What is homeopathy?
It is a treatment involving the use of substances known as remedies. These are often added to small pills or pillules which you dissolve under your tongue or the remedy is given as a liquid of which you swallow one or two drops a day.
The word ‘homeopathy’ comes from two Greek words: homo, similar, and pathos, suffering. The remedy that is prepared for you contain a very dilute amount of a substance which in larger quantities would produce similar symptoms to the illness that is being treated. In contrast, most modern medicine works on allopathic principles – ‘allopathy’ comes from the Greek words allos, other and pathos.
Allopathic treatment has an effect on the body that is opposite to that caused by the disease. Most remedies are derived from plants (such as belladonna or pulsatilla), and minerals (such as phosphorus and silica).
Do people use homeopathy to treat breast cancer?
Although not proven in clinical trials, some people choose to use homeopathic remedies alone. In practice no conventional doctors recommend homeopathy as an alternative treatment but may agree to it alongside conventional treatment.
How about using homeopathy for treating the side effects of treatment?
Some people find it helps reduce the effect of radiotherapy on their skin and relieves nausea and other side effects of chemotherapy.
None of these benefits have been shown in clinical trials. How does the homeopath decide on the correct remedy for me?
Your first consultation with a homeopath should last for at least an hour. During this time you will be asked questions about yourself and your lifestyle, about any physical symptoms you have and any medicine or treatment that has been prescribed for you.
You will also be asked about the health of your close relatives both now and in the past. With all this information the homeopath will then select the remedy that most closely matches the symptom picture of the person, using their knowledge of the symptom pictures of all the remedies.
When this match is achieved the person’s inner healing ability is thought to be activated and healing occurs.
Do homeopaths have special training?
Yes, they do. All homeopaths should have gained a recognised qualification in homeopathy before they practise.
Is homeopathy available on the NHS?
Yes it is, but not widely available. Your family doctor should be able to tell you if you can receive homeopathic treatment on the NHS in the area in which you live.
