HOMEOPATHIC CONSULTATIONS

In addition to my practice as a midwife, I am also a classically-trained homeopath. I have been practicing for over 10 years. Because I do not hold a license to practice medicine, I offer my service as a wellness consultant and educator, rather than as a "prescriber". In this capacity, I can assist you in setting up a program that will enhance your general state of health and give suggestions for remedies that may help eliminate any undesirable symptoms you may be experiencing. Since I am not a licensed medical provider, my services are not covered by insurance

WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?
Homeopathy is a system of medicine that is based on the Law of Similars. The truth of this law has been verified experimentally and clinically for the last 200 years. Let's look at an example: If your child accidentally ingests certain poisons, you may be advised to administer Syrup of Ipecac to induce vomiting. Ipecac is derived from the root of a South American plant called Ipecacuanha. The name, in the native language, means "the plant by the road that makes you throw up." Eating the plant causes vomiting.

When a group of healthy volunteers took this substance to determine effects of this drug, they found that the drug induced other symptoms as well. The mouth retained much saliva. The tongue was very clean. There was a cough so severe that it led to gagging and vomiting. There was incessant nausea. While it is expected that vomiting would usually relieve nausea, this was not the case.

Such an experiment, using healthy volunteers, is called a proving, and it is the homeopath's source of information about the action of a drug. Of what use could this plant be? If a person were suffering from a gagging cough after a cold, or a woman were experiencing morning sickness with incessant nausea that is not relieved by vomiting, then Ipecacuanha, administered in a minute dose, especially prepared by a homeopathic pharmacy in accordance with FDA-approved guidelines, can allay the "similar" suffering.

Samuel Hahnemann described this principle by using a Latin phrase: Similia Similibus Curentur, which translates: "Let likes by cured by likes." It is a principle that has been known for centuries. Hahnemann developed the principle into a system of medicine called homeopathy, and it has been used successfully for the last 200 years.

HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE?
Very simply, homeopathy attempts to stimulate the body to recover itself. Let's look at an example: the common cough.

First, we must accept that all symptoms, no matter how uncomfortable they are, represent the body's attempt to restore itself to health. Instead of looking upon the symptoms as something wrong which must be set right, we see them as signs of the way the body is attempting to help itself. Instead of trying to stop the cough with suppressants, as conventional medicine does, a homeopath will give a remedy that will cause a cough in a healthy person, and thus stimulate the ill body to restore itself.

Second, we must look at the totality of the symptoms presented. We each experience a cough in our unique way. Yet conventional medicine acts as if all coughs were alike. It therefore offers a series of suppressive drugs - something to suppress the cough, something to dry the mucus, something to lower the histamine level, something to ease falling asleep.

Homeopathy, on the other hand, looks for the one substance that will cause similar symptoms in a healthy person. The person with a cough characterized by being worse when breathing cold air, and sounding like a deep bark, will need a quite different remedy than the person whose cough is loose in the morning, dry in the evening and better when sitting up in bed. We characterize both as "coughs", but they are different illnesses in the individuals, and therefore require different homeopathic treatment.

In conventional medical thought, health is seen simply as the absence of disease. You assume that you are healthy if there is nothing wrong with you. To a person versed in homeopathy, health is much more than that. A healthy person is a person who is free on all levels: physical, emotional, and mental. Obviously, a person with a broken leg is not free, on the physical level, to move around. But on a more subtle level, a person who cannot eat certain foods or is allergic to certain materials is also experiencing a lack of freedom. It is a good emotional release to cry at a "tear jerker" movie, but someone who continues to cry for several weeks afterwards is experiencing a lack of freedom on the emotional level. Likewise, a person who cannot absorb what he has read or cannot remember day-to-day appointments is experiencing a restriction on the mental level. The homeopath recognizes such limitations and attempts, through the use of the properly selected remedies, to restore the person to health and freedom.

An important basic difference exists between conventional medical therapy and homeopathy. In conventional therapy, the aim is often to control the illness through regular use of medical substances, even if the medication is nothing more than vitamins. If the medication is withdrawn, however, the person returns to illness. There has been no cure. A person who takes a pill for high blood pressure every day is not undergoing a cure but is only controlling the symptoms. Homeopathy's aim is the cure: "the complete restoration of health," as Dr. Samuel Hahnemann said.

WHAT ARE THE MEDICINES?
Homeopathic medicines are drug products made by homeopathic pharmacies in accordance with the processes described in the Homeopathic Phamacopoeia of the United States - the official manufacturing manual recognized by the FDA. The substances may be made from plants such as aconite, dandelion, plantain; from minerals such as iron phosphate, arsenic oxide, sodium chloride; from animals such as the venom of a number of poisonous shakes, or the ink of the cuttlefish; or even from chemical drugs such a penicillin or streptomycin. These substances are diluted carefully until little of the original remains.

