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The consultation, what to expect

Constitutional Homeopathy Addresses the Physical, Mental and Emotional Planes

The philosophy of homeopathy holds that the mind, body and emotions are not separate. Every human experience has can leave an imprint in the physical body or the emotional sphere. For this reason, the homeopathic process begins with an initial in-depth interview. Usually this appointment takes 90 minutes but more time will be allotted if necessary. The homeopath will ask an extensive range of questions to achieve a complete understanding of the state of health on the physical, mental, and emotional planes. The homeopath also takes into consideration the energy level and how the individual responds to the environment.

Homeopaths are interested in understanding all levels of function: mental, emotional, and physical. For example, sustained emotional stress can cause problems in the immune system, difficulty in the digestion or assimilation of food, or difficulty sleeping and conversely, physical problems can result in emotional unrest or anxiety. Generally, all of the presenting symptoms of the patient, including the chief complaint, behavioral tendencies, and the patient’s personality traits, are important symptoms in homeopathic analysis.

Each of us experiences key moments in our life, often beginning early and continuing throughout our lifetime, when we encounter stress or situations that are difficult to reconcile, and our organism begins to devise strategies that enable us to survive. This process can occur even without our being overtly aware of it, simply by the natural workings of our nervous system. The homeopath strives to understand the unique dilemma that each patient has evolved, based on consideration of the multilayered, multifaceted clues that the patient provides. These clues involve not only the complaints and symptoms that the patient relates but also the myriad details that help to define us as individuals. The homeopath then prescribes a remedy intended to stimulate the innate vitality of the individual, to resolve the trauma that produced the symptoms in the first place.

What Homeopaths Perceive

Observation and Determining a Remedy
The job of the homeopath is to try and understand where the flow of energy is impeded. Every nuance of the individual becomes a clue to the correct remedy: breathing patterns, eye contact, body posture, the sound and quality of the voice is significant. The interesting and unique way each person copes with stress or expresses creativity is also a piece of the puzzle.

Next the homeopath reconstructs the data: the information about the physical, emotional and mental symptoms; and matches this with what she knows about the remedies in our materia medica-which is our homeopathic medicine chest.

As part of the education of a homeopath each remedy is studied carefully. A remedy is like a crystal with many facets to its character. The remedy will be associated with physical symptoms and will target certain areas of the body such as the digestive system or the nervous system, and each will have an emotional and mental component. Many homeopathic writers describe the symptoms of a remedy as if it were a person, and a sketch or portrait begins to emerge. It is this whole portrait that the homeopath is attempting to uncover. When the correct homeopathic medicine is administered-the remedy that fits both the physical symptoms and the emotional and mental symptoms, there will be a response that will reverberate on all levels and the net result is a triggering of the immune response and the natural tendency for the body to return to a state of balance.

How Is The Correct Homeopathic Remedy Found?
Homeopathy is truly holistic in that mental and emotional symptoms are considered to be as important as physical symptoms in deciding on the correct remedy for an individual. When a person has a health problem each symptom expressed is like a star in a constellation. The symptoms are you body’s attempt to balance itself. As you gaze into the sky you can often recognize a constellation even if some of the stars are obscured by clouds, similarly an individual may not have all of the symptoms associated with a specific remedy. Finding the correct homeopathic remedy depends on gaining a complete understanding of your state of health on the physical, mental, and emotional planes. In the homeopathic interview you will be able to explain your health history and current problems and will be asked an extensive range of questions. In this way as many “stars” as possible will be revealed so the full constellation can be understood. The remedy suggested for you will precisely match this constellation and help your body re-establish its natural state of health.

The Patient is an Integral Part of the Process
Homeopathy is an active process in which most of the healing is fueled by the patient’s own immune system. The homeopathic remedy acts as a catalyst to change. The patient can greatly assist the process by being thorough and clear when reporting symptoms. Be open and truthful in describing those things which are most limiting for you mentally and emotionally. Be observant of changes taking place in your system. You may want to keep a journal of specific or general shifts in your health. Be committed to avoiding activities that might interfere with your remedy.

