WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?
Homeopathy is a gentle, safe and complete system of medicine. It has been practiced effectively for over 200 years. Started by Dr Samuel Hahnemann in Germany its use spread through Europe to America and is used extensively in India, South Africa and Europe. Being a holistic medicine homeopathy looks at the patient as a whole. It takes into account the many symptoms an individual may have and then often one medicine is used that best covers their whole picture; to stimulate healing. Symptoms are the body's way of expressing an imbalance; homeopathy helps you to regain that balance and become healthy. Homeopathy looks at what causes the person to produce symptoms. This could have been an accident, a shock, long term stress or never having been well since a particular bout of illness e.g. glandular fever. These are all events that can affect the immune system and make a person susceptible to ill health. Homeopathy therefore deals with the cause of the illness rather than the effect, in this way, by treating the cause the effect will disappear.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Homeopathy works on the principle of 'like cures like'. This means that a substance that would cause symptoms to appear in a healthy person when given in its raw state will cure those very same symptoms if the substance is transformed into a homeopathic medicine by dilution and sucussion. Think about what happens to your eyes and nose when you slice up a kilo of red onions, your nose will run and your eyes will stream. The remedy Allium Cepa is made from red onions, it stimulates the healing capacity of the body when suffering from a streaming cold or hay fever with those same symptoms. Homeopathic medicines are called remedies and are made from plants, animals and minerals. Remedies are prepared in such a way that only a tiny amount of the active ingredient is used and it is diluted to a safe dose. Homeopathic remedies do not cause side effects, are not addictive and there is no risk of overdose. Therefore they are perfectly safe to use at any time of life, including pregnancy, in newborn babies and breastfeeding mothers.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT WHEN SEEING A HOMEOPATH?
Seeing a homeopath should be a relaxing and enlightening experience, you will find that time will fly. Leave plenty of time, your homeopath needs to get to know you. Many people seek help from homeopathy when they are going through a difficult patch in their life. The quiet, confidential and supportive environment along with the remedy helps the patient regain perspective and balance. A first consultation for an adult will take at least an hour and a half, a child's consultation an hour. Be prepared to be asked questions like what is your favorite food, what do you dream about, do you like to sit out in the sun, or are you happier under an umbrella? What are you frightened of, what does it feel like to be you? The homeopath will be building up a profile of you, the answers to these questions will help match your case to one of the several thousand remedies at our disposal. Quite often you will be sent home without a remedy. The homeopath will need to work on your case quietly after you have gone; choose the remedy and either post it or for it to be available to be collected from the clinic. Clear instructions will be sent on how to take the remedy, when to repeat the dose, when to phone in with a progress report and when to come back for a follow-up appointment.

WHEN DO I GO BACK TO SEE MY HOMEOPATH?
We will discuss this at the end of your first consultation; classically most homeopaths like their patients to phone after about ten days just for a quick catch up. The second or follow up appointment usually happens about four weeks later. If you have a condition that may take longer to see improvement, such as Alopecia, then the gap may be longer.
 
TAKING CHILDREN TO SEE A HOMEOPATH
From a small child's perspective it will be like accompanying mummy (and, or daddy) to see one of her friends, the mummies talk a lot and there are toys to play with on the floor, or if shy can sit on mummy's knee the whole time wanting to play with the toys but not feeling quite ready until it is time to go home! A variety of toys are always available. During the appointment not only will I be gathering valuable information about your child but also observing how they are in themselves that makes them unique. Please, please, please don't tell your child to behave before the appointment because I need to see their 'true colours' in order to select the appropriate remedy to help them!

For the older child I like to keep the last appointment of the day, as an after school slot is often the right one. Some children are happy to talk and discuss home, school, friends, food likes and dislikes, sleep patterns, favourite books, films and hobbies.

At some point it is important to get the parent's perspective on your child. The session is often quite an enlightening experience for the parents, as this is one of the few times a child has to talk and be heard without being interrupted by a sibling!

Teenage patients need a non-judgmental environment and plenty of space to think. They often benefit from a few minutes towards the end of the consultation with the homeopath all to themselves, as getting on with mum, dad and siblings can be quite difficult when you are a young adult. Sometimes just expressing yourself is difficult, that's why the relaxed atmosphere and the non-judgmental philosophy of homeopathy is so helpful.

USING HOMEOPATHY WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING
Homeopathy is a most suitable form of medicine to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as the minute doses do not harm the baby in any way. It can be used safely right from the beginning of pregnancy to treat nausea and vomiting, right through the second and third trimester relieving some of the more niggling conditions like piles, heartburn and itching.

Further on in pregnancy homeopathy is extremely good at correcting raised blood pressure, pregnancy-induced diabetes, exhaustion and symphisis pubic dysfunction. Ante- and post-natal depression are very easily treated, leaving the mother much more able to enjoy her pregnancy or new baby.

This is a very good time to see a homeopath for any underlying problem, as it seems to be so much easier to treat conditions when a woman is pregnant. Conditions like eczema and asthma are classic conditions that can be corrected at this time in your life.

PREPARATION FOR BIRTH
You can use homeopathy easily to help keep labour normal. I provide a childbirth kit for my patients that consists of remedies to help you through the ups and downs of labour and the postnatal period. These remedies help with fear, anxiety, pain, long labours, very short labours, starting labour when you have a threatened induction, or speeding labour up when it seems to be going very slowly.

AFTER BIRTH
The kit contains remedies that help counteract post-natal depression and speed up healing for caesarean section as well as vaginal delivery.

