So What's My Purpose in Life? Finding the Positive Path

Yesterday evening, I attended the first of a four part seminar on the subject of Positive Psychology.  This relatively new psychological approach focuses on the positive aspects in an individual's life as opposed to what is dysfunctional.  It's the belief that success and happiness thrive in an environment where positive qualities are further developed to give meaning and purpose to life.

As I walked into the building where the seminar was held, a fleeing thought passed through my mind about a young man who I've treated for addiction and anger.  The last time we spoke was about a month ago when he had already been sober for over 2 months and I wondered how he was doing.

In my line of work, nothing is coincidence - everything fits into a bigger picture - everything connects.  This evening was a classic example of how pieces of life create a wonderful homeopathic story.

"Coincidentally", his mother phoned just minutes after I returned home concerned that he was regressing.  Both of us were available, so we arranged to meet on Skype for a webcam session within the hour.  

The first thing he said was:  "I have no purpose – I’m clean – but I have no purpose."  

How cool was that?  Just a couple hours before, a useful tool was presented to me that is designed to deal with specifically this issue. 

He explained that "he likes nothing and is only good at fighting."  A couple years prior, he studied a specialized martial arts in another part of the world.  Being a student of martial arts helped him release stress and free him of the walls that blocked his personal development. 

Using this new concept, we explored the things he is good at, what he enjoys, what gives him satisfaction.  We focused on a few key people he admires and the positive qualities he sees in them.  Throughout the conversation, he referred to the many different courses in different professions that he started and didn't finish because of a lack of satisfaction.  He complained that everyone encouraged him to take these courses as a means to avoid getting into trouble.   But he is stuck in an unfulfilled process and not making money.   Now he wants to do something meaningful - he wants a meaningful relationship with a young lady and a meaningful job.   He was clearly moving beyond his past issues of addiction and anger to deal with the more important issues of life.

He went on to talk about how much he enjoyed volunteering for two weeks in a drug recovery facility that he participated in as a teenager.  He was a "big brother" to teenage boys "at risk" and felt good about himself because working with these kids gave meaning and purpose to his life.  But now the two weeks were over and "he was stuck on the other side of that wall".  

Clearly the wall he described doesn't exist physically but rather spiritually within him.  Limitations and disease are derived from dysfunctional energies within us.   The basic premise of Homeopathy is that a similar energy will neutralize that dysfunctional energy.  Homeopathic remedies are energy extracts of substances in creation that are applied based on the principle of "like heals like."   So, the homeopathic remedy most effective to break down this young man's "wall" must have been proven in tests and clinical use to represent the feeling of not having purpose or meaning in life. 

There were five different remedies that came up in my search, but the remedy most similar to his energetic profile is called Graphites.   Graphites is prepared from black lead taken from a pencil which is a mineral carbon containing traces of iron and used in the manufacturing of diamonds, one of the several professions this young man was learning.

The essence of Graphites is described as "finding or unable to find stable values ... issues of self worth and finding one's life purpose... they can't find their own center ... are not master of their feelings and ideas and become prey to outside influences."   This was essentially his story ... now I needed to confirm other aspects of his life to ensure this remedy is indeed homeopathic or similar to his overall, holistic profile.

A few other symptoms that matched this remedy picture were his changing moods, his need to hang on to his possessions (selfishness) and his issues with his father.  During the many sessions we had in the past, he rarely spoke about his father.

The laws of nature teach us that boys are influenced by their fathers and girls by their mothers.  But when these role models are not present, a young person's purpose or direction in life is often clouded and confused as there is no one to emulate or give proper guidance.  A person needing the remedy Graphites is dealing with life without a physically, emotionally or spiritually present father or father figure.  This young man's relationship with his father is almost non-existent and there is currently no other man filling that void. 

I'm not suggesting that this remedy will suddenly make his father appear.  But it should break down the spiritual wall within in him so that perhaps he can eventually have a meaningful relationship with his father or another male role model.  It interesting to note that these type of men have been present in his life - his martial arts teacher and the man who taught him diamond setting - but he's not connected to them now.  