The Homeopathic Follow-up
After the first interview and remedy prescription there will be follow-up visits scheduled at intervals of 4-8 weeks. These visits are important in determining the extent of the action of the remedy and if additional remedies are required. Some cases are relatively simple and the individual will feel significantly better after a short time with one remedy. In some cases there will be layers and more than one remedy will be required to “peel” away the layers so that full health can be regained. The changes experienced after the correct remedy can include removal of specific symptoms, increase in energy, improved immune response, and the general sensation of less limitation to expression. Because homeopathic therapy is subtle and deep, the changes are long lasting and can take time to evolve.

Homeopathic Medicines Stimulate an Internal Readjustment Toward Balance
When stressed our organism devises strategies that enable us to survive. In health, our bodies respond to stress in a variety of mechanisms that maintain a process of continual balance is known as homeostasis. When stress or trauma exceeds the organism’s ability to respond, the vital force or internal defense mechanisms will be unable to neutralize the stress. A variety of chronic symptoms can often be the result including such diverse conditions as; recurrent infections, fatigue, digestive disturbances, headaches, chronic allergies, and emotional imbalances such as depression or anxiety, etc.

Interestingly, homeopathy does not seek to remove the symptoms that the body produces. Symptoms are seen as a purposeful response to stressful stimuli. This is most easily understood if we consider the symptoms of the common cold: These might include fever, lethargy, and the production of mucus. These symptoms are an intelligent response to a viral infection. The fever speeds up enzymatic processes and mobilizes specialized cells in the immune system that combat the virus. The lethargy requires physical rest so that all available energy is being used to overcome the cold.

In homeopathy, the goal is not the removal of symptoms but the recognition and removal of the underlying cause of the symptoms. For this reason, the correct homeopathic remedy is based on understanding the whole person rather than matching the symptoms of the disease.

Finding the homeopathic remedy for infants

The newborn is fully capable of perceiving and expressing emotion. Comprehension of the emotional state of an infant is requisite to finding the correct remedy and coming to a deeply curative prescription. When observing the infant it is evident that the body posture and position, facial expression and eyes all form windows into the emotional realm.

The child can express discomfort even in a loving and caring environment because each infant is an individual and some babies are extremely sensitive to stimuli or have a predisposition for digestive, neurologic or sensory disorders.

low_imb0720577-smThe newborn is capable of a full spectrum of emotional expression. They may feel anger, sadness and fright. The child has interest in the surroundings and is sensitive to stimuli in the environment such as light, noise, and motion.   Each child can respond to the environment in a variety of ways, being alert, startling, or tuning out and falling asleep.

When taking the case of an infant, it is critically important to compassionately understand the family system. The homeopath must sense the current emotional climate and understand what the parents are feeling.   If a child is nursing, there is a direct line of emotional communication. The emotions experienced by the mother are coded to the baby, who readily perceives the emotion.

The history of the birth experience may provide clues to the simillimum (closely matching remedy) in the newborn.   It might be important to know the attitude of the mother during labor. If the mother experienced undue fear, pain or trauma during the delivery the baby may be affected. Other significant elements may include;

  • How long the labor lasted, how much pain was involved, and whether the labor well tolerated by the mother.
  • The medical condition of the mother.
  • Who was present at the birth?
  • Was medical intervention necessary, such as the use of Pitocin, suction extraction or caesarean section?
  • The condition of the infant at birth including the Apgar scoring

Bonding at birth is one of the most important events in the development of trust in the infant. If there is interference in the bonding process, problems and symptoms will manifest. Bonding can be affected by a temporary or lengthy separation at birth, illness in the mother or infant, or feelings of inadequacy and tension in either parent.

Observing the expression in the eyes of an infant is an important method of evaluation for the homeopath. This will allow the sensitive prescriber to gain insight into the emotional state of the organism.   Anger may be observed in eyes that are crunched or slit, fear may result in protrusion of the eyeballs, and sadness may manifest in very little blinking with a fixed gaze and a lack of reaction.

Crying is another way the baby communicates his or her emotional state. Differentiate one type of cry from another, and understand the meaning of each type to determine whether or not the cry is a symptom. For example, the hungry cry, is recognized by the soft moaning tones which, if ignored, will transform into a more vigorous cry. A frustrated cry can be vigorous from the start. Babies will often turn quite red when expressing an anger in the cry. The cry of pain can start with a scream which is followed by a long pause for breath and then proceeds with vigor. It is important to listen for the type of crying that indicates pain. There is also a needing cry or fussiness which develops after the first month of life when the baby is expressing a demand for attention.

