Originally Published June 30, 2003 -- Your Wellness
Guide
Homeopathy: A first
choice medicine
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You
may have heard of “homeopathy,” conjuring up thoughts of herbs or
alternative medicine. But, most people don’t know what it is, how
it benefits them, or how to use it.
Homeopathy is a safe, effective system of medicine, used by millions
of people worldwide for over 200 years. It’s not herbs but rather
energy medicine.
It’s
safe and easy to use, and regulated by the FDA. |
For example,
homeopathy is used by 42 percent of the population in France, with 39
percent of physicians prescribing homeopathic medicines. By contrast,
according to a 1998 study only 3.4 percent of the U.S. population utilizes
homeopathy.
I first
became acquainted with homeopathy when looking for solutions for an overly
high-energy child.
Nearly seven
years ago, my (then) young son was not doing well in grade school. He was
aggressive, couldn’t focus, and had more energy (largely negative) than
you can imagine (the classic ADHD label) – literally like your cartoon
Tasmanian devil.
Going down a
stimulant drug path, such as Ritalin, to “tame” this child seemed nearly
inevitable, especially because at the time that’s what everyone seemed to
be doing. But, I was not convinced that was the right thing to do, not
only because of the drug aspect but also because individuality is also
important.
My husband
and I took an alternative route. We took an intensive Active Parenting
class (www.activeparenting.com);
moved my son to a hands-on, project-based school, which also took a
forward-thinking, pro-active approach to problem solving; and we turned to
homeopathy.
I was
fortunate. Since I live in one of three states that actively license
homeopaths, I found a competent classical homeopath for my son, who
underwent homeopathic “constitutional care.”
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Homeopathy changed him: over a short period of time he wasn’t overly
aggressive, he could focus, and his other health issues disappeared.
During
that time I also became involved in a homeopathic study group
through the National Center for Homeopathy (www.homeopathic.org,
which also has a directory of homeopaths and information on
practitioner credentials; another excellent directory is
www.homeopathic
directory.com ) to learn how to use homeopathy at home.
Homeopathy is more than going to a professional homeopath, it can
also be practiced at home for acute (non-chronic) conditions, such
as bee stings, basic first aid, fevers, and stomach aches.
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Photo: Wellington Media
Homeopathic remedies generally come in tablets
or creams, and are either combinations of several
remedies for a particular health concern or available
as a singular remedy in a specific potency. |
Three
excellent resources are: Help! and Homeopathy by Eileen Nauman
($16.95, available at
www.minimum.com); The Smart Guide to Homeopathy booklet by the
manufacturers of Boiron homeopathics ($1.50, available at health food
stores where the Boiron brand is sold); Homeopathy Today magazine
published by the National Center for Homeopathy ($55.00, includes
membership in the National Center for Homeopathy, available at
www.homeopathic.org).
According to
the founder of the International College of Naturopathy, Dr. Theresa Dale,
and the medical director of the Boiron Institute, Dr. Ronald Boyer,
homeopathy’s immediate benefits include the following:
“It’s a
medicine that can actually cure, because it works on the mind-body
connection,” says Dr. Dale.
Additionally, Dr. Boyer says that one of the easiest ways to get started
in using homeopathic remedies is to try what is called a combination
remedy: a homeopathic product meant for a specific ailment, such as the
common cold or flu, which has several remedies in the ingredients.
Or, I recommend an excellent website for easily honing in on the right
singular remedy:
www.abchomeopathy.com. Next time you get a bruise, food poisoning, or a bee sting,
turn to homeopathic medicine – you will be pleasantly surprised.
Also, another easy-to-read book that I
highly recommend, which comprehensively introduces you to homeopathy, is
Impossible Cure by Amy L. Lansky, PhD.
Terra
Wellington
is a
national authority on creating a wellness lifestyle.
www.terrawellington.com
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Wellington