A plant substance, for example, is mixed in alcohol to obtain a tincture. One drop of the tincture is mixed with 99 drops of alcohol (to achieve a ratio of 1:100) and the mixture is strongly shaken. This shaking process is known as succussion. The final bottle is labeled as "1C". One drop of the 1C is then mixed with 100 drops of alcohol and the process is repeated to make a 2C. By the time the 3C is reached, the dilution is 1 part in 1 million! Small globules made from sugar are then saturated with the liquid dilution. These globules constitute the homeopathic medicine.

Although such infinitesimal quantities are considered by some to be no more than placebos, the clinical experience of homeopathy shows that the infinitesimal dose is effective: it works upon unconscious people and infants, and it even works on animals.

The selection of any homeopathic remedy is made on the totality of the symptoms presented by the patient. Any remedy may be used for any condition if the symptoms generated by the remedy match the symptoms experienced by the patient. It is important to remember, however, that a medicine is homeopathic only if it is taken based upon the similar nature of the medicine to the illness. A medicine labeled "homeopathic" will work only if it is homeopathic to the symptoms presented.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO MY APPOINTMENT?

1. Please bring a listing of your nutritional intake for 3 to 5 days. Do not modify your eating habits; just make note of what you have ingested, including water and beverages, vitamins, and snacks.
2. Please bring all medicines and supplements you are currently taking.
3. Please make a "timeline" of your life. You can do this in any way that appeals to you, but please include any major illnesses, as well as all significant events in your life such as births of siblings, moves, deaths, divorce, abuse, and anything you feel is important. Include vaccinations if you have this information.
4. Please look carefully at the attached sheet entitled "How To Report Symptoms" and be prepared to describe the aspects of yourself mentioned there. You may wish to write them out in advance of your visit.

HOW LONG WILL MY APPOINTMENT LAST AND WHAT IS THE FEE?
First appointments usually take an average of 2 hours. Subsequent appointments take less time, depending on the situation. Sometimes appointments for very young children will not take as long. After an initial appointment in person, follow-up visits may be done by phone. Fees for phone consultations are the same as in person. The fee is $60 per hour, prorated for the actual amount of time spent. Homeopathic remedies cost $5.00 each. Nutritional supplements vary in cost.

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How to Report Symptoms to a Homeopath
While homeopathy is not psychiatry, much of the information you provide about yourself will be critical in helping your homeopathic physician select the most suitable homeopathic medicine for you. You are also encouraged to be thorough, but brief. Focus on what is most important. Many of the details will be discussed during your interview. All of your responses will be kept in the strictest confidence.

1. Always describe the beginning of your complaints (or those of your child, if the child is the patient). State just how they began as well as the changes that may have taken place since.

2. Mention all previous illnesses. A complete history of your health is important, even of such things as skin diseases, children's diseases and their after-effects; tell of fevers, colds, flus, sores, ulcers, etc.; also injuries, if any. Tell their location and what treatment was used.

3. Tell, if you can, all therapies that have been used and your response.

4. Describe all mental or "nervous" feelings and conditions, such as likes and dislikes, desires, fears, timidity, hurried feelings, lack of interest, persistent thoughts, discouragements, discontent, over-conscientiousness, whether critical, irritable, easily confused, aversion to business or work, preoccupation with work or business, absentmindedness, changeable moods, difficulty of concentration, dullness of mind, whether easily startled or starting from sleep or when falling asleep, or from noise or being touched; whether annoyed by noise or talking of others or by children; whether easily affected by bad news or upsetting media (TV, movies, news); whether better or worse from mental exertion, or when occupied, whether sensitive to offense or contradiction; and, if your feelings are easily hurt. Describe the state of mind as to the future or to threatening troubles; attitude of mind as to associates and relatives, and the effects of same, and whether better alone or with company. Tell the peculiarities of memory; whether there is a desire to be silent or to talk a lot. Tell of any emotional shocks, frights, disappointments, etc. of the present or past; how affected by a room full of people. Describe any fears or phobias; e.g., heights, claustrophobia, dark, thunderstorms, death, disease, robbers, animals, poverty, public speaking, etc.

5. As to appetite, tell what is craved or disliked, including such things as salt, sweets, fats, sour, spicy things, eggs, milk, cheese, ice cream, butter, yoghurt, chocolate, meats, fish, shellfish, chicken, smoked foods, fruits, vegetables, onions, garlic, soup, ice, cold things, warm things, bread, etc. Also, is there thirst or lack of thirst, and what type of drink and temperature of the drink is preferred? Is there any craving or aversion to coffee, tea, tobacco or alcoholic beverages (specify whether wine, beer and/or liquor)? Are there any ill effects (allergies or any adverse reactions) to any of the abovementioned items?

