Homeopathy at Home
Homeopathy is safe for home use as there are no dangerous side
effects. This, to many, is the principal that gets them interested
in homeopathy in the first place.
There is also a popular misconception that other forms of alternative
medicine, such as herbal, nutritional supplements, or chinese
herbal are also completely safe to self-prescribe, because they
are 'natural'. This is not the case; homeopathy is safe because
everything is very very dilute; many herbal remedies and supplements
can cause lasting damage if not taken carefully.
When people use homeopathy
Most people first come to homeopathy when they feel they've
been failed by conventional medicine. It may be for a long-held,
chronic condition, or a short lived acute ailment. It may be
that conventional medicine has been unable to help at all, or
that the side effects are simply not worth the risk.
This was from our survey in September 2003:
You can see that of those who use homeopathy on long term illnesses,
most do so because conventional medicine has been unable to
treat them, and a much smaller number use homeopathy to avoid
the side effects of conventional medicine.
Long Term and Short Term - Chronic and Acute
Long term (chronic) illnesses are deeper rooted than short
term (acute) illnesses, and are consequently more difficult
to treat successfully at home - normally guidance from a homeopath
should be sought.
Short term illnesses can be treated much more successfully
at home, by a layperson.
And finally, as you become more confident at treating conditions
at home, don't get over-confident. Stopping prescribed medication
without first consulting a physician can endanger your health.
If symptoms persist, always seek professional medical attention.
Bear in mind that even minor symptoms can be a sign of a more
serious underlying condition, and a timely diagnosis by your
doctor could save your life.
