1. Homeopathy
Slide shows Pulsatilla, Arsenicum and Asteria rubens

2. What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy tackles the cause of ill health rather than suppressing the symptoms – it treats the person not the disease.
Remedies are selected on the basis of all aspects of the patient and his or her symptoms. Each treatment – like each person – is unique.
Slide shows Asteria rubens – common starfish

3. The principles of homeopathy
How does it work?
The principles of homeopathy
Slide shows Allium cepa and Rhus tox

4. The “like with like” principle
A substance that causes a symptom in a healthy person will cure that same symptom in an ill person.
Example of “like with like”: Allium cepa
Slide shows Allium cepa

5. Like with like: what do the sceptics say?
Conventional medicine is geared towards suppressing the symptoms of disease. Some conventional practitioners do not agree with giving more of the responsible agent of the illness to the patient.
Slide shows Rhus tox – poison ivy

6. The minimum dose: what do the sceptics say?
In homeopathy, the substance is diluted to such a high degree that none of the original material is present in the medicine. Sceptics claim the effect must be a placebo response.

7. Evidence in favour of homeopathy
60 positive randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
9 positive meta-analyses of RCTs
Clinical outcome studies
Laboratory studies
Veterinary studies

8. Evidence in favour of homeopathy
RCTs provide evidence that homeopathy has an effect greater than placebo, especially in influenza, hay fever, fibromyalgia and sinusitis
Clinical outcome studies from the homeopathic hospitals and others consistently show over 70% of patients respond positively to homeopathic treatment
Laboratory (test tube) studies indicate that homeopathic preparations can have biological effects
Veterinary surgeons successfully treat animals with a wide range of medical conditions

9. The history of homeopathy
Ancient Greeks
Hippocrates 2,500 years ago:
“through the like, disease is
produced and through the
application of like, it is cured”
Bust of Hippocrates - obviously

10. The history of homeopathy
Dr Samuel Hahnemann
General Physician 200 years ago
Organised homeopathy into modern science
Observed “like with like” phenomenon
Developed concept of dilution of medicines to prevent adverse toxic effects
Coined the term “succussion”
Hahnemann portrait from BHA offices

11. What areas can homeopathy treat?
Respiratory system
Digestive system
Skin
Locomotor system
Hormonal problems
Mental problems

12. Homeopathy can also help:
when conventional medicine is ineffective or non-existent
when conventional medicine is unsafe
when conventional medicine has side-effects that are unacceptable
to complement conventional medicine
to provide symptomatic relief in untreatable or terminal conditions

13. Where homeopathy cannot help:
Cannot reverse irreparable damage or replace absent body hormones
Cannot replace surgical procedures
Slide shows Pulsatilla

14. What are the advantages?
Safe
No side effects
Not addictive
Only used while problem present
No adverse interaction with conventional medicines
Slide shows Symphytum officinale

15. The homeopathic consultation
Duration: Usually 1 hour
Objective: to discover the overall picture –
“the whole person”
Jennifer Lenhart and a patient in her consulting room

16. What the consultation will focus on
General features - sleep, appetite, thirst
Mental features - temperament, emotions, general sense of “well being”
Particular symptoms – physical characteristics related to the complaint

17. Other factors:
General likes and dislikes - temperature, time of day, lifestyle, eating habits and preferences
Medical history and family history
Consulting room at RLHH

18. Following the consultation
Case analysed by homeopathic practitioner
Homeopathic medicine prescribed
Pharmacy at RLHH

19. Dosage of medicine
Regular or single dose

20. Strength of medicine Range of potencies x range c range
Examples - 6x, 30c, 200c

21. Review of treatment Four weeks after first consultation
Usually minutes long
Practitioner will assess how the treatment is progressing
Peter Fisher with patient in his consulting room

22. Response to medicine
Practitioner will observe whether symptoms have been alleviated and to what degree. Onset and duration of improvement will be noted
Jennifer Lenhart with patient

23. Outcome of review No further medicine
Repeat original medicine - at same or different dose
Prescribe new medicine
Jenny Boyle in her consulting room with family

24. What is homeopathy used for?
Some common examples
Chamomile, Cuprum met and Coffea

25. Indigestion
Nux vomica 30c three times per day until better and then as needed.

26. Joint pain – Osteo/Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rhus tox 30c three times per day until better and then as needed.

27. Bruising – acute trauma
Arnica 30c every 15 mins in first hour; hourly for rest of day; then four times per day until better.

28. Leg / calf cramps – especially nocturnal cramps
Cuprum metallicum 30c three times per day until better and then as needed.

29. Insomnia
Coffea 30c at bedtime and every 30 minutes if still awake.

30. Eczema
Sulphur 6c three times on one day only.
If no worsening / flare up of eczema continue twice daily until better.
Beware worsening of eczema / aggravation reactions, especially in children.

31. Chilblains
Agaricus muscarius 30c three times per day until better and then as needed.

32. Warts / Verrucae
Thuja 6c twice a day until a change in the wart is noticed. Then stop.

33. Teething
Chamomilla 6c four times per day until better and then as needed.

34. Infantile colic
Ensure that medical diagnoses have been excluded.
Colocynth 6c three times per day until better and then as needed.
An alternative is Chamomilla 6c
If no better after 2 days stop medicine and seek medical advice.

35. Car / motion sickness
Cocculus 30c on the morning of the journey and upon leaving home. Repeat the dose if feeling nauseous during the journey.

36. Hay fever
For acute symptoms - Combination remedy containing Allium cepa / Euphrasia / Sabadilla 30c. Give four times daily as needed.
For prevention - Mixed Grass and Pollen 30c twice daily. Start four weeks before season and continue throughout.
Catkins with birch pollen

37. Five reasons to choose homeopathy:
It is often successful where other treatments have failed and can reduce the need to take conventional treatments
Not addictive and no dangerous side-effects
You are treated as a whole person – emotional and environmental factors also affect your wellbeing
It tackles the cause rather than suppressing symptoms
People often say homeopathy makes them feel better in themselves

38. Medically qualified practitioners
The Faculty of Homeopathy trains
doctors, nurses, midwives, vets,
dentists, pharmacists, podiatrists
and other healthcare professionals
in homeopathic medicine.
The Faculty promotes an integrated approach to care, where homeopathy is used to complement conventional medicine.

39. Read about homeopathy
The British Homeopathic Association publishes Health and Homeopathy magazine – get the latest news, book reviews and articles written by medically qualified homeopaths. To subscribe, join the BHA as a Friend by calling

40. Find out more... Tel: 01582 408675 info@britishhomeopathic.org
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