It's been said that everyone comes into this world with everything they need to navigate the journey of life.  So it's quite possible that once this wall is removed, he will tap into his own innate resources and be a male role model (i.e. big brother) for himself as well as others like the teens at risk.

Though this remedy selection is very exciting and seems appropriate, the effectiveness of this or any homeopathic treatment can only be known only after the remedy is administered.  You are invited to follow this unfolding story and observe the process of holistic healing using the principles of Classical Homeopathy and other very relevant practices like Positive Psychology.

Thank you.

Homeopathy for Everyone

Everyone can experience health & happiness that radiates from within

 
This incredible healing practice works by resetting the Life Force within allowing the mind and body to heal naturally as Nature had intended.  The homeopath's job is to observe your unique nature and find a homeopathic treatment that will restore you to health and well being, freeing you of illnesses and discomfort that interfere with the more important things in life... so consider this option for any condition ... 
 

* Allergies * Aches & Pains * Anxiety * Depression * Digestion Disorders * Eating Disorders * ED * Hyperactivity * Hormonal Disorders * Injuries * Insomnia * Infertility * Learning Challenges * Menopause * Muscle Spasms * PMS *
to name a few ~

 
For more information, please "follow" this blog which discusses the principles of classical homeopathy and presents case studies that describe the process of experiencing health and happiness from within... 

 
Here's what a couple satisfied clients are saying...
 
"Homeopathy is a life preserver that has helped me and my family for the past four years.  It's a relief to know that there are serious alternatives that work and that we don't have to depend on chemical based therapies.   Francine is open to new things and finds the right recipe for each individual.   Her approach is not automatic - it's individualistic.  She goes the extra mile to find more than just a homeopathic remedy, she will help you navigate your healing experience and may also suggest other supportive holistic therapies that together with homeopathy will move the process forward."  Leah S. (Gush Etzion, Israel)
 
"I am thankful to Francine for helping to heal myself, my children, and my husband.  She is right that I should thank G-d for giving her the opportunity to help us heal;  however, she has made herself available to us day and night in different states and countries.  Oh, and she fights for me when I pay too much for my remedies.  ;-)  Thank you, Francine"  Rebecca N. (New York)

Francine Bork Nadav, Classical Homeopath / Psychotherapist
Tel:  050-708-0818
Email:  francine.nadav@gmail.com
Skype:  holistichealthwithhomeopathy
 
Appointments available in Jerusalem or Webcam Sessions for Everyone, Everywhere, Anytime on Skype 

Ask about our sliding scale fees to accommodate every budget 

Webcam Sessions Online via Skype for Everyone Everywhere Anytime

With modern technology, the world is getting smaller and smaller, closer and closer, with just a push of a button.  Holistic Health with Homeopathy is now offering homeopathic services to everyone in the world via Skype.   Sessions will be conducted online and using Skype for a visual and audio communication.  Like a "live" session in my office, the initial consultation will be approximately 2 hours and follow up sessions will be 1 hour, and rather than traveling to meet each other in person, we will more conveniently schedule a time mutually agreeable to meet in my "Skype" office.

To get started, simply download the free Skype software at www.skype.com and set up your Skype account.  Once you are a Skype member, search for holistichealthwithhomeopathy and request to make us a new contact.  Please note in the message box a day and time that you can be contacted to discuss the process and schedule your first session.  

Then you will need a webcam for video and audio transmission.  Most laptop computers are designed with the webcam and microphone built in.  Workstation computers may require a separate units and you can purchase them online  or at a local electronic store like Best Buy.  Be sure that the webcam you purchase has a microphone built in otherwise you will need to purchase both items.  Here are a few links to help you get set up:

Amazon Webcams:   http://www.amazon.com/Webcams-Computer-Add-Ons-Computers/b?ie=UTF8&node=172511

Best Buy Webcams:  http://tinyurl.com/2fk5qsg

Skype Assessories:  http://shop.skype.com/

And for those of you who are nervous about how webcams work, here's a link to help you become more comfortable with this exciting new experience:  http://www.howstuffworks.com/webcam.htm

Once we connect on Skype, please notice my status before attempting to contact me... green indicates that I am available, yellow that I am away from my computer, and red or do not disturb that I am in session. If you send me a quick note in chat, I will try to contact you as soon as possible thereafter.