All children experience fears at various stages of life, and infants are no exception. Depending on the remedy, newborns can be particularly fearful of sudden shifts or extremes of stimulation such as loud noise, bright lights, or rapid movement. Many can also have an instinctive fear of being dropped when their heads or limbs are not being fully supported. Some dislike being dressed and undressed.

Some infants can also become quite upset when there is a sudden shift in routine, or an alteration of the reality they have learned to expect. For example, the sight of a parent wearing a mask or hat, or a dad wearing shaving cream may cause agitation and fright.

Reactions to external stimuli may differ according to the remedy of the child. For Example a Calcarea carbonica baby will be afraid of the vacuum cleaner, while the Sulphur baby approaches it without any fear at all.   Some infants want to be tightly bundled in blankets and others desire more freedom of movement. The infant can show signs of separation anxiety at an early age. Even tiny ones can cry and shriek toward the departing parent.

In order to gain understanding of the baby in the waking hours the homeopath should observe the infant at the breast. How well does the child latch on to the breast? How long does the baby desire to nurse? Is there a preference of one breast over another? Some babies prefer the left breast and others prefer the right breast. These are all subtle clues to the remedy needed by the newborn. Is the baby sleepy on the breast?   does she like small snacks or large meals?   Is there an amelioration after the meal?   Is there a tiredness after eating?

Inquiry into the topic of sleep provides a wealth of information that will guide in the selection of a remedy. Many babies do not sleep through the night.   There are many causes of wakefulness including hunger, teething, gas pains, a wet diaper, or being too warm or too cold. The position of sleep can also be a symptom. The homeopath must determine the etiology of the problem and the chosen remedy must address the problem at this source. These are just some of the small details that make up the constellation and indicate a needed homeopathic remedy. Ability to observe and interpret the physical expression and the emotional clues lead to an understanding of the inner state of the organism and is paramount to the homeopathic treatment of children.

The goal of homeopathic rreatment and healing

The Energetic Component of Homeopathy

The remedies used in homeopathy have qualities that are energetic and dynamic. A homeopathic remedy might be made from the same plant that is also used to make an herbal tonic. One example is the remedy Ipecac. Syrup of Ipecac can be found in the drug store and is an herbal distillation from the plant ipecacuanha. If you eat the plant or take the syrup you will experience severe nausea and vomiting. The syrup is used to induce vomiting and emptying of the stomach when someone has swallowed a potentially toxic substance for instance if a child eats a bottle of aspirin.

When Ipecac is made into a homeopathic remedy through an exacting and specific process it is transformed into a very different substance that acts in a different way. The homeopathic remedy is like an energetic hologram of the original herb. It can be likened to a silicon chip containing information rather than being a nutritive extract like an herb. When the remedy is given the body take in the information and uses it to make a change. The information in the remedy ipecac helps the body cope with nausea and vomiting and so is often used as an acute or short acting remedy for the treatment of morning sickness.

 

The Energetic Nature of Our Beings

Throughout history there have been writings about the energetic qualities associated with living things. This can be found in spiritual writing from many cultures but also is a topic of scientific exploration in many fields including physics, medicine, and psychology. This description of the energetic nature of our beings comes from the book Body, Self, and Soul by Jack Lee Rosenberg and Marjorie Rand, both clinical psychologists who explore the mind, emotion, body interface:

“Now, if you think of a person as being, in essence, a constellation of energy, how would you envision a healthy person? We picture him or her as a free-flowing energy. The unhealthy person has blocks in the system and the flow of energy is impeded.”

“The essential Self of each of us is both energy itself and the awareness and appreciation of energy. If something happens early in life, the sense of Self develops poorly, and is buried under defensive blocks……For example; the baby whose needs aren’t taken care of and who seals off her feelings is forming blocks to her energy flow. The blocks are represented by growing muscular tension. In blocking off feelings, she stifles the flow of energy and the core of her being–her sense of Self–lies hidden within.”

