HEALTH
What is health?
- "Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".
The World Health Organization (WHO).
- "Health is: freedom from pain in the physical body, a state of well being; freedom from passion on the emotional plane, resulting in a dynamic state of serenity and calm; and freedom from selfishness in the mental sphere, having as a result total unification with Truth". George Vithoulkas
- "Health is a state of balance between the mind and body that allows each individual to enjoy life, while embracing both joyous and difficult moments. It is having the strength to move forward and pursue one's purpose in life". Clara Amaya
How can you maintain and/or restore your health?
You can maintain and/or restore your health by using holistic modalities with the help of a qualified and committed health practitioner who will listen to your concerns, understand your needs and help you conquer your health issues. Clara is one of those compassionate and highly skilled practitioners.
What is holistic therapy?
- A therapy that looks at the patient as a whole person. The body's systems are seen as interdependent parts
- Instead of suppressing a symptom, as in conventional medicine (orthodox allopathic), holistic therapy looks for the underlying cause of an illness and treats the totality of symptoms - physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional.
- Holistic therapy helps prevent illness by placing a greater emphasis on optimizing health.
- Holistic therapy actively involves the client in the healing process, and relies on a good client-practitioner relationship.
- Examples of holistic modalities are Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Bowen technique.
A HOMEOPATH VERSUS A NATUROPATH
What is the difference between a Homeopath and a Naturopath?
Homeopaths and naturopaths are primary health care providers who use natural medical modalities to heal the ill. Both are part of the health system of Ontario.
A homeopath has a deep knowledge of the art and science of homeopathy. Homeopathy helps patients to heal naturally and permanently by the use of highly diluted natural substances. These substances stimulate the body’s healing capabilities to cure itself in a gentle and permanent manner.
To become a good homeopath, a student of homeopathy should: acquire a basic knowledge of health sciences, including conventional medical diagnostic and treatment procedures; obtain deep and intense training in homeopathic principles and remedies; and complete a clinical practice involving at least 1,700 hours of clinic supervised experience, with exposure to a wide variety of acute and chronic complaints in people of all ages. In Ontario, this education is provided by institutions such as the Ontario College of Homeopathic Medicine.
In other words, a homeopath is a specialist in Homeopathy.
A naturopath is trained in the sciences, a variety of natural medical modalities (such as homeopathy, nutrition, botanical medicine, acupuncture) and physical modalities (such as massage therapy.) In other words, a naturopath is the general natural-medicine practitioner.
HOMEOPATHY
What types of prescribing are important to differentiate in homeopathy?
There are three types of prescribing: acute prescribing, constitutional prescribing, and suppression.
What is acute prescribing?
- It is the prescribing used for acute conditions like stings, bruises, sprains, food poisoning, influenza, measles, mumps and any other acute or infectious disease.
- It is based on presenting symptoms.
- Several remedies may be used in quick succession (e.g. flu may need Gels to start, then Eup-per, then Kali-p, and then Influenzinum as the disease progresses through its various stages).
What is constitutional prescribing?
- It is the prescribing used for any chronic condition like Cysts, IBS, Eczema, Asthma, Depression, Behavioral Problems, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, etc.
- The remedy is selected upon after in-depth holistic case taking and deliberation.
- Only one remedy is used and often only in a single dose.
What is suppression?
- It occurs when medications (or other methods) cause the disease state to go deeper into the constitution, worsening overall health.
- It is not (generally) recognized as a problem by conventional doctors, whereas homeopaths consider it as something to be avoided at all costs.
- Most conventional medicine is suppressive.
- It occurs whenever the medicine works against the body's vital energy.
- It can only be undone with natural medicine modalities like homeopathy.
What is a homeopathic remedy?
- Homeopathic remedies are made of highly diluted doses of natural substances derived from plants, animals and minerals to trigger the body’s natural defense mechanisms, for example to treat a cold accompanied by a runny nose and watery eyes, a homeopath might prescribe a preparation of allium cepa (onion).
- Homeopathic remedies do not interfere with drugs, vitamins, supplements, body therapies, nutritional routines or any other treatment modalities.
- The effects of homeopathic remedies are first studied using healthy people, before being used to treat the ill (provings).
What should I expect after taking a homeopathic remedy?
