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"Is it Safe?" is the first concern of anyone using any medicine. The short answer is Yes - Homeopathic medicine is completely safe. However, you should not stop taking any existing medication without first consulting your doctor.
Dosage and Potency
Not all Homeopaths agree on dosage and potency, and the potency to be taken depends on both the sensitivity of the patient, and the exact remedy being taken. But as a general rule, chronic illnesses (i.e. those that you've had for a long time) should be treated with high numbers i.e. 30C - 200C and Acute (i.e. those that are relatively new) with low numbers i.e. 6C.
However, there are exceptions, particularly where an accident started off the symptoms and you might give the body a kick-start with a high potency dose such as Arnica 200C first and then follow with a lower potency remedy. Low numbers are used more frequently than high numbers.
Another general rule is that high potency Homeopathic medicine should only be taken when you know it is the right remedy, so start off with a low potency remedy, and then increase the potency if improvement is felt, though incomplete.
Taking Homeopathic Medicine
Homeopathic medicine should be taken on a clean pallet. While on a course of Homeopathic treatment, you should avoid strong flavors such as mint (including toothpaste), coffee or camphor.
They are normally taken as pills, which are placed under the tongue. Take two tablets every two hours for the first six doses, and then four times daily for up to five days. For some complaints remedies are taken as an ointment, for example, arnica cream applied directly to bruising.
Drops are generally taken 10 drops 3 times (3x) daily, but always consult the label.
If you are taking the remedy in pill form, you should avoid contact with the skin (including fingers). Just drop a few pills into the lid and pour them directly into the mouth.
Once relief from the symptoms are felt, stop taking the Homeopathic medicine. Only take it again if exactly the same symptoms come back.
A professional Homeopath will also assess your diet and lifestyle.
General Considerations When Using Homeopathic Remedies:
1. WHEN CHOOSING YOUR OWN REMEDIES without the advice of a practitioner, take only 3x to 30x potencies, nothing higher.
2. TAKE THE REMEDIES away from food and drink -- a minimum of fifteen minutes before or after eating or drinking (except water). Your mouth should be clean and free of food, drink, tobacco, alcohol, toothpaste, gum, etc.
3. AVOID coffee, camphor, mint, menthol and eucalyptus products (internal and external, such as gums, lozenges, Tiger Balm, Vick's VapoRub, white flower oil, Noxzema creams, and BenGay), which can antidote the remedies or render them ineffective. (That's the rule, but for people who absolutely can't give up coffee, experience indicates that the remedies may still be effective if taken well away from it.) Homeopathic medicine should never be used along with steroid drugs, which work by an opposing mechanism. Homeopathic remedies encourage the body to regain its original vitality; steroids suppress the immune system's own efforts.
4. AVOID TOUCHING HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES WITH THE HANDS.
FOR PELLETS:
Shake them into the cap of the bottle, then drop them into the mouth. Keep them under the tongue until they dissolve.
FOR LIQUID:
Let the drops fall from the dropper or bottle into the mouth, taking care not to touch the dropper to the tongue or lips; or put the drops in a little water. Try to hold the liquid in your mouth for thirty seconds before swallowing. Wait at least thirty seconds before taking another remedy.
FOR HOMEOPATHIC VIALS:
The vials are different potencies, which need to be taken in order. If one is broken, it should be replaced before going on to the next. Do not take the vials if you have a cold or flu. Wait until your symptoms have cleared, then resume your regular schedule.
5. TAKE DESERET HOMEOPATHIC VIALS FROM #1 to #10 . Nosode series therapy remedies, which are among the most effective of homeopathic remedies, are frequently mentioned in The Alternative Pharmacy. The manufacturer advises taking the vials once every 3 days, in order from #1 to #10. Higher potencies are used for chroinc, long term disease states, and generally taken 1 week apart.
6. STORE THE REMEDIES in a dark place away from perfumes, medications, foods, herbs, and all strong smelling substances. The bathroom cabinet is not a good place. DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN A HOT CAR, AS TEMPERATURES ABOVE 150 DEGREES CAN RUIN THEM. Don't store them on electronic equipment like a TV, microwave, or radio set, as the remedies work vibrationally and can be damaged by competing radiation.
7. WHEN YOU FLY, don't let the remedies by x-rayed. Don't put them in your checked luggage, which is often x-rayed. Carry them separately in a little bag and put them on the key tray when you walk through the doorway at the security check. Pick them up on the other side. (If they accidentally go through the machine, they can still be used; they just may be less effective.)
8. BE PREPARED FOR A HOMEOPATHIC AGGRAVATION. A slight aggravation of your symptoms can sometimes take place before you feel better. This is not only normal but desirable: it indicates the remedy is the correct one, and that healing is beginning to occur. If you feel worse, you may stop the remedy and simply observe the symptoms. You'll feel better in a few hours, or at most a few days; then you can continue taking the remedy. Some people are more sensitive than others. Find your own comfort level.
9. STOP WHEN YOU SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN SYMPTOMS. Homeopathic remedies exert subtle influences on the system. Their purpose is to encourage the body on its health-building path. When the body is healthy, it no longer needs the remedy. Prolonged use beyond that time may result in nontoxic aggravation, producing the very symptoms the remedy was being taken to eliminate. (If that happens, don't worry; the symptoms will disappear when you stop taking the remedy.) If your symptoms return after discontinuing the remedy, try a few more drops. If you are seeing a practitioner, it's best to return within two to three weeks to determine whether you still need the remedy.
10. NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS while taking homeopathic remedies include a diet centered around fresh, whole grains and fruits and vegetables, with low amounts of sugar and no added preservatives. Warm, cooked foods are encouraged; raw and cold foods are discouraged. It's best to avoid processed or preserved foods and dairy products (including milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt). |
