WHAT IS IT?

Homeopathy is an extensive system of medicine in which solutions containing minute amounts of animal, vegetable and/or mineral substances are used to promote healing. Homeopaths believe in what they call the "law of similars." Or put another way "like cures like" and that illnesses can be treated by giving patients a small dose of a substance that produces similar effects to those of the illness.

Homeopaths assess and treat each patient as a whole. They consider psychological, behavioural and genetic factors--not just the obvious physical symptoms of the illness--when prescribing a remedy.

Homeopathy is based on the work of Samuel Hahnemann (1753-1843), a German physician and chemist. Hahnemann tried out various substances on his assistants and on himself, and recorded the effects. He then used his findings to treat illnesses based on the "law of similars." He concluded that an imbalance in the body's vital energy caused illness and disease and that a slight stimulus from the relevant substance could trigger the body's ability to heal itself. He also found that by gradually diluting and mixing a drug preparation, he could make an increasingly potent remedy with few or no side effects.

Homeopathy today has a broad following in Europe, South America, Asia and The United States.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

A homeopathic remedy is made by crushing a plant, animal or mineral substance then putting it into a solvent such as grain alcohol. This is then further diluted in a mixture of alcohol and water and shaken with each dilution, to emphasize the healing effects of the substance being diluted. This process is repeated many times to achieve a therapeutic dilution with few chemical side effects.

Homeopathic remedies are labeled with numbers and letters that indicate their dilution, or "potency." A solution labeled "30C," for example, has been diluted 30 times at a ratio of one part substance to 99 parts alcohol and water ("C" is for "centesimal," as the ratio is 1:100). A solution labeled "6X" has been diluted 6 times at a ratio of one part substance to 9 parts alcohol and water ("X" stands for "decimal potency," or a ratio of 1:10). After it has been properly diluted, the medicine can be administered in one of many forms, including tablets, ointments, liquid or spray.

WHAT YOU MAY EXPECT

We will begin an initial visit by taking a very detailed health history. You will be asked how your current complaint started, how it has developed, and how it makes you feel physically, mentally and emotionally. You will also be asked to explain exactly what kinds of symptoms are involved, precisely where your symptoms are located, and what kinds of events or actions, times of day or types of weather make the problem better or worse. You may even be questioned about what foods you like and don't like.

The answers to these questions help us determine what kind of problem you have, what kind of person you are, and what remedy to prescribe to encourage your body's natural healing processes.

HEALTH BENEFITS

A recent German study tested 146 patients with hay fever and showed that the homeopathic nasal spray Luffa comp.-Heel (a mixture remedy) worked as well and as quickly as the conventional treatment cromolyn sodium spray, but without the chemical side effects.

Homoeopathy offers a real and natural alternative to many main stream medicine's. In addition it is safe for use by everyone from the very young to the very old it can even be used on the family pet!