Breastfeeding problems are relieved using the appropriate remedy, a short consultation is often required to help with positioning. Cracked nipples and mastitis can be resolved in a day when selecting the indicated remedy.
 
TAKING AND STORING REMEDIES
Have nothing to eat or drink for 15 minutes before and after taking it.  Do not over handle the remedy as the substance is on the surface. Suck the remedy for 2 minutes prior to chewing it to allow for absorption. Avoid coffee, camphor, menthol, peppermint, eucalyptus and other strong smelling substances, as they can interfere with your remedies.

WHAT SORT OF CONDITIONS DOES HOMEOPATHY TREAT?
Homeopathy has been successfully used for hundreds of years to treat both acute (short lived) conditions such as coughs and colds and chronic (long term) conditions such as arthritis, eczema and asthma. Homeopathy also treats stress, anxiety and depression very well, getting right to the root of the problem.

Homeopathic treatment supports the use of other therapies very well, enabling them to work more effectively. Long term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and thyroid instability all respond well to homeopathy, especially if caught early on in the condition. There are some conditions that homeopathy will not be able to cure, but every patient in this situation may benefit from an amelioration of symptoms or a lessening of side-effects from conventional drug therapy.

I love to treat children with recurrent ear, throat and chest problems as these problems seem to clear up so easily. Eczema is another condition that I find very easy to treat in children, after just a few weeks of treatment most children's skin is back to normal. Asthma is very frightening and debilitating. Homeopathy works well at lessening attacks and improving breathing in general, and for many resolve the asthma completely. Most parents would like to slowly wean their children off inhalers leaving the child healthy and free from the fear of asthma once the remedies have resolved the problem. I ask you to reduce and stop any drugs that you have been prescribed only with your doctor's support.  Glue ear also responds wonderfully to homeopathy.

BOOKING APPOINTMENTS
I generally consult Monday to Friday. To book an appointment telephone me on: 01727 - 764826 and leave your name and telephone number as well as times during working hours when I can reach you and I will call you back. I do not answer the telephone when I am with patients but I check my answer phone at regular intervals.
 
RINGING - IN TIMES
This is a set time when I am not with patients and am available to speak to you. My usual ringing - in time is between 9:00am - 9:30am Monday to Friday inclusive. This may change from time to time in which case you can ring my answer phone to find out any alterations. This is an opportunity for you to check in with me briefly if I have asked you to let me know how you are responding to treatment. It is a chance to make an appointment, and also an opportunity for me to prescribe for you if you have become ill suddenly with an acute illness such as flu.
 
If you need to speak to me very urgently and it is not my ringing - in time please leave your name and number and I will ring you as soon as I can. I aim to return calls within 24 hours, obviously if your call appears urgent I will return it sooner if I can.
 
Please note that I do not provide an emergency service and am not available at night. If you have a medical emergency at night please call your GP or use the medical emergency services and call me in the morning.
 
BEING ILL
Illnesses give us information about ourselves and give us time to re-evaluate our lives. Part of being well is being able to cope with acutes - these are minor illnesses like coughs and colds - and harnessing the body's own innate energies to overcome them. Often you will not require homoeopathic treatment for them but will need rest and a gentle diet. Where you feel stuck in an acute illness remedies can be very successful in enabling the body to heal itself. In this event ring me and I will prescribe over the telephone.
(Please read the information below on acutes before phoning.) After an acute illness has resolved it is good to book an appointment for constitutional treatment to ensure that you remain in good health.
 
ACUTES
These are often sudden self limiting illnesses, such as flu, coughs, cystitis, mastitis, tonsillitis, earache and stomach upsets. They can be treated effectively and quickly with the appropriate homoeopathic remedy. To enable me to prescribe accurately and quickly I will need some information from you. In order to help me to help you please read the following check list before calling me and have the answers to the following questions at hand:
 
Check list
 
* when did it start, was there an emotional or environmental trigger ? e.g. after feeling humiliated or angry, after getting caught in a shower and getting your feet wet?
 
* what makes it or you feel better or worse ? e.g. if you have a cold is it better or worse sitting up or lying down, drinking hot or cold drink, do you want to be alone or with someone?
 
* if it is a pain, what is the quality of it ? is it e.g. dull, sharp, throbbing, constant ?
 
* what side is it on ?
 
* what is your body temperature ? Do you feel hot or cold?
 
* are you sweating ?
 
* do you have any bodily smells with it ?
 
* are there any pains or feelings associated with this acute ?
 
FEES
My fees, which are reviewed annually, are currently as follows:
 
Adults         First appointment approx 2 hours  £80 
                  Follow ups no longer than an hour   £55
 
Children & students
                  First appointment 1 ½ hours  £60
                  Follow ups no longer than an hour  £45
 
Payments are made at the time of the consultation.
 
CANCELLATIONS AND MISSED APPOINTMENTS
Please give at least two working days notice if you want to change or cancel an appointment. This enables me to offer it to someone else. The full fee is payable if an appointment is missed.
 
 
STUDENTS SITTING IN
From time to time students sit in to observe consultations as part of their training. I will ask you ahead of time whether you feel comfortable with a student sitting in. Please say if you are not happy with this as your well being always comes first.
 
REMEDIES
Remedies are included in the consultation fee. I will post you the remedy no longer than a week after the consultation.
 
If I prescribe over the phone for an acute, I will leave the remedy {also included in the consultation fee} taped to my front door for you to collect at your convenience.
 
Before your first appointment -  medical background form:

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