|
Return
to the Homeopathy main page
The
Homeopathic Consultation
INTRODUCTION
This webpage has been prepared to help you participate
effectively in your homeopathic consultation with Dr. Bradley.
It would also be valuable to read an Introduction
to Classical Homeopathic Medicine if you have not already
done so. These two webpages are not relevant to you if you are
only scheduled for a naturopathic, nutritional or counseling
appointment - although it may still be of interest.
This
webpage contains a description of the homeopathic consultation
and an explanation of the homeopathic system of healing. Please
read this material carefully before you come in for the
homeopathic consultation. Keep it to re-read occasionally
when you have questions or just want a refresher.
NATUROPATHY
and HOMEOPATHY
Many people mix-up the terms “naturopathy” and
“homeopathy” (pronounced: ho”me-op’ah-the). Dr. Bradley
is trained as a doctor of naturopathic medicine (N.D.) and she is
board certified in homeopathy. This means she is a naturopath who
specializes in homeopathy.
As
a naturopathic doctor, Dr. Bradley is trained in the full
spectrum of conventional basic and clinical medical sciences, as
well as many natural therapies. This includes homeopathy, along
with the other natural therapies such as nutrition and herbal
medicine. Therefore, homeopathy is one type of natural therapy a
naturopath may use to help someone recover his or her health. In
addition to the basic training in homeopathy that all
naturopathic medical students receive, Dr. Bradley specialized
in homeopathy and did her residency in homeopathy. Thus, she is
both a naturopath and a homeopath. She also may use herbs,
nutrition and supplements with you as additional support, but
this is separate from the homeopathic process and remedy
selection.
THE
HOMEOPATHIC CONSULTATION
Essential to effective homeopathic care is the information
that you provide to the practitioner. The homeopathic interview
involves extensive discussion that may cover unfamiliar ground
for those who are used to the questions of other types of
practitioners. The kinds of information the homeopath requires
are described below to help you start thinking about these
things.
Your
homeopathic evaluation and the choice of the correct remedy
depend in a large part on a thorough understanding of all the
specific symptoms you experience. But in addition, general
information about what you are like as a whole person is also
very important, such as your level of vitality, emotional
well-being and personality. Dr. Bradley will want you to state
in your own way the problems that have caused you to seek help
and describe them as fully as possible. Initially, she will avoid
asking a lot of question in order to not prejudice your
description.
How
you experience your problems is more important then your
speculations on why you have them. Therefore, the feelings
and sensations you experience when ill are the most important
symptoms and characteristics to share with your homeopath.
Your
experience of your health problems should be described in as
much detail as possible. The types of information that will help
to select the correct homeopathic remedy includes:
-
A
description of the onset of symptoms. For example,
do you associate the onset of your symptoms with an
emotional upset, prolonged or pronounced stress, lack of
sleep, exposure to weather, an injury, drug use, surgery or
any other factors?
-
A
description of the aggravating and ameliorating (improving)
factors. It is important to know what makes your
symptoms better or worse. Anything that clearly influences
the intensity or pattern of your symptoms should be
reported. For example: Does your condition vary with time of
day or night, or season of the year? Is it affected by your
position (sitting, standing, lying, etc.)? How do
temperature, weather, eating and sleeping affect your
condition?
-
The
character of sensation or pain. Describe the nature of
the sensation in your own words. For example: Is it
tingling, burning, numbness, crawling or itching? Is the
pain cutting, dull aching, cramping, sharp, pressing, etc.?
The character of a pain is different from the intensity.
-
The
precise location of the complaint.
-
A
description of any discharges or bleeding from any part of
the body.
-
A
description of the “concomitants.” Anything that
regularly occurs in association with your symptoms should be
mentioned. For example: Are you always nauseated when you
have a headache? Does your skin clear up when you get your
menstrual period?
-
A
description of your diet. Be
ready to describe which foods you crave or have strong
preferences for (even if you don’t think they are good for
you), foods that you strongly dislike and foods to which you
react poorly.
-
General
information. In addition to information about your local
symptoms, the homeopath needs to know a lot about you in
general. This is very important, and may be decisive when
choosing the correct remedy. For example, does any
particular symptom or your general sense of well-being
change as a result of environmental or emotional factors.
How are you affected in general by temperature, weather,
time of day, activity level, eating and sleeping? What makes
you feel better, what worse? This may be very different from
what makes a particular symptom better or worse.
-
Understanding
your sexuality may be important. The homeopath may
ask you about your level of sexual energy (i.e. high, medium
or low). Is your level of desire a problem for you? Is this
a change?
-
The
homeopath will want to learn about your mental and emotional
nature and personality. For example: How do you
react to stress in your life? What emotional patterns limit
your ability to fully express yourself or reach your full
potential? How expressive of your emotional states are you
and in what ways do you express them? What about your
memory, clarity of thought and so on? What kinds of fears
and phobias do you have? Anxieties/worries?
-
Finally,
dreams are important. What kind of dreams do you have?
What themes are recurring? Nightmares? What feelings do you
experience in your dreams? This information is not for
purposes of psychoanalysis but is useful to confirm
different homeopathic remedies.
ACTION
OF THE REMEDY
Based on the information you provide, one homeopathic remedy
will be selected which fits your individual constitution. This
remedy is the best to stimulate your inner healing abilities.
After a remedy is given the individual’s response is carefully
observed and the remedy is changed only if necessary. Each
individual experiences the reaction to the remedy in a different
way. Usually the effects are gentle and gradual, though at times
more rapid or dramatic changes occur. Since the remedies work to
better your general health, you should not be concerned if local
symptoms do not change right away. Occasionally a remedy will be
given that is not a prefect fit. If this happens usually either
only temporary improvements occur or nothing at all happens,
however the follow-up visit will usually reveal the correct
remedy. Sometimes the action of the remedy is so dramatic people
feel like they are well and that they need no further attention
to their health. This initial reaction shows that the person can
get well. However, consistent follow-up is essential to insure
long lasting health. If there are any concerns about what is
happening after taking a remedy, please call. |