Looking forward to meeting you and having many wonderful moments in my new virtual office.

Homeopathy for ADHD, Hyperactivity and other related disorders

A child with attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity or mild forms of autism like Asperger syndrome is generally not able to control his or her actions, unless of course there are systems in place to monitor and control their activities.  Conventional medicine is often prescribed to suppress the nervous system which manages the child's energy level, thus allowing teachers to control the learning environment in class.  Sometimes, a teaching assistant is assigned to work one on one with a child with either of these conditions to ensure proper behavior and to refocus the child on his studies when he becomes distracted.   No matter what external support system is in place, the child is not able to control his behavior without practical and/or medical intervention.

The vital force is that "thing" inside every being and every substance in creation that gives it life and character.  When the vital force is strong and healthy, the organism is healthy; but when it's sick or there is discomfort in the vital force, the body is sick.  In the case of children with ADHD, Asperger syndrome or other related mental disorders, the vital force is expressing its discomfort or dysfunction on the mental level.

To illustrate, an autistic person has psychological symptoms like blindness to social cues, communication problems, minimal eye contact, apparent lack of empathy, hyper-focused interests, need for structure and routine, trouble fitting in, literal to a fault, bizarre behaviors, difficulty with sports or athletics, precocious reading abilities, physical hypersensitivity, fear of failure and low self esteem. The mission of Classical Homeopathy is to find within these typical symptoms those characteristics which are strange, rare and peculiar;  that is, to find out what makes him or her different from most other autistic people.

I had a case of young boy in nursery school who came for treatment of allergies and chronic cough.  His speech and muscle development were delayed as an infant, and he didn't have the instinctive social skills to participate in classroom activities with the teacher or the students.  He complained that he can't focus on the classwork, and the teacher commented that he can not process a series of instructions when given at one time.

On the physical level, he is allergic to animals with fur, trees, grass, and dust;  he reacts with intense itching all over his body, especially in his eyes.  He has a chronic cough that often develops into bronchitis, and had chronic ear infections as a baby.

The interview with the little boy was entirely different than a typical homeopathic consultation.  Since his social skills were limited, I asked him to draw pictures and to tell me the story in each picture.   The first picture was a boy with an orange face jumping into a pool; the second was a rainbow; and the third were abstract items that he described as fire, electric, metal, confusion, spike, punch, grass, water. The common theme in all three pictures was water.  Throughout the interview he repeatedly described fire, sun, air and he had a peculiar affinity to the colors blue, red and orange.  He told me that the pool is a place for only children and babies - no adults.  I observed that he did not look at me unless I asked him to do so.  He never mentioned his parents, nor his teachers nor siblings.

Water was the key to the remedy because this was the one thing that stood out in the interview.  His favorite color is blue and he told me that water and air are blue so the appropriate remedy had to have these characteristics.  A search of these sensations along with the physical symptoms lead me to select the remedy Neon.

Neon is obtained by liquefaction of air and is classified as an inert element.  An inert element is one which doesn't combine with other elements because it's Atomic Number is 10 making it's outer orbit complete.  Interesting, this element is colorless in nature but reddish, orange when pressurized in tubes and blue when a little mercury is added.

When selecting remedies that are similar to that described by the client, a homeopath must understand how the original source actually functions in nature.  Based on all the information accumulated in this session, this remedy was the most homeopathic (i.e. similar) to the non-human specific characteristics that this little boy described.

As of this writing, the child in this case continues to progress well with his social skills consistently and gradually improving.