Homeopathy acts very naturally, stimulating the body to heal itself. Many people are not used to this process and may not realize that the changes/reactions they are experiencing are a result of the homeopathic treatment. Every remedy acts differently and every person responds differently. For some people, the main symptoms may start getting better soon after taking the remedy; for others, some symptoms may temporarily worsen before starting to get better. Some patients may feel a happiness/lightness after taking a remedy; others may not perceive much. Also, old symptoms may reemerge, at which time a person will begin to heal quickly. Dreams may become very vivid, while old or recurrent dreams may shift, and the issues involved may resolve. If you have concerns about your reaction, or have any questions, contact Clara promptly. In any case, write down the peculiar things that you notice after taking the remedy. You can share them with Clara at your follow-up appointment to evaluate the effect that the remedy has on your system.
How long after taking a homeopathic remedy should I expect detecting its effects?
Some remedies are fast acting, and others slow acting. Every person is different; thus, some people may feel the action of the remedy immediately, and others may start detecting changes after a week or more. Sometimes people are very sensitive and detect changes quickly, while others may believe nothing is happening. These individuals only become aware of changes once people close to them make comments, or upon answering questions posed by their practitioner at their follow-up appointment. Healing is a process, and issues that have bothered you for years may take some time to resolve. On the other hand, in acute cases things have to resolve promptly. Remedies act quickly and you should be in frequent contact with Clara until the healing process is evident.
How many doses should I take of the remedy selected for constitutional treatment by my practitioner?
Initially, you should take one dose (2-3 pellets) once. At the time of your follow-up (usually after a 3-4 week period), Clara will evaluate the action of the remedy on your system and will give you further instructions on which remedy to take, the frequency, and any lifestyle recommendations required to support the homeopathic treatment.
How long does a homeopathic treatment take?
I cannot tell you how long you will need to be under treatment in order to heal. What I can assure you is that homeopathy always helps. The extent of the help depends on many factors, such as: the type of illness/problem that you want to be healed of; how far structural damage has gone; how long you have had the ailment; the type of treatment(s) you are on and for how long; whether the symptom picture you are presenting is a mixture of side effects and your old symptomatology, or a clean picture of your complaints; whether you have been open with Clara, or you are omitting important issues that your doctor needs to know about, etc.
Does homeopathy help to manage symptoms or does it cure?
Homeopathy can do both. In most cases, homeopathy has proved to be effective in permanently curing acute and chronic disorders at a physical and/or mental level. A cure can be achieved when the disease has not advanced and there is not serious structural damage. Homeopathy can also halt the progress of diseases and reverse pathological processes. In very advanced illnesses, which have been treated for years with strong drugs and where organ structural damage is advanced, homeopathy can help to alleviate the presenting symptoms and allow people to improve their quality of life, even if a cure is not possible at that stage of disease.
Can a member of my family/friend take the same remedy I am taking?
No, it is not appropriate to share your remedy with anyone, even if your symptoms seem to be exactly the same. Every person is different and even a family member experiencing similar symptoms may require different treatment.
Can I take conventional medicines along with homeopathic remedies?
Yes. If at the time you start homeopathic treatment you are under conventional medicine treatment, you should continue taking your medicines and following your regular routine. With time, once the homeopathic treatment is showing effectiveness, you should consult your physician. If appropriate, your doctor may suggest that you start tapering off the conventional medication(s). Never stop taking any medicine you are on without consulting your medical doctor.
Can I take a homeopathic remedy for an acute complaint/condition while on constitutional treatment?
Your homeopathic doctor has to know the symptoms of the acute condition to decide the best prescription required to treat it. Some acute conditions can be treated with the constitutional remedy, but the choice of remedy, potency and dosage has to be decided by your doctor.
Can I be on homeopathic treatment simultaneously with other treatments such as herbs etc.?
Yes, homeopathy does not prevent the action of conventional medicines, herbs, or physical therapies. You should, however, notify your practitioner about any new treatment that you are on to create an accurate evaluation of the effect of the homeopathic remedy.
Do you order blood tests and other clinical tests?
No. If blood tests are required, I may ask you to bring blood results obtained from your physician within the last three months of your initial homeopathic visit. Sometimes it is helpful to have initial values before starting a treatment. Any additional tests, such as X-rays or MRI results that you may have, could be helpful in understanding the evolution of your condition and in the prescription of a remedy that is a good fit for you.
Can a homeopathic remedy trigger an allergic reaction if it is made from a material that contains a substance I am allergic to?
No. Homeopathy works at energetic level; therefore, allergies are not triggered by homeopathic medicines.
Do I have to keep the homeopathic remedies in the fridge?
Dry pellets can be kept in a dry place protected from light, and far from electronic equipment. Liquid remedies should be properly labeled, and kept in the fridge, away from strong smelling foods, until the time of use.