6. Do the symptoms remain the same or do they change character and/or shift from one place to another?

7. Describe all pains; what kind, what exactly it feels like, e.g., burning, stinging, throbbing, aching, bursting, stitching, stabbing, tearing, needle-like, tearing, etc., and whether constant, changeable, or periodical; also, in what direction it may go or extend, if any; whether it comes slowly or suddenly and also how it leaves. Mention those things that make the pain either better or worse, such as the effects of heat, cold, weather, time of day, pressure, touch, motion, position, etc.

8. Write down the time of day, night, month or season that you are better or worse; whether before or after eating, sleeping, moving, resting, exercising, when occupied, when thinking of your complaint, etc. Write just what things or conditions make you feel worse and whatever relieves the pain or sickness. This is important!

9. How are you affected by different kinds of weather, by cold, heat, dryness, humidity, an approaching storm, during and/or after storms, thunderstorms, frost, cloudiness, seashore, low or high altitudes, etc.?

10. Sensations are very important information! State just what kind, where, at what time they are better or worse, and whatever makes them better or worse. Tell about all sensations, however slight, strange, rare or peculiar, such as "as if___________," e.g., sensations as if floating, sensations as if cobwebs on face, sensations as if a body part is enlarged or feels smaller, sensations as if something alive inside the abdomen or inside the chest or inside the head, sensations as if someone behind you, etc.

11. In skin, scalp, or nail problems, tell the exact location, color, whether dry or moist, thick or thin, scaly, crippled, pimply, blistered, with or without discharged matter, warts or growths, appearance of surrounding skin; whether itching, burning, stinging, worse or better from scratching, and what else makes it better or worse, such as heat, the heat of the bed, cold, exercise, wool, water, etc. Tell of any enlarged veins, etc.

12. Describe discharges of any part, whether slight or heavy, the color, odor; if thick or thin, gluey or sticky; if causing redness or burning, rawness; color or stain; and what makes it better or worse and when.

13. Urine: whether pain before, during or after passing, color, odor, appearance, quantity, sediment, frequency, urgency (if hurried).

14. Bowel condition: color, odor, hard, dry, large, pasty, bloody, frothy, slimy, thin, watery, slender, flat, etc. How often, at what times worse or better, or how affected by certain circumstances; whether difficult, incomplete, urging without result; if the stool slips back in, if prevented by spasm of the rectum; or anything else peculiar.

15. Women are to give age at first menstrual period, how far apart, then and now; whether pain before, during, or after, then and now, and where; also where the pain may extend to, as to the back, sides, groins, thighs, etc. What kind of pain (see #7), what relieves or aggravates, how often the pains come. Tell whether there have been miscarriages. Tell how you feel in general, before, during and after the periods; sex desire or aversion, whether intercourse is normal, unsatisfactory, or painful.

16. Men are to give particulars as to male organs, if anything is not normal; whether any former disease or abuse; effect of intercourse; strength of sexual drive; frequency of masturbation; whether night emissions, etc.

17. Describe the effects of heat, cold, weather, bathing, getting wet, exposure to drafts, the sun, lying down, motion, beginning motion, the effects of perspiration; whether prone to lassitude, weakness or weariness and the effects of activity. Are you greatly influenced by being at the seashore or mountains?

18. Describe the details of your sleep. Do you sleep well or poorly? Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you waken at a certain hour? In what manner; e.g., as from fright, from a dream, from a sensation of heat, from a physical pain or other sensation? In what position do you sleep? Do you stay covered or uncover? Do you uncover your feet at night? Are there any peculiarities associated with sleep, such as teeth grinding, perspiration, salivation (drooling), jerking, restlessness, talking or walking? Do you dream? Do you have any recurring dreams or dreams of a similar nature; i.e., similar theme, same object or person recurringly appears, etc.? Please describe your dreams in some detail and how you believe their meaning(s) relates to your waking life. Mention any other peculiarities of sleep.

19. Using the guidelines given above, please write a narrative summarizing your principle complaints and the "reason" you think you became ill. How did your life situations, in the past or present, cause any stresses you may have experienced and/or developed any qualities and/or behaviors, e.g., selfishness, stubbornness, fearfulness, etc., in you that might have contributed to your illness. Similarly, did any physical, chemical, or biological trauma(s) contribute to your illness? Describe the significance of your illness to you, what your emotional reactions are to it, and what are your worries in regard to it.

20. Describe yourself (separate from the illness); what you feel are your central, personal strengths and weaknesses; include a summary of your life history focussing upon the most important events in your life - major griefs and losses, disappointments, the worst thing(s) that has (have) happened to you, and about your childhood. Discuss what is most important to you in life; also describe your favorite pastimes and passions, and your goals and aspirations for your life. Thank you for taking the time to complete this homeopathic questionnaire.