The remedy constellation is the precise patterning of blocks that both protect and obscure the inner self. Each remedy has a different pattern of energy blockage. The symptoms that describe the patterns of blockage are those that are integral to a set of symptoms that are blocking or limiting the freedom and expression of the organism. In ulcerative colitis the diarrhea and cramping limit the function of the person and are one of the things taken into consideration when finding a homeopathic remedy. But in every individual who has been given that diagnosis there are other components or blocks that for a constellation leading to a correct remedy match.

 

Healing

By seeking to deeply understand the etiology and underlying source of disease, the homeopath becomes an energetic conduit between the patient’s conscious understanding of themselves and their unconscious knowledge of what is really wrong. An energetic opening is created and the healing process is initiated. The remedy further fuels this healing process by adding information to the system-the precise information needed to catalyze a reordering and slow but steady dismantling of the energetic blocks. When this occurs the actual symptoms will diminish and better function and creativity of expression will return.

What homeopaths perceive

Observation and Determining a Remedy

The job of the homeopath is to try and understand where the flow of energy is impeded. Every nuance of the individual becomes a clue to the correct remedy: breathing patterns, eye contact, body posture, the sound and quality of the voice is significant. The interesting and unique way each person copes with stress or expresses creativity is also a piece of the puzzle.

Next the homeopath reconstructs the data: the information about the physical, emotional and mental symptoms; and matches this with what she knows about the remedies in our materia medica-which is our homeopathic medicine chest.

As part of the education of a homeopath each remedy is studied carefully. A remedy is like a crystal with many facets to its character. The remedy will be associated with physical symptoms and will target certain areas of the body such as the digestive system or the nervous system, and each will have an emotional and mental component. Many homeopathic writers describe the symptoms of a remedy as if it were a person, and a sketch or portrait begins to emerge. It is this whole portrait that the homeopath is attempting to uncover. When the correct homeopathic medicine is administered-the remedy that fits both the physical symptoms and the emotional and mental symptoms, there will be a response that will reverberate on all levels and the net result is a triggering of the immune response and the natural tendency for the body to return to a state of balance.

A Case of Infant Failure to Thrive

“He is happy to starve”

A Nineteen Day Old Infant Presents with a Case of Thrush:
Melanie P. brings in her two week old baby who has thrush, a candidal infection in the mouth. He has a whitish coating in his mouth and his mother thinks that this might be causing his feeding problems. Melanie is 24 years old, thin and weary looking, and this is her first child. She appears to have a calm, matter-of-fact demeanor. The baby, Leo, is small, angular with a marked absence of subcutaneous fat a factor that contributes to him looking like an old wrinkled man. He has a ruddy reddish complexion.

On questioning Melanie states that the pregnancy was unremarkable but she describes the birth as “tough.” Leo was fine but he weighed 9 pounds. During the labor her vagina and her cervix were torn. Stitching the cervical laceration was difficult and it required that she have a general anesthetic. The baby was held by his father in the interim which was about four hours.

Leo is an easy-going baby but he has had difficulty with breastfeeding. At first he would not latch on well and this, coupled with the fact that he was a very sleepy infant, resulted in the milk coming in late, at five days after the birth. Melanie was quite uncomfortable the first week because her cervix was swollen and painful. Since the birth Melanie has lost 30 pounds. Aware that Leo was having a hard time learning to nurse–the baby was not nursing vigorously and he was spitting up large quantities of each feed–she had called the hospital to ask for assistance. The hospital sent a nurse to evaluate the situation and give her pointers on nursing. Melanie then phoned the Nursing Women’s Council an organization that sent out a trained lactation consultant. Apparently these efforts were not effective in identifying or alleviating the problem and these professionals did not sense that the situation was becoming critical.

Then Melanie had an insight. She reasoned that because her husband had been milk intolerant as a child, perhaps Leo was also affected by dairy products. She stopped eating all milk products and this helped marginally with the regurgitation. But by this time Leo was in the habit of sleeping through the night without feeding. He was becoming more lethargic and Melanie’s milk supply was dwindling due to lack of nipple stimulation. She did not realize that her infant was losing weight and, in essence, slipping away. Although the chief presenting complaint was thrush this was clearly a case of failure to thrive.