Neon is only one remedy amongst many that has successfully treated mild forms of autism in clinical practice.  Other remedies  include Helium - an inert element, DPT - derived from the vaccine of the same name, Oryza sativa - aka Rice, Carcinosin and Tuberculinum -  two nosode or miasmatic remedies derived from diseased substances, and various other common mineral, plant and animal source remedies.

It is strongly advised to work with a trained classical homeopath when using homeopathy to treat chronic disorders of this nature.  Though homeopathic remedies are considered safe and are sold over-the-counter in health foods stores, self-prescribing for you or your family members may not have the same results as that which is available by a homeopath practitioner.

For more information on Classical Homeopathy treatment of ADHD, Asperger syndrome and related mental disorders, I strongly suggest the following reading material:

"A Drug Free Approach to Asperger Syndrome and Autism" by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman

"Ritalin Free Kids", also by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman

"The Impossible Cure" - The Promise of Homeopathy by Amy L. Lansky, Phd





To order books on Homeopathy, please visit the website www.minimum.com

All the names and non-pertinent details of all the cases presented in this blog have been slightly modified to protect the privacy of those treated.

The Effect of Suppression on Health

To understand the effect of suppressive medication on a person's health consider the follow story.

A young child at the age of 5 had serious social problems with classmates bullying him in school.  During this same time, he developed a skin rash or eczema behind his ears and knee caps.  His mother took him to the dermatologist, who prescribed a treatment of hydro-cortisone cream to aid healing and an antihistamine to reduce the itching.  Within 2 weeks, the condition disappeared; mother was pleased that her son was "healthier" and the child felt physically more comfortable.

Two months later, the child had another skin rash.  This time it appeared again behind his ears and knee caps but also behind the elbows and on the creases in his neck.  Once again, the dermatologist prescribed cortisone creams only this time the prescription was much stronger.  The skin condition never really disappeared after that but the treatment prescribed continued off and on for several months.

Six months later, the same child developed asthma.  Now his mother took him to the pediatrician who prescribed an inhaler to assist breathing and a steroid to reduce the inflammation in the respiratory system.  At the recommendation of the pedestrian, she also had the child examined by an allergist who recommended a series of allergy shots because he was apparently allergic to dust, dust mites and the like.

What happened to the child?  The story really began with an emotional experience.  The child's reaction to that experience created a physical symptom that manifested itself on the exterior of the body in the form of a skin rash.  The skin is our first line of defense when combating the ills of the world; it is also an exit for foreign energy to leave the body.  Any change in the normal condition of the skin is usually the first message that the body gives us that something is disturbing our vital force.  The most effective approach in dealing with theses symptoms is to question what's happening on a deeper level that's causing this dis-ease (disturbance).

The initial treatment of hydro-cortisone and antihistamine essentially suppressed the skin rash and the itching sensation.  The body naturally and instinctively tried again to release the negative or foreign energy from the body through the skin, but this time the symptoms reappeared stronger and in more places (behind the elbows and neck).

The second conventional treatment continued to suppress the physical symptoms, only this time the energy which produced the original exterior skin rash found another place to express itself: on the inner organs of the respiratory system in the form of asthma and in a series of allergic conditions.  

We know that energy can not be destroyed; it can only change.   Therefore, the energy that produced the skin rash is the same energy that caused the asthma.  And if we trace the cause we understand that the emotional effect of the bullies in the class room caused the entire condition.  Had this child been treated with homeopathy at the onset of the skin disorder, the emotional discomfort of dealing with the bullies could have been removed, allowing the child to develop healthier social skills and avoiding the discomfort of eczema and asthma.

Much of conventional medicine suppresses or manages physical symptoms without healing or curing the inner dis-ease.  We forget that the "thing" that gives us life also gives us health or sickness. Homeopathy focuses treatment on the energy that creates the symptoms to eradicate the inner dis-ease or discomfort.

