scarlet
05-02-2007, 04:59 AM
HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathy means to “treat with a similar disease.” Its central principle, “Like cures like,” contrasts with other medical approaches. It is a natural medicine and has been used for over 200 years.
Homeopathic medicines are prepared from natural sources and are used extremely diluted, in non-toxic amounts. Homeopathic remedies can be safely used with infants, children, and adults including breastfeeding and lactating mothers when prescribed by a practicing qualified homeopath.
It is believed that most diseases, both acute and chronic, are curable with homeopathy. Homeopathy treats disorders affecting every system and organ of the body. Homeopathic treatment can be used to treat physical conditions, and also emotional conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Homeopathy is not naturopathy or herbal medicine. It is a unique system of medicine developed by a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann in the early 1800s.
Standard medicine is considered allopathic which means to “treat with other than the disease” and is used to denote the standard medical approach of today, which attempts to counteract symptoms. For example, a patient with diarrhea may be given a drug that slows intestinal motility.
Whereas homeopaths believe that substances could be used to stimulate healing by applying the principle of “like cures like” in very specific ways. Hahnemann would give the patient a substance that would gently nudge their system in the direction of the “disease”, reproducing the same (or almost the same) syndrome or whole set of particular symptoms in a mild form. He found this to be a very effective way to stimulate their natural defenses. It is almost as if the patient’s defenses cannot distinguish between the natural disease and what the similar substance is doing. Thus homeopaths fine-tune the use of medicines to enhance the patient’s own attempts to overcome the disease.
Homeopathy employs hundreds of substances which have been studied as to their unique effects on body, emotions and mind. Some are common herbs, others from poisonous plants and some remedies are made from toxins and venoms. Homeopathic pharmacists carefully dilute them to eliminate toxic effects, at the same time shaking or grinding them in a way that energizes their helpful effect. This use of a dilute similar substance is somewhat similar to the use of vaccines or to the method of allergy desensitization.
In summary, it is believed that homeopathy stimulates the healing process through temporarily establishing an artificial disturbance of health with medicines. This disturbance, when similar to the disturbance caused by the disease, makes the body work harder to get well. The healing changes that follow are the result of this stimulation. While simple in theory, this process requires skill and experience, particularly in chronic conditions. The homeopathic doctor carefully evaluates the changes that occur after use of each homeopathic medicine. In this way, the patient can be guided to recovery of their health over the weeks or months necessary for the body to repel the disease and re-grow damaged tissues.
Our experience with Homeopathy
When looking for a homeopath, you should ask their qualifications and their history in treating infants with GER or GERD. Only use an experienced homeopath who has experience dealing with GERD in infants and children.
They will take a very detailed history of the pregnancy, birth and beyond, and will try and pinpoint the time that the symptoms started. Every child will be different and generally different remedies will be given. The questions asked are very specific. The answers to these questions will determine what remedies will be given. You may need one remedy or a course. There are certain detoxifications that may be needed (i.e. to counteract drugs given or immunizations at birth) these may not treat the reflux directly but will eventually treat it in combination with other remedies.
You may notice a difference within a couple of days, or it may take months to get the right combination or remedy. For us it took 6 months and finally saw some improvement, but I will never know just how much was the remedies and how much was him getting better with time anyway.
The remedies come in a liquid form (given as drops under the tongue) or in a pillule form (small sugar pill), these are to be sucked under the tongue. Treatments could be one dose total, or a course over a week or month. In the liquid form, generally you need to bang the bottle (on the hand 10 times) with each dose, this releases more of the substance, making each dose stronger each time you give it.
It is best to not eat, drink or brush your teeth 15 minutes before or after a remedy is given and the liquid may contain ethanol (a type of alcohol) and the pillules may contain lactose.
Remedies are to work alongside conventional medicine. A homeopath should never tell you to stop your prescribed medications. In time a reduction of conventional medications may be warranted, but this should be discussed only with a qualified practitioner.
Follow ups are generally given every month, and a repeat of the questions will be asked and changes in the remedies given.
Finally, I would not recommend over the counter remedies in the case of GERD or for people who are on conventional medication. The reason being some medications may interact with the remedies, so consultation with a professional homeopath will be able to determine which remedies would work best together. But also because with something as complex as GERD (or other complex conditions) you really do need an individual treatment plan as it does vary so much case to case. That is no one treatment will work for everyone.