At seven days she brought him to the doctor for a well-baby examination. The doctor became alarmed when he found that Leo had lost over a pound since his birth and suggested supplementation with formula. The first soy-based supplement was not well tolerated so Leo was switched to another formula that was more digestible. Melanie was instructed to wake him during the night to feed him, but he was quite sleepy and she had difficulty arousing him. He could only be fed by bottle during the night as he stubbornly refused to breast feed when in a sleepy state. “If it was up to him he would just starve himself,” Melanie told me. In addition, Leo had to be bundled up to prevent heat loss. The doctor explained that it would use too many calories if he had to struggle to maintain his body temperature.

At this point in the interview Melanie notices that the baby needs a diaper change. She puts him on his back and removes his diaper, then begins to clean him. As she wipes with some pressure around his genitalia, the baby just lies there in a relaxed and flaccid posture, with his head turned to the side, eyes open but not moving. I note that there is no reaction as his mother moves his legs and rubs his skin. His arms and legs do not reflexively bend. He is awake but hypotonic.

Now Melanie picks him up and the baby begins to root, turning his head to the side and stretching his mouth. I suggest that she try to nurse him. I have found that it is helpful to observe the interaction between mother and baby. When taking the case of an infant it can be important to get information about how the child feeds; if one breast is preferred, whether the baby likes a sweet tasting milk, if the child become easily sated or wants to stay on the breast for a long time, etc. Melanie is reluctant at first and I can tell that she does not want me to see how difficult the process of feeding has become. The baby opens his mouth and takes all of the nipple into it, then he licks weakly and his eyes roll back and he nods out, falling asleep. I try to stimulate him by vigorously rubbing his feet but he is fairly unresponsive. Again his mother remarks, “He is happy to starve.”

The baby has a thin white coating on the tongue from the yeast with a few small plaques. His stools are yellow-to yellow green and loose. He does not have a diaper rash. Apparently quite chilly, he does not like being undressed. He cries during the bath and shivers afterward. He doesn’t seem to mind having his hair washed. He does not sweat and he startles when naked and startles in his sleep. He snores, sleeps with his eyes half open and his mouth sometimes quivers.

As a note: I phoned the medical doctor who had referred Leo to the practice and went over the diagnosis with him. I said that the mother told me the diagnosis was Candida but I noted Failure to Thrive syndrome. The physician then told me that upon referral he had told the mother, “If the homeopathy does not help we will have to insert a nasogastric tube and begin to gavage feed the baby.”

Discussion
This infant was close to being seriously dehydrated and emaciated. In addition to the correct prescription, I felt it was very important to address the unspoken fear and tension that accompanied this case. The mother had experienced a difficult labor and post-partum period. She did not have adequate support. Although she had tried to get the appropriate help, she had been dealing with this problem by herself and then had the additional shock of going to her doctor and finding that her baby was indeed starving. Although she has reported all the facts in a flat monotone without a hint of emotion, I knew that she had been traumatized by these events and suspected that she probably harbored feelings of guilt, having unknowingly allowed her baby to become dangerously undernourished.

I address this directly by saying that she must have had a very hard time with all this and that it must have been quite a shock to find out that the baby had lost so much weight. With this the tears begin to fill her eyes finally there is a flood of emotion and she is able to talk about her sadness and fear. I feel that this exchange is an important part of the healing process and will help to alleviate some of the unresolved feelings that could potentially stand in the way of her bonding deeply with her child.

Although there are many remedies that come to mind in babies who fail to thrive including Calcarea carbonica, Abrotanum, Arsenicum and Silica, I sought a remedy that matched the total state of this baby. What seemed most prominent to me in this case was the baby’s unresponsiveness and indifference. Despite having daily periods of wakefulness, he remained passive, uncomplaining, and fairly motionless. The peculiar phrase “He would rather starve himself” appeared at least two times during the interview. This child was in a dreamlike, dissociated state. I focused the case using the following rubrics:

Generalities Emaciation, children in (2)
Mind, Indifference (3)
Mind, Indifferent to pleasure (3)
Mind, Asks for nothing (2)
Mind, Dream as if in (3)
Mind, Stupefaction (3)
Mind, Tranquillity
Sleep, Deep (3)
Sleepiness, overpowering (3)
Extremities, relaxation (3)

And the supporting data:
Mind Starting during sleep (2)
Respiration, snoring (3)
Face, Expression, old looking (3)
Face Discoloration, red, or earthy (3)
Face, twitching, mouth around (3)
Eye, Movement, rolling

The remedy is Papaver sominiferum derived from the poppy from which opium is also obtained.