The more symptoms are suppressed, the more complicated the journey to cure and health in any mode of health care.  Let us not forget the list of contra-indications that accompanies every prescription of conventional medication.  Perhaps the conventional method of suppressing symptoms is causing these medically induced contra-indications.

A Case of Stress, Allergies and the Desert ...

Roz is a respected psychologist who was referred to me by a mutual friend and colleague.  For many years, Roz suffered from watery eyes, allergies, asthma, and constipation.   She tried everything from allergy shots and other conventional medicines to herbs and vitamin supplements to relieve her of the discomforts from all these conditions.  Nothing seemed to work.

In July 2007, we met for the first time.  Roz began her session by telling me about her dream to live on a horse ranch in Arizona and practice a specialized psychology known as Equine Therapy.  She began riding  horses shortly after her brother died when she was just a teenager.  It gave her a sense of being in control, having a certain freedom and power.  As a psychologist, she attended an Equine Therapy workshop a few years ago and discovered a connection with her love for horses and her passion for psychology.

"This workshop made so much sense how horses can be agents to help people learn about themselves.  Horses being prey animals are very in touch with themselves.  They need that ability to survive in the wilderness.  Being brought up in a family where feelings didn't flow, I began to understand that horses see feelings as information - not good or bad, right or wrong - just information to help us in the world.  
For example if you're angry, it means that someone is impinging on your boundaries and you need to set boundaries.  I also saw how horses are so adept at experiencing congruence... so if you're in a round pin with a horse and you're angry but you have a smile on your face, the horse will understand that there is something incongruent.  This was something I experienced in my life... my senses didn't jive with what was going on."

Roz went on to describe the day her brother died.  It was Thanksgiving but not like other years.  This year the family went to dinner at a restaurant when they got the call that her brother was in the hospital - dead.  When everyone returned home, she and her siblings were sent to bed and then "everything broke loose".

I asked her to describe what she meant by broke loose.  "More like confusion.  Things going on in every which way and you can't make sense of it.  It's out of control.  I feel like I'm expressing an inner sense of out of control."

So I then asked her to describe something that's out of control.  "Right now physically, my bowels, my reactions, my eyes tearing, allergies, not having my house sold on my conditions, and not finding a property in Arizona."

I asked her to describe something in nature that's out of control.  "Well I live 2 blocks from the ocean and sometimes I get the fear of a tsunami and the ocean engulfing me."

"What's the sensation," I asked.  "Not being able to breath and being underwater and helpless; not being able to do anything about it and being suffocated; being in a state of fear until I die, not peaceful - it wouldn't be a peaceful death.  There is something that's gotten uncomfortable about being near water and I want to be near nature - Arizona and the desert.  We moved to Long Beach to be near the ocean but now it doesn't feel right and I need to get back to the land and the animals.  Maybe because I feel more in control of the land and nature. "

"Tell me about the desert." I interjected.  "Dry, peaceful, feels like it holds in it that which is sacred, very sacred and very spiritual.  History.  It has dangers and you have to be aware.  I often take silent walks.  Once, I got too close to a cactus with pricklies that jumped out at me.  There are things that you have to really be aware of.  Take nothing for granted.  Those are real dangers and not like crossing the street
and getting hit by a car.  The desert is the epitome of earthiness, where as the city is the epitome of unrealness.

"What do you mean by earthiness?"  She replied "in this area, it's earthy.  A water loop river and land, open and green and dry areas.  People are earthy.   They care about you and each other; they are friendly and are about what's real.  This area where we want to live is close enough to town for my husband who's a city boy,  close enough to (the city of) Austin and yet it's like in a little oasis.  Three
thousand acres of cattle ranch that's been subdivided and there is water runny through it and wild deer, antelopes and wild turkeys and cattle walking around.  People are concerned about growth and plant life and nature.  I love to take care of my plants - I have a lot of plants; I want to be able to find out about birds that are flying and flowers and plants."