Homeopathy means to “treat with a similar disease.” Its central principle, “Like cures like,” contrasts with other medical approaches. It is a natural medicine and has been used for over 200 years.
Homeopathic medicines are prepared from natural sources and are used extremely diluted, in non-toxic amounts. Homeopathic remedies can be safely used with infants, children, and adults including breastfeeding and lactating mothers when prescribed by a practicing qualified homeopath.
It is believed that most diseases, both acute and chronic, are curable with homeopathy. Homeopathy treats disorders affecting every system and organ of the body. Homeopathic treatment can be used to treat physical conditions, and also emotional conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Homeopathy is not naturopathy or herbal medicine. It is a unique system of medicine developed by a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann in the early 1800s.
Standard medicine is considered allopathic which means to “treat with other than the disease” and is used to denote the standard medical approach of today, which attempts to counteract symptoms. For example, a patient with diarrhea may be given a drug that slows intestinal motility.
Whereas homeopaths believe that substances could be used to stimulate healing by applying the principle of “like cures like” in very specific ways. Hahnemann would give the patient a substance that would gently nudge their system in the direction of the “disease”, reproducing the same (or almost the same) syndrome or whole set of particular symptoms in a mild form. He found this to be a very effective way to stimulate their natural defenses. It is almost as if the patient’s defenses cannot distinguish between the natural disease and what the similar substance is doing. Thus homeopaths fine-tune the use of medicines to enhance the patient’s own attempts to overcome the disease.
Homeopathy employs hundreds of substances which have been studied as to their unique effects on body, emotions and mind. Some are common herbs, others from poisonous plants and some remedies are made from toxins and venoms. Homeopathic pharmacists carefully dilute them to eliminate toxic effects, at the same time shaking or grinding them in a way that energizes their helpful effect. This use of a dilute similar substance is somewhat similar to the use of vaccines or to the method of allergy desensitization.
In summary, it is believed that homeopathy stimulates the healing process through temporarily establishing an artificial disturbance of health with medicines. This disturbance, when similar to the disturbance caused by the disease, makes the body work harder to get well. The healing changes that follow are the result of this stimulation. While simple in theory, this process requires skill and experience, particularly in chronic conditions. The homeopathic doctor carefully evaluates the changes that occur after use of each homeopathic medicine. In this way, the patient can be guided to recovery of their health over the weeks or months necessary for the body to repel the disease and re-grow damaged tissues.
Our experience with Homeopathy
When looking for a homeopath, you should ask their qualifications and their history in treating infants with GER or GERD. Only use an experienced homeopath who has experience dealing with GERD in infants and children.
They will take a very detailed history of the pregnancy, birth and beyond, and will try and pinpoint the time that the symptoms started. Every child will be different and generally different remedies will be given. The questions asked are very specific. The answers to these questions will determine what remedies will be given. You may need one remedy or a course. There are certain detoxifications that may be needed (i.e. to counteract drugs given or immunizations at birth) these may not treat the reflux directly but will eventually treat it in combination with other remedies.
You may notice a difference within a couple of days, or it may take months to get the right combination or remedy. For us it took 6 months and finally saw some improvement, but I will never know just how much was the remedies and how much was him getting better with time anyway.
The remedies come in a liquid form (given as drops under the tongue) or in a pillule form (small sugar pill), these are to be sucked under the tongue. Treatments could be one dose total, or a course over a week or month. In the liquid form, generally you need to bang the bottle (on the hand 10 times) with each dose, this releases more of the substance, making each dose stronger each time you give it.
It is best to not eat, drink or brush your teeth 15 minutes before or after a remedy is given and the liquid may contain ethanol (a type of alcohol) and the pillules may contain lactose.
Remedies are to work alongside conventional medicine. A homeopath should never tell you to stop your prescribed medications. In time a reduction of conventional medications may be warranted, but this should be discussed only with a qualified practitioner.
Follow ups are generally given every month, and a repeat of the questions will be asked and changes in the remedies given.
Finally, I would not recommend over the counter remedies in the case of GERD or for people who are on conventional medication. The reason being some medications may interact with the remedies, so consultation with a professional homeopath will be able to determine which remedies would work best together. But also because with something as complex as GERD (or other complex conditions) you really do need an individual treatment plan as it does vary so much case to case. That is no one treatment will work for everyone.