Frequently Asked Questions:

What is homeopathy about?

It’s all about you, the individual! When something is off balance in your system your body speaks to you by sending you signals through symptoms. ALL of your symptoms matter to us, as a homeopath. Because if we ignore a unique symptom, then we haven't captured all of you. In homeopathy we look at this bigger picture, the whole you and what makes you the unique person you are. The way you experience your symptoms and how they affect you physically and emotionally, what makes your complaints better or worse, your own and your family’s health history, for infants and children the history of the mother during pregnancy, your childhood, your fears, your food desires and aversions and a variety of other aspects are all taken in consideration in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of who you are. When we have a clear picture of you in totality we are able to choose a remedy that incorporates all of those qualities, and prescribe one remedy to begin the encouraging work that stimulates your body to heal.

Can I continue my regular medication with homeopathic care?

Yes, as a qualified homeopath I would never ask you to discontinue your medications before undergoing homeopathic treatment. With good homeopathic care and time you might find you need to take less conventional medication or can even do without them. We do not recommend you change your regular medications, and their dosage, before speaking with your regular medical care provider. Homeopathic remedies do not in any way interfere with or compromise the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals. However, there are suppressive medications and creams that temporarily relieve superficial symptoms but mask the underlying cause of disease or disfunction. These can make it challenging to assess the positive effects of the homeopathic remedy, which is why you might be asked to use them only when absolutely necessary. An example of these would be allergy medications or cortisone creams. Mainstream medicine comes in material doses, and homeopathic remedies are dynamic in nature. Our aim is to reduce the dependence on medication, but when starting out with the homeopathic process, one can take both alongside each other. With time, as the body system strengthens, it becomes easily apparent if a medication is no longer needed.

What is the difference between homeopathy and naturopathy?

Many people are confused by these two healing modalities, and some people use these two terms interchangeably. However, they do not mean the same thing. Homeopathy does use remedies made from substances in nature, but a naturopath may not be trained in homeopathy. It is a distinct modality.

So let’s first look at what homeopathy and naturopathy have in common:

Both refer to an alternative, holistic way of dealing with disease.
Both look at a person in totality, not as a collection of different parts but rather as a dynamically connected whole.

Here’s what makes them quite different from each other:

Naturopathy uses a variety of methods to diagnose and treat disease.
Naturopathy is an umbrella term for many natural therapies, which can include, among many others, herbal medicine, supplements, lifestyle counseling and modification, nutrition and dietary alterations, massage, iridology, acupuncture and can include some homeopathy.

The philosophy of naturopathy is based on providing a framework which supports recovery from illness. Homeopathy is a very specialized holistic method of promoting and maintaining health where diluted substances stimulate the natural healing process. The unique characteristic of homeopathy is the specific selection of a remedy to match (correspond with) the patient’s symptoms based on the principle known as the Law of Similars, which states that a substance which can produce certain symptoms in a healthy individual can cure a sick individual who is suffering from a similar set of symptoms. Homeopaths may sometimes offer diet and life-style counseling as naturopaths do, but it is the individually selected homeopathic remedy which is used to specifically address a client’s complaint and initiate the own healing process.

Can children safely be treated with homeopathic medicines?

Children and infants, even newborns, can benefit greatly from homeopathy. Conventional treatments often pose a risk of side effects and may require increasingly frequent or higher-dosed medication to keep the problem in check. Homeopathy, using absolutely safe, non-toxic and non-addictive remedies, is a gentle and effective way to address many childhood ailments and to gradually strengthen your child’s constitution to make him or her less susceptible to illnesses. Since homeopathy doesn’t interfere with conventional treatments, consider homeopathy as a means to boost your child’s innate vitality when her or his condition requires a conventional drug regimen. The case-taking process is similar to an adult consultation: The goal is to develop a comprehensive picture of the individual. With children, especially before they can speak for themselves, much of the information is collected through observing the child and/or talking with the parent/caregiver.