Presentation to Wokingham Homeworkers Network

2. An ultradiluted and potentised substance is given that can create similar symptoms.

3. The body notices and counter-reacts, cancelling its own symptoms.

5. Like treats like Hippocrates said: ‘by similar things a disease is produced and by application of the like is cured’ Dr Samuel Hahnemann experimented on himself and found that doses of malaria medicine - Cinchona bark - produced similar symptoms to malaria (1791) He diluted the doses to reduce toxicity and noticed that succussing gave a wider sphere of action – affecting thoughts and feelings. 3

6. Dr Samuel Hahnemann Trained in medicine in an era of blood-letting, strong purgatives and ‘heroic’ medicine. Observed that symptoms may improve but the patient would weaken and new worse conditions would appear. Became very disillusioned. Recorded the symptom effects of diluted and succussed medicines on his family and friends: ‘Provings’. Treated epidemics – scarlet fever, cholera, typhus Homeopathy spread throughout Europe and USA – suppressed by the American Medical Association. 4

7. Homeopathy:Empirical Medicine Empricism – ‘derived from observation and experimentation rather than [deriving] from theory’. Scientific Method – testing a theory e.g. ‘inhibiting serotonin re-uptake alleviates depression’ – theory of Prozac. Homeopathy treats people and their symptoms collectively – generally one remedy at a time. Conventional medicine treats diseases individually – many medications at a time. 5

8. Emerging Science Martin Chaplin – Professor of Water Research: ‘67 Anomalous properties of water’ Is homeopathy ‘just water’? ‘the vigorous shaking may produce significantly increased concentrations of silicate, sodium and bicarbonate ions by dissolution of the glass tubes and increases in nanobubbles and redox molecules from the atmosphere, respectively.’ 6

9. Emerging Science AIDS Nobel prize winner Luc Montagnier has noted: ‘the capacity of some bacterial DNA sequences to induce electromagnetic waves at high aqueous dilutions.’ It takes time: Aspirin discovered in 1853 and understood in 1971. It takes funding. 7

10. Evidence Based Medicine Homeopathy heavily criticised for having ‘no proof’ – RCTs (trials against placebo) show inconsistent results. RCTs of Vioxx were positive but Vioxx withdrawn after serious side-effects. Head of NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence): ‘RCTs have been placed on an undeserved pedestal. The interpretation of evidence requires judgement.’ 8

11. Evidence Based Medicine 9 British Medical Journal: 13% of commonly used treatments have evidence of efficacy, 46% have no evidence:

12. Homeopathic Anecdotal Evidence Cholera epidemic of 1856 death rate: London Homeopathic Hospital 9% Other London Hospitals 59% Bristol Homeopathic Hospital survey 6500 patients (2003): 70% experienced clinical improvement, after conventional medicine failed. Get Well UK Northern Ireland 3 year study of CAM (2007): 54% of patients having homeopathy reported improvement. 10

13. Homeopathic Anecdotal Evidence despite Scepticism Charles Darwin suffered for 7 years from: persistent nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations, widespread boils, fainting spells and spots before his eyes. “I grieve to say that Dr Gully gives me homeopathic medicines three times a day, which I take obediently without an atom of faith.” One month later: “I now increase in weight, have escaped sickness for 30 days & yesterday in 4 walks I managed seven miles!” 11

14. Observations of the causes of ill-health Family tendencies, repeating patterns Stuck reactions to stress After-effects of injury, accident Lingering infections, inability to respond effectively Reactions to medication CAUSES AND EFFECTS: Physical Emotional Mental 12

15. Case taking Research the complaint and possible remedies. Medication: side effects. Patient’s experience: sensations, how, when, where, why. Medical history: illnesses, accidents, weaknesses Illnesses in the family Stresses and sensitivities: upbringing, occupation, anxieties, temperature, foods Top to toe: any other symptoms. Holistic approach 13

16. Remedy selection Sleep, dreams and feelings Anxieties, stresses Any strong sensations and reactions Description of patient’s experience of their presenting symptom Symptoms cross referenced in a database of thousands of remedies and hundreds of thousands of symptoms. Suitable potency chosen based on sensitivity. 14

17. Common remedies: Minerals: for symptoms resembling mineral deficiency Calcium Carbonate, Silica, Sulphur, Natrum(sodium) Plants: for symptoms resembling plant poisoning/stings Pulsatilla, Lycopodium, NuxVomica, Urtica Animals: for symptoms resembling animal poisoning/bites Sepia, Lachesis, Tarentula, Apis 15

18. Signs of improvement Sleep quality improved. Calmer – sensitivities, anxieties. More energy, more purpose, more focus. Improved resilience. Essential functions improve. Niggly symptoms disappear. Medications can be reduced. Case 16

19. Good referrals Sleeping problems Mood, anxiety, behaviour problems Recurrent infections, lingering illnesses Old injuries, incomplete recovery. Unexplained pain, difficult to diagnose conditions Strong symptoms – sensation, triggering factors Children – strong symptoms and able to react well. Often improve within three appointments 17

20. More difficult/longer cases Symptoms masked by medication. People wanting to withdraw from strong medication. People who have suffered a lot of stress or operations. People wanting a ‘quick fix’ or to change/work against a natural, healthy body reaction. 18

22. Confidential consultations with a conversational style.

23. Analytical and intuitive approach.

24. Up-to-date symptom and reference database.

25. Regular professional development and supervision.

26. Registered and insured with the Society of Homeopaths – the UK’s largest registration body for homeopaths.small doses bring relief, health and vitality 19