What is homoeopathy?
Homoeopathy (also spelt homeopathy) is a gentle system of medicine which stimulates the body to heal itself. It is based on the principle of 'like curing like', which was known to the ancient Greeks - a principle akin to vaccination, but with tiny dosages taken internally.
Is it safe?
Homoeopathic medicines are completely safe and non-addictive. They can be used without anxiety by anyone, including small babies, pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers. The concentration of active ingredients is always very small - statistically, sometimes less than one molecule in a whole bottle of pills. How homoeopathy works is not entirely understood, but energy transfer during preparation is key.
All medicines should be kept out of reach of children, but even if a child swallowed a whole bottle of homoeopathic tablets, no harm would occur. The tablets taste of sugar, so children like taking them. Normal tablets consist of sucrose and lactose, to which the homoeopathic remedies have been added. For patients sensitive to lactose, sucrose-only tablets are available.
In many countries homoeopathy is formally accepted as a safe and effective alternative form of medical treatment. In Britain it has been favoured by various members of the Royal Family, and is accepted by the National Health Service.
Try not to handle the tablets. Tip them from the container into the cap or other receptacle, and then drop them into the mouth.
Allow tablets to dissolve slowly in the mouth, or under the tongue - suck or chew it, but do not swallow. (For babies, tablets may be crushed and dissolved in water.)
Avoid eating, drinking anything other than water, using toothpaste, smoking, or taking any other medication, for twenty minutes before and after taking a homoeopathic remedy.
Keep remedies away from strong smells (eg perfume). The brown bottles in which remedies are supplied will protect them from light, but if decanted for convenience, keep the remedies away from bright light.
Some doctors advise avoiding coffee while taking homoeopathic remedies.
The evidence is inconclusive, but it is possible that factors like these make the remedies less effective. It is now thought that electrical appliances, airport X-rays (at least those of normal strength), and metal detectors have no effect.
Homoeopathic remedies are very gentle and will not interfere with conventional or herbal medicines, or with the contraceptive pill. However, please tell the doctor during consultation about all ailments and medications, so that the picture of your current health is as complete as possible. Health considerations are often inter-related.
If kept away from light and strong smells, homoeopathic remedies last for many years. (There is evidence that remedies used in the tropics have lost none of their potency after fifty years.) Accordingly, no expiry date is given.
Many conditions can be treated effectively by homoeopathy, from asthma, rheumatism, arthritis, and eczema to simple cuts and bruises. The clinic should be able to advise on the prospects of success with your particular complaint.
The first step in preparing a homoeopathic medicine is to dilute one part of the active substance in one hundred parts of water, shaking extremely vigorously. Doctors and pharmacists have a special machine to do this, but it can be done by hand - striking the container vigorously about one hundred times against an object such as a leather book. This is then repeated, with one part of this solution diluted in another one hundred parts of water, again shaking vigorously - and again, and again, the prescribed number of times. A medicine described as "30C", for example, is the result of 30 successive dilutions and shakings, each step at one-in-a-hundredth, so that the ultimate dilution is one part in 1060. The final dilution is often made in pure alcohol for preservation, and the medicine may then be added to plain sugar pills for convenience.
The vigorous shaking is essential. A medicine made just by successive dilutions has no potency. Energy transfer appears a key element of homoeopathy.
Veterinarians have found homoeopathy just as effective for animals as for people. It is widely used for cats, dogs, horses, cows and sheep.
This FAQ is prepared by The Homoeopathic Clinic run by Dr Anne Wynne-Simmons. Not everyone offering homoeopathic advice is a qualified doctor, so patients with any serious condition may wish to choose accordingly. On the other hand, simple homoeopathic remedies, such as Arnica cream and tablets for bruising, may be found on the open shelves in many pharmacies, and are quite safe for home treatment. Further information on homoeopathy and qualified medical practitioners may be obtained from The Homeopathic Trust. Information on "professional homoeopaths", who are trained but not medically qualified, may be obtained from The Society of Homoeopaths. Information on dentists using homoepathic products may be obtained from the British Homoeopathic Dental Association. A list of homoeopathic vets may be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to The British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons.
UK organisations:
The Homeopathic Trust, 15 Clerkenwell Close, London EC1R 0AA. Tel 020 7566 7800.
The Society of Homoeopaths, 2 Artizan Road, Northampton NN1 4 HU. Tel 01604 621 400.
The British Association of Homoeopathic Veterinary Surgeons, Alternative Veterinary Medical Centre, Chinham House, Stanford in the Vale, Oxon SN7 8NQ. Tel 01367 718115.
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