeopathic treatment. Everything from depression to eating disorders; menopausal or prostate symptoms, eczema and rheumatism to MS; ME and IBS, all these and many other disorders and diseases may be treated successfully by homeopathy. For chronic conditions, it is necessary to consult a fully trained and registered homeopath who will spend time looking at all aspects of your life, health tendencies and personality before choosing a suitable remedy. This will usually take at least an hour. There are many thousands of homeopathic remedies available and the one which helped your grandmother's arthritic pains, may not necessarily be the one to help you! By providing your homeopath with as much information as possible you will be assisting them in choosing the best remedy possible for you, as well as taking part in your own personal healing process.

For a list of homeopaths in your local area, check out the websites for the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths at http://www,a-r-h.org, The Society of Homeopaths at www.homeopathy-soh.org or The Homeopathic Medical Association at www.the-hma.org . 

Homeopathy for acute illness

Sitting down for an hour with a registered homeopath can be a life changing experience.  In situations of ongoing debilitating illness, homeopathy is often considered as a final resort.  However the benefits of taking an hour once a month or so, can provide your homeopath with the necessary information to find a prescription which might just end a great deal of suffering. 

But what happens when your child falls ill or you wake up to find yourself in the throws of a virus?  Often the benefits of a consultaion are out of reach, and the last thing you want to be doing is trawling the internet for information on the best place and practitioner for you.  Gaining an appointment with your GP is often just as difficult, as NHS surgeries become busier and more and more over stretched. If you are lucky enough to get an appointment within the next 7 days, you will often wait in the waiting room long enough to catch up on the last three months worth of celebrity gossip from the magazines, before being ushered in, told 'it's a virus,' and told to take a paracetamol and head to bed. So where do you turn?

I have worked at the Natural Food Store in Norwich for around 8 years now, and many people make this their first port of call in a storm.  On the shop floor, available for a chat at all times are registered homeopaths, as well as a highly knowledgable team trained to deal with all kind of health issues, from dodgy tummies to crusty conjunctivitis.  The usual array of colds and flu constantly stream through the door, along with an assortment of of muscular aches and the more 'delicate' of intimate flare-ups. These things often don't need an appointment, and a few minutes on the shop floor is often all it takes to find a suitable supplement, herb or homeopathic remedy for your needs.  Pop in between 8.30 - 5.30 Monday to Saturday, and have a chat to myself or one of the other staff.

The Natural Food Store is located opposite the main entrance to Jarrolds Department Store on Exchange Street in Norwich city center.  Alternatively call on 01603 613228.

Notice of relocation

Hi All,

Sadly this will be my last blog for a while as I have taken a position on the other side of the world in Sunny Sydney! 
Any future queries, please contact the Natural Food Store on 01603 613228.

Many thanks to all those who have read and contrbuted to this blog,

Leanne x