Homoeopathy is an effective system of healing which assists the natural tendency of the body to heal itself. It recognises that symptoms of ill health are expressions of disharmony within the whole person and that it is the patient who needs treatment not the disease.
In 1796, a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, discovered a different approach to the cure of the sick which he called homeopathy (from the Greek words meaning 'similar suffering'). Like Hippocrates two thousand years earlier, he realised there were two ways of treating ill health: the way of opposites, most commonly used by conventional medicine and the way of similars

Take for example, a case of insomnia. The way of opposites is to treat this by giving a drug to bring on an artificial sleep. This frequently involves the use of large or regular doses of drugs which can sometimes cause side effects or addiction.
The way of similars, the homoeopathic way, is to give the patient a minute dose of a substance, such as coffee, which in large doses causes sleeplessness in a healthy person. This can then help the patient to sleep naturally. Of course, this is a simplified example. Homeopathy is patient-centred and a homeopath will prescribe based on the totality of your symptoms and how you, as an individual, experience them. This also takes account of you as a person - your individual characteristics, both emotional and physical.
Homoeopathic remedies, properly prescribed, are safe and can also be given to pregnant women, babies and children.

If you are given homoeopathic remedies to take at a later date, be sure to store them in a cool dark place, away from anything with a strong smell and try to avoid placing them near your mobile phone. If you travel abroad, where possible, try to avoid putting the remedies through the X-ray scanner.

Please tell your homeopath about any medicine or supplement that has been prescribed by your doctor or that you take regularly. Please also mention any recent dental treatment or any other complementary or alternative treatments you are undergoing. These may affect your homeopathic prescription.

Homoeopathic remedies can be used at the same time as conventional medication but it is important that you discuss this with your homeopath, both at the initial consultation and later, should your doctor make a new prescription.

Your homeopath may also give advice on remedies to help you with acute ailments such as colds and flu, as well as first aid advice.

If, at any stage of your treatment, you are concerned that your symptoms are changing, you should contact your homeopath and/or medical practitioner immediately.

After taking your remedy, you may notice some changes. Some patients experience a period of exceptional well being and optimism. Sometimes your symptoms can appear to get worse for a short time. This is often a good sign that the remedy is taking effect. Sometimes a cold, rash or some form of discharge may appear as a 'spring cleaning' effect which means your system is going through a clearing out stage. Similarly, old symptoms can reappear, usually for a short period.

These symptoms are an important part of the healing process but, if any response to your treatment concerns you, do contact your homeopath as soon as you can. You might also want to make notes of any changes and take them with you to discuss at your next appointment.

This depends very much on what sort of illness you have, as well as the other individual characteristics of your case. Every case is different. So it can be difficult for your homeopath to assess this until after your second appointment. A slowly developing complaint or one that has been experienced for some years, may take longer to improve, although there may be a response and some improvement quite soon. Acute complaints can often get better more quickly.
Homeopathic remedies work from the inside, with the patient usually feeling more positive in themselves, with more energy, in the first instance. Outer symptoms such as skin conditions are often the last to clear. Sometimes patience is called for – as the balance is slowly restored, the symptoms will improve.