Before Taking a Homeopathic Remedy
Before you take a homeopathic remedy, you should know that homeopathic remedies work very differently from western medicines. Whereas most western medicines act to suppress or minimize physical symptoms in the short term, homeopathic remedies act to bring suppressed symptoms out into the open, so that they may be fully addressed and resolved in the long term.
You might think of the two in relation to a house that has a corrupt plumbing system. The western medicines would be similar to doing quick fixes that keep the plumbing system up and running. The homeopathic remedies would be similar to a deeper approach - perhaps knocking walls down in order to restructure the entire system - making the system inoperable in the short term, but in the long term solving the problem permanently.
(This is not to say that western medicines are not necessary and important in health care. Often they are needed to keep us alive, or at the very least get us through a health crisis.)
Many of the individuals that I talk with seem interested in embracing this "restructuring process", getting to the root of the problem, and eventually getting off of their western medications, and at the same time there is usually a great deal of fear and confusion about the healing process and what to expect.
As a result, I've put together this overview and a list of frequently asked questions about the healing process to better clarify what you might expect as a result of taking a homeopathic remedy. Hopefully, this will help you make a more informed decision about whether homeopathy is optimal for you at this time in your journey.
What to Expect from Homeopathic Treatment
Homeopathic medicines are designed to stimulate your body's natural ability to heal itself, to act as a catalyst for healing. A homeopathic remedy doesn't cure as such, it works rather like throwing a pebble into a pond. The homeopath's job is to throw that pebble into the middle of "your" pond so that it sends out healing ripples to every part of you.
The process of healing varies from person to person, depending on how ill you are, on your levels of vitality, and of course, on the accuracy of the homeopathic prescription itself. In the days/weeks after taking the homeopathic remedy you may find that you feel better in yourself - you experience an increase in energy and/or your complaints gradually begin to improve or even clear.
With an acute or recent illness your improvement may be quite swift. Or it can be a more gradual or even prolonged process, especially if you have been suffering from a long term, or chronic illness. In general, the longer you have been ill the longer that process takes.
Some people experience a slight worsening, or aggravation after their treatment. This usually occurs within the first two weeks of starting a remedy and is a good sign. Aggravations mostly do not last long, are manageable and are usually accompanied by an increased sense of well being.
You may experience a "return of old symptoms", in other words symptoms that you experienced in the past may return, and these too, are a good sign. They indicate that your body is clearing out an old disease pattern and are generally short-lived. If you fall ill after your consultation ask yourself whether your symptoms are familiar, whether they remind you of something you have experienced in the past.
If they don't, it may be that you have contracted an acute illness, i.e. a flu, a cough, or urinary tract infection, something that has occurred as a result of some additional stress in your life. If your symptoms are serious you will need to consult your doctor (or even the emergency room if they are very serious). It may be possible to treat your complaint homeopathically so it is worth calling me to check this out - the earlier the better. In any case, it is always helpful to let me know if you are considering medical treatment for an acute complaint in between consultations.
For more details on what to expect from homeopathic treatment, see Frequently Asked Questions about What to Expect.