J. H. Clarke says of Papaver sominiferum, “An agreeable languor, followed by sleep…” and “No doubt abnormal painlessness is a grand keynote for opium.” He goes on to explain, “Diminished irritability and inactivity of the voluntary and morbidity exalted excitability of the involuntary…” In this case the baby had flaccid extremities and was unreactive, but startled when undressed and during his sleep.

Ananda Zaren, a prominent modern homeopath has said, “think of this remedy as a drug that reduces your defenses. You melt and become floppy, the tension in the body goes. There is no resistance.” In this case the mother’s exclamation, “He is happy to starve” illustrates this lack of resistance. Ananda describes some other babies that required this remedy as being still and quiet with a quality of dreaminess. The movements are often slow and the babies are unreactive and do not seek contact. Ananda also suggests that the physical symptoms exhibited by individuals who respond to Papaver sominiferum indicate a sense of fright. Thus there is shaking, quivering, diarrhea and startling. But this is a particular kind of fright. A state of flight or dissociation resulting in staring, stupefaction, lack of response or unconsciousness. The muscles are not held in rigid tension but are floppy or flaccid. Like the state of the opium smoker, tension melts, the world fades away and all cares are erased. Painful things can be painless, yet the organism can be exquisitely sensitive to noise.

The etiology of the Papaver state can be a shock or a fright. Perhaps this infant was frightened during the difficult labor or in his period of separation from his mothers. His physical body is indicating the state of fright by shaking, starting and quivering. Thus we can also use the rubrics;

Mind, Fright, ailments from (3)
Chill, Shaking, shivering (3)
Generalities, Trembling, externally (3)

Papaver is a well-known remedy in cases of hypoxia occurring during birth. These infants can be blue or have a reddish discoloration of the face. Respirations can be stertorous or uneven. As time goes on the other indications for Opium will occur including indifference, floppiness, and dreamlike state of consciousness.

Follow-up one week later:
Leo is doing quite well and has quickly regained his lost weight and now exceeds his weight at birth. Although he is still being supplemented with formula, he now wants to breast feed every two hours. At night he wakes every three or four hours to feed. He is far more alert and he is also more demanding. When he nurses he latches firmly and easily on to the nipple. He no longer falls asleep during his feeds. With the weight gain he is better able to maintain his body temperature. The thrush in his mouth is 80% better.

Melanie appears to be more relaxed. Her milk supply is increasing. Her physician was surprised that she has been able to breast feed through this crisis as he expected the baby to go completely to the bottle. He has encouraged her and says that if the baby continues to gain weight she can stop supplementing him within two weeks.

Melanie now says that she is beginning to see the emergence of a personality in Leo. He lets her know what he likes and does not like. She is able to understand him and is enjoying their interaction. He has come out of his dream-like state and is responding to the loving touch of his mother.

Follow-up three months later:
Leo wakes at about 5 AM and eats well. He nurses very regularly at 2-3 hour intervals in the day and sleeps 8 hours at night. He is awake most of the day taking two naps in the morning and afternoon. He appears to be content and only cries on occasion. He can still drift off during a feed. After the remedy he was more fussy for a time and now he is happier and does not whine. He has no diaper rash and no sign of thrush.

Melanie has gone back to work but her husband is at home with the baby. Leo is comfortable with both his mother and father. When he was left with a baby sitter he did not like it and screamed for over an hour. I see this as a positive sign that the child is not indifferent and has the vitality to mount a sustained protest. He prefers to be held by his parents and although he sees one of their neighbors almost daily, he doesn’t want to be held by her.

When strangers approach, Leo studies them carefully. He will stare at a stranger and sometimes his eyes will open wide. This is possibly and indication of anxiety. Melanie admits that it is depressing to her to have to leave her baby to go to work. Over all, this mother tends to “keep a stiff upper lip” and contain her emotions. I suggest homeopathic therapy might help her deal with this transition and she agrees to make an appointment in the future.

