Homeopathy is a system of medicine that was developed in the late 18th century by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. In its simplest form, homeopathy is based upon the principle of the Law of Similars, or "like treating like." Highly diluted doses of substances (plants, minerals, animal, etc.), which in non-diluted form would otherwise cause the symptoms someone is having, are used to stimulate the body's innate healing mechanisms to treat those very symptoms. It's a similar principle to vaccination, though even more dilute.
Homeopathy takes the whole person into account--their unique history and preferences--and considers their physical as well as emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of being.
Homeopathy as a form of medicine is recognized and used in many places around the world. In several countries such as India, Germany, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and others, homeopathic medicine is used alongside allopathic medical treatment and in some places it is even integrated into the overall healthcare systems and covered by insurance. Unfortunately, in the United States, there is very little respect or recognition for homeopathy, and it is not covered by any insurance plan. This wasn't always the case. Homeopathy was flourishing here by the turn of the 20th century. In fact, there were once over 100 homeopathic hospitals in the United States, 22 homeopathic medical colleges, and over 1,000 homeopathic pharmacies, as well as 15,000 practicing physicians! What happened? It was around 1910 that the Carnegie and Rockefeller Foundations funneled money away from homeopathic education and care and solely into the development of allopathic treatments. Big Drugs are Big Business after all. And while there's no doubt that allopathic treatments and surgeries and offer many vital things to us, they are not the only option. Homeopathy is still here, standing quietly in the background like the forest, offering gentle but deep support, happy to serve alongside whatever other methods of treatment you choose to employ for your well-being.
how does a homeopath view illness and disease?
Homeopathic treatment is a very different approach from suppressing symptoms with drugs that inevitably have side effects, and thereby require more and more drugs to treat those side effects, in a cascade that seems to have no end. Homeopathy doesn't want to suppress symptoms, it wants to listen, and it wants to address the deeper imbalance that is causing the symptoms to express in the first place. From a homeopathic standpoint, all illness or dis-ease is seen as the body's best attempt to express itself and ask for help. Homeopaths consider the context or what was happening in your life when your symptoms emerged--stress and emotional causes are often at play. Homeopaths believe that each organism has a vital force, and we want to work with that vital force, and never against it. Allopathic treatments can be life saving, but they are rarely life giving. Homeopathy aims to restore the balance so that you can be your Self at Best.
Robust health has never been easy. Unfortunately, it's not getting any easier. The world we live in is fast-paced, incredibly stressful, filled with information overload, endless distractions, not to mention an alarming number of chemicals and toxins in our environments. Our bodies need help dealing with all of the physical, mental, and emotional stressors of our lives. Let homeopathy be an ally--working with you, never against you.
WHAT'S A CONSULTATION LIKE?
A consultation with a homeopath may surprise you by the depth and breadth of questions you will be asked. You may be asked things you haven't thought much about before, and you may learn more about yourself in the process. If you have felt unseen and unheard by conventional medical practitioners, it will likely feel the opposite with a good homeopath. You should leave feeling seen and heard, and hopeful. You may even leave with an appreciation for what your body is trying to tell you.
IS HOMEOPATHY SAFE?
Homeopathy is incredibly safe. Homeopathic remedies are considered an energetic medicine because they have been diluted to such a high level, beyond Avogadro's number, such that no detectable trace of the original substance remains. They are more vibrational than physical. The energetic imprint of the original substance remains, and this is what resonates with the body. So no matter what the original substance of the remedy was, all homeopathic remedies are non-toxic because they are so dilute, no lasting harm can come of them. The worst case scenario is you may "prove" a remedy, which means you could get a temporary flare up of symptoms. If you are doing a homeopathic detoxification therapy of something you were exposed to, you will likely have some temporary flare ups of symptoms as your body systems rebalance. These discomforts are temporary, and there is relief on the other side.
WHAT DOES THE MEDICINE LOOK / TASTE LIKE?
Homeopathic medicines are called remedies. Remedies are typically given on lactose (i.e. milk sugar) pellets. They look like tiny white balls, and taste slightly sweet. Children generally prefer homeopathy to any other medicine for this reason! The lactose is such a small amount that even people who are sensitive to lactose generally do fine with the pellets. Upon request, a completely liquid dose could be provided, though it would contain a small amount of alcohol.
WHAT WILL IT FEEL LIKE?
Some people describe particular sensations when they get the "right" remedy--tingling, a wave of warmth, etc. But you don't have to have these feelings for it to be the right remedy, or for it to be working. Mostly it will feel like nothing, but your symptoms will gradually start to lift. In acute cases, they can start to lift quickly. The most recent symptoms lift first, whereas the symptoms from longest ago are typically the last to go, and take the longest to reach, and may require several different remedies to get there.
DOES HOMEOPATHY REALLY WORK?
Yes! It does work, despite various sources trying to undermine it by calling it a pseudoscience. It should say something that there are a high percentage of homeopaths who are medical doctors, who made the decision to switch to practicing homeopathy because they felt like they could help more people AND truly uphold the Hippocratic Oath--do no harm.
Homeopathy works, period. It works on all kinds of cases, and even when it cannot be curative, it can be palliative. Animals, who are invulnerable to bias or placebo effect, respond beautifully to homeopathy, as do children. However, in order for homeopathy to work, you must have the right remedy, which is why working with an experienced homeopath is so important. Even world-class homeopaths need to take multiple attempts to get a remedy right, so please don't give up if we don't get it right on the very first try.
WHO / WHAT DO YOU TREAT?
I treat all humans, of any age, with any symptom picture. Even if your case has been deemed incurable, I could still help with symptom management throughout all stages of living and dying. Outside of the human realm, I also consult with a licensed veterinarian on animal cases, and make recommendations accordingly. I've had great success in supporting animals homeopathically. Please don't hesitate to ask about your pet. I love animals and will do anything I can to be of help to them.
WHAT ARE YOUR FEES?
A consultation for a new case takes anywhere between 1.5-2 hrs, not including time I may need to spend researching and repertorizing in the materia medica. - For new constitutional cases, my fee is $200-$250. - For a follow-up / returning visit for the same issue, my fee is $100. - Acute issues are available to established clients. My rate is $100 per hour, with a minimum fee of $50 per consult. The cost of remedies is generally included in the consultation fee. However, a series of detoxification remedies made specifically for an individual costs $100.
NOTE: Some complex cases need a good deal of support outside of the initial homeopathic consultation and follow-up. I'm happy to provide this support, but communication that isbeyond the normal scope will incur a fee of $25 per 15 minutes of my time. This will be billed via Paypal or Venmo.
WHAT TYPE OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
I accept payment via cash, check, Paypal, or Venmo. If you are having financial hardship, you can spread your payment out over a period of up to 3 months, or we can discuss a possible bartering exchange.
do i need to change my diet in any way to use homeopathy?
No! I may make recommendations of vitamins, supplements, herbs, and lifestyle changes, but it is up to you to decide if you'd like to try something or not. I won't tell you to stop eating dairy / wheat / sugar / coffee. It's true that most people get relief from eliminating one or more of those things from their routines, but ideally, homeopathy would help you so that you don't have to resort to such stop-gap measures to control your body's inflammatory response. Let's see what homeopathy can do for before you give up something that brings you joy and pleasure!
Disclaimer: The information on this website is intended for informational purposes only. No one viewing this site should consider any information contained herein to be a substitute for diagnosis and treatment rendered by a licensed medical practitioner.