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What drives the healing mechanism in homeopathic medicine is a natural phenomenon observed between the earth and our body known as the law of similars. This principle of pharmacology states that healing occurs when symptoms are treated with a corresponding source in nature which produces similar symptoms if ingested in its crude form by a healthy person. In preparing homeopathic medicine, a natural source is transformed from its crude state into a healing agent that allows an interaction of the similar chemistries between the natural source and the body to neutralise symptoms and restore health.
Homeopathic medicine is one of the safest approaches to self-care. For over 200 years, homeopathy has provided an effective, natural choice to treat physical and emotional conditions. Using therapeutically prepared micro doses of plant, mineral and biological sources, homeopathic preparations ensure a high standard of purity and are non-toxic. Homeopathy works with the body’s innate healing ability to respond to the cause of symptoms, without masking signs of illness. It offers a gentle way to restore health that is safe for children, elderly and those taking other medications.
“Homoeopathic preparation” is defined by the Therapeutic Goods Regulations as a preparation:
formulated for use on the principle that it is capable of producing in a healthy person symptoms similar to those which it is administered to alleviate; and prepared according to the practices of homoeopathic pharmacy using the methods of: serial dilution and succussion of a mother tincture in water, ethanol, aqueous ethanol or glycerol; or serial trituration in lactose.
Remedies are prescribed in sugar pillules or tinctures in water and brandy solutions.
Complementary medicines (also known as ‘traditional’ or ‘alternative’ medicines) include vitamin, mineral, herbal, aromatherapy and homoeopathic products. Complementary medicines may be either listed or registered, depending on their ingredients and the claims made.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is Australia’s regulatory authority for therapeutic goods. They carry out a range of assessment and monitoring activities to ensure therapeutic goods available in Australia are of an acceptable standard with the aim of ensuring that the Australian community has access, within a reasonable time, to therapeutic advances.
Schedule 5 of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations exempts certain goods from the requirement that they must be placed on the ARTG. It refers to homoeopathic products as follows:
a. homoeopathic preparations more dilute than a one thousand fold dilution of a mother tincture and which are not required to be sterile; and which do not include an ingredient of:
i. human origin; or
ii. animal origin, if the ingredient consists of, or is derived from, any of the following parts of cattle, sheep, goats or mule deer (detailed list follows in the regulations).
No. Homeopathic medicines do not interfere with prescription drugs such as blood pressure medications, antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medicines or other over-the-counter medications. While most drugs interact with the body’s physical chemistry, homeopathy medicines are stripped of their physical properties and only engage the body’s innate healing response to restore health. Neither therapy will interfere with the effectiveness of the other and are safe to take in conjunction with each other. Homeopathic medicines are not meant to replace medications prescribed by your physician.
This will always depend on the condition and severity of symptoms experienced. Emotional and acute conditions will often respond within minutes, chronic conditions like depression or gout may take longer and a specific dose and potency regime.
This is up to your homeopath when they are prescribing individually. Acute prescribing also varies with the remedy and ailment. Tit is for this reason that I do hold first aid seminars and other homeopathic talks.
No, these remedies do not lose their effectiveness with frequent usage. Homeopathic medicines are safe and non-habit forming.
No, homeopathics are not addictive, nor can you overdose on a homeopathic. In fact, on dose it equivalent to either few drops or the entire bottle. Homeopathic medicines work very gently on what we call the ‘vital force’, aka, our bodies healing system. When you take a medicine you’re the medicine works as a key and located the lock to ignite your immune system.
You may hear that homeopathics may not work as well with certain foods or substances such as mint or coffee. Researchers have observed that when a homeopathic remedy is administered, then followed by peppermint syrup or peppermint leaves, that the results are still therapeutic. Kids are our best proof in this, as they eat all sorts of things and the homeopathics still work.
I like to advise my patients to avoid food and drink a few minutes either side of the medicine, but in no way will you have to give up coffee or using mint toothpaste (although, I can help you curb your coffee cravings ?).
As long as your remedies are stored well, their expiry under the therapuedic goods act of Australia indicates three years since opening. Homeopathics should be stored away from direct light and avoid extreme temperature changes. It’s also advisable to keep them away from radiation such as T.V’s, mobile phones etc as they can change the remedy. Again, don’t be too pedantic about it, if your purse with your phone in it is going to be the only place to keep it that you’ll remember to take it, then put it in your purse, I just want that remedy in you!
Single remedies are best when the picture of the person’s state of health fits the remedy’s description. For example, Mike, John and Sarah have all seen me regarding their allergies however, they all take different remedies as the allergy symptoms are very different within each.
Mixed remedies use a combination of remedies known well for their ability to treat particular ailments. For example, a combination homeaopathic spray available at health food stores will contain allium cepa, Euphrasia, Kali bich and Pulsatilla, all known acute sinus remedies.
The main difference being is that Mike, John and Sarah are working on their susceptibility to their allergies, where the mixed form may just provide temporary relief, similar to other forms of medications. Again this relates to the chronic and acute treatment protocall.
Homeopathics are derived from plants, animals and minerals so, yes, there are animal sources used in homeopathic medicines. All homeopathic remedies are highly diluted until the physical properties are no longer measureable, leaving only the energetic essence from the original source. The good news is that homeopathics are sustainable, in the making of Apis (honey bee, used for bites and stings) my pharmacy can make thousands of remedies from the one honey bee.
If you are concerned about using some of the animal medicines I prescribe you, you can refrain from using these remedies. Our medicines are not tested on animals.
Yes, homeopathy is very safe to use with children. The dosage does not change as the remedies are not body-mass dependent. Kids often look forward to their medicine and I just love how quickly they respond.
Don’t freak out, one dose is equivalent to a few drops or the whole bottle. If your child is affected by the remedy, the symptoms will merely wear off and your child will return to their usual self in no time – who knows the remedy may have improved your child! Our founding teacher, Dr Samual Hahnemann, always said that provings were the best way to improve health.
Homeopathy is very safe to use with animals. They respond beautifully rapidly to homeopathics. Please see the affiliated drop down menu for more information or contact Martine to find out how she can help your pet today.