Leo likes to lie on his back and be stimulated with toys. He will attempt to bat at them. He is active and kicks and smiles at his parents. He likes to be held standing upright and hates to be left on his stomach. He gets very warm when he sleeps and continues to startle in his sleep.

Leo likes to be at home. The family cat mesmerizes him. He is cautious around strangers and cautious in new situations. He doesn’t mind a diaper change and likes the sound of the vacuum cleaner. He no longer spaces out, but he has a timid personality.
There are no nursing problems and he continues to gain weight without problems in feeding. He has begun to suck his fingers.

Plan
A new remedy picture might be emerging but the child is doing well and still exhibits signs of the first remedy including startling, nodding into sleep, staring, fear of others approaching him, desire to be at home, etc. At this time I will wait. It will be important to support this new family during the difficult adjustments that are being made during the first years of life.

Homeopathy is a powerful tool in the development of family bonding and helps to potentate emotional growth for all members of the family. The homeopathic interview involves a process that includes non-judgmental observation and recognition of the family system, provides a safe environment for expression of fear sadness and isolation that are the unfortunate by-products of our busy culture. Our remedies can work miracles and because of the simple process of sitting with people and listening with an open mind and heart we homeopaths are privileged to witness and support the individuals and families who come to us for care.

Do I Need to Believe in Homeopathy for it to Work ?

Homeopathy is not a placebo treatment. In fact, infants and animals can be successfully treated.

What do we need to treat?
As Samuel Hahnemann, the originator of homeopathy, wrote in the essential treatise on homeopathy,The Organon, the physician must strive to “clearly perceive what has to be cured in disease, i.e. in each individual case of disease.” (Third Aphorism)

The work of the homeopath is to observe, consider, reflect, and then finally determine what the underlying disturbance, the energetic “underlying wrinkle in the cloth” might be. The goal is not to remove the symptoms but to remove the deeper disturbance that results in symptoms. As a homeopath I have had the experience of taking the case of a patient and feeling that the patient might not be consciously aware of the underlying problem from which the physical or emotional symptoms spring.

The patient not the disease
The idea that we are treating a unique individual and not a disease or diagnosis is key to understanding classical homeopathy. This is one way that homeopathy differs significantly from allopathic medicine, in which the physician looks for a pattern of symptoms in order to make a diagnosis and then gives a medicine for that diagnosis.

For example, a person comes into my office with the complaint of allergies. Although I am interested in the nature of the allergies I cannot find the correct remedy based on information about the color and quality of the mucous or the itching or sneezing. Perhaps the person speaks with hesitation and has a sense of fearfulness, while another person with allergies could have a feeling of loneliness and isolation and a third sufferer of allergies also complains of mental fogginess and lack of concentration. Sometimes the patient is a young child and the allergic symptoms are accompanied by sleep disturbances, restlessness, or behavioral problems. Each will need a different remedy to address the source of irritation in their economy. One might need a remedy associated with fright while another might require a remedy that addresses a deep grief.

How do Homeopathic Remedies Work?

How can a small dosage of a substance create change or have a long lasting effect on my system?
Homeopathic remedies can be thought to have a resonant effect on the body. Similar to the way in which a specific note, played on the violin in a specific octave, can have an effect on the molecular structure of a wine glass, the homeopathic remedy which exactly resonates with the symptom picture of an individual will have a catalytic effect, triggering a systemic response in the patient. The response is strengthening to the individual from the inside out.

The remedy stimulates a return to balance which in turn helps the individual resist disease, and become more flexible in adapting to one’s environment

How Is The Correct Homeopathic Remedy Found?

Homeopathy is truly holistic in that mental and emotional symptoms are considered to be as important as physical symptoms in deciding on the correct remedy for an individual. When a person has a health problem each symptom expressed is like a star in a constellation. The symptoms are you body’s attempt to balance itself. As you gaze into the sky you can often recognize a constellation even if some of the stars are obscured by clouds, similarly an individual may not have all of the symptoms associated with a specific remedy. Finding the correct homeopathic remedy depends on gaining a complete understanding of your state of health on the physical, mental, and emotional planes. In the homeopathic interview you will be able to explain your health history and current problems and will be asked an extensive range of questions. In this way as many “stars” as possible will be revealed so the full constellation can be understood. The remedy suggested for you will precisely match this constellation and help your body re-establish its natural state of health.