WHAT IS HOMŒOPATHY?

Homœopathy is a system of medicine that is based on the Law of Similars, "like cures like", the principle that a disease can be cured by a remedy which, given to healthy people, produces similar symptoms to that disease. For example, herbalists claimed that Peruvian bark cured malaria. The founder of homoeopathy Dr.Hahnemann swallowed a quantity of Peruvian bark and began to experience the symptoms of malaria itself such as fever, intense thirst, drowsiness and agitation.

According to the "law of similars" the patient's symptoms are used to determine the best Homœopathic remedy. Remedies are chosen to treat the whole person, to fit all the characteristics of the patient, so physical disorders are considered in relation to the individual's mental and emotional state. This is because Homœopaths believe the mind and body operate as one, so you cannot treat one part of the body without affecting the whole.

Homœopathy is one of the most widely used forms of medicine in the world today because people are discovering the benefits of a medicine that is safe, non-toxic and non-addictive, so it can be used effectively by everyone, from babies and children to adults, including women during pregnancy.

Homœopathic medicines can be taken alongside drugs prescribed by your doctor and will not interfere with their beneficial action.

Homœopathy can significantly help a wide-range of conditions including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Problems during pregnancy and childbirth
• Menstrual problems
• Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Menopause
• After effects of vaccination
• Asthma
• Eczema
• Hay fever
• Headaches and migraines
• High blood pressure
• Digestive disorders
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Bed-wetting
• Glue ear
• Tonsillitis
• Glandular Fever
• Pre and post surgery
• Fertility problems

HOMŒOPATHY for PREGNANCY

By stimulating the vitality of a pregnant woman, Homœopathic treatment will automatically benefit her baby. The many physical and emotional changes of pregnancy may cause minor health problems, such as urinary problems, diarrhoea, heartburn, anaemia, raised blood pressure, varicose veins, backache, cramps, oedema, thrush or emotional distress. All these problems and more can be helped by Homœopathic treatment.

HOMŒOPATHY for CHILDBIRTH

There are many effective remedies that can help deal with possible problems during childbirth, e.g. if the cervix is slow to dilate, excessive pain, haemorrhaging, retained placenta and other difficulties.

Penny can provide Homœopathic Childbirth kits. The Childbirth kit is 18 safe, gentle and effective remedies for use before, during and after labour, complete with its own self-prescribing guide, to aid and support the delivery. If you decide that you and your birth partner would like to use the kit, Penny can arrange an appointment to explain the use of remedies.

For example, the following remedies are often helpful during labour:

Aconite - the labour is too fast (any stage), the pains are very strong (even unbearable) and there is a feeling of fear and panic.

Arnica - can be given from time to time during the pregnancy and especially afterwards to help the muscles function properly and speed any healing or bruising that may occur.

Kali-phos - weakness and exhaustion during labour.

POSTNATAL HOMŒOPATHY

After the birth, you can use homœopathic remedies to speed healing for yourself and your baby - this will help you to enjoy the whole experience more. Postnatal depression can be greatly helped by Homoeopathy.

Penny can also provide Homœopathic Travel kits.

Homœopathic travel kits contain individualised remedy kits for the country you are visiting. Here are some examples of what they may contain: Arsenicum - which can be very good for travellers' diarrhoea Arnica - for falls, sprains and bruises Remedies for travel sickness, insect bites and many other health related matters.