It was clear to me that Roz needed a remedy from the plant kingdom.  She was totally affected by her environment and was driven to live somewhere more conducive to her inner, spiritual desire of being in the desert.  Now I had to determine which desert plant was most similar to Roz's character and had proven to cure allergies, watery eyes, constipation, and had mental and emotional symptoms similar to
what she described.  

At this point it was important for me to understand her physical symptoms to ensure that the remedy I select had been proven to cover her chief complaints.  She described her breathing difficulties as having a "tightness in her chest, as if something is blocking it so that enough air can't get into the lungs." She said, "I feel it in my throat and my chest, like a narrowing of everything..." and I observed her make a motion with her hands which she described as "squeezing... making things smaller... if you have a big space you can hold more air, and if you have little space you can hold just so much air.  My throat and lungs squeeze to allow for less air to come in."

Roz was allergic to many fruits; in fact, she "could not be near an orange without her throat closing", or strawberries or apples as her lips would swell up; however, melons like cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon or bananas or grapefruits were okay.  As a child, Roz had an allergic reaction to penicillin - her feet "blew up".  She prefers hot climates and had a dreaded dislike for cold weather.

I also asked Roz to select whatever card or cards from a deck of picture cards and match the cards to words that would describe the pictures she selected.  The purpose of this exercise is to assist the client in revealing his or her inner essence by paying close attention to the descriptions of each card.  Roz selected nearly 30 cards and used the following words to describe the pictures she selected... pure,
sacred, peaceful, danger, water, dryness, tightness, heavy, spiritual, desert, cactus, horses and fruit.

Coincidentally, though I hardly believe it was coincidence, I had just purchased the book entitled "The Desert World, A Homeopathic Exploration" by Todd Rowe, M.D.  Dr. Rowe explains that desert remedies have an affinity to the following:

• Water:  the desert either has too little or too much water and Roz was struggling with issues of water throughout the case taking.  Tearing or watery eyes (non-absorption of water) was one of her chief complaints, and she also had the feeling of being unsafe living near the ocean.
  
• Expansion and contraction: Roz essentially described something that expands and contracts when she explained her hand motions as squeezing (see above)
  
• Plants in the desert struggle for survival: the issue of survival was present but her mannerism and descriptions were not consistent with typical animal remedies, so this confirmed for me that the remedy was a desert plant.
  
• Spirituality:  the desert is a place of mystery and spirituality and Roz was certainly connect to this experience.
  

What made this case very unique was Roz's connection to horses.  A search of the materia medica for desert plants with an affection for horses lead me to select Anhalonium as the remedy in this case. Anhalonium is prepared from a cactus found in Texas and Northern Mexico.  Now isn't that funny... that's about where Roz wanted to live.

Roz took one dose of Anhalonium 200C.  Three weeks later, she phone me to let me know that she was doing much better.  Her allergies, asthma and constipation had all improved and she was noticeably less stressful.  I instructed her to do nothing and follow up with me in a few more weeks.  Later that night, our mutual friend called to tell me that Roz was admitted to the hospital for a high fever.  The doctors
conducted several tests on her and only found that she had a mild bladder infection which cleared up in a day or so and without any normal discomfort associated with bladder infections.  In fact, at our one and only follow up session, Roz commented that if she hadn't been to the hospital, she would have never known that she had the bladder infection which I then discovered was a reoccurring old symptom.  The fever and the reoccurring bladder infection were excellent signs that the homeopathic treatment was very effective.

At the time of this writing it was nearly a year since I last met with Roz and she was doing great.  All her physical symptoms are gone, she sold her house by the ocean, moved to Texas (not Arizona) and rented a horse ranch where she practices Equine Therapy.  It's very unusual to have such amazing and quick results but hey I'm not complaining and neither is Roz.

The names and non-pertinent details of this case study have been slightly modified to protect the privacy of the individual treated.

How does Classical Homeopathy compared to other health practices?

Classical Homeopathy vs other homeopathic practices:
Classical Homeopathy differs from other homeopathic practices in that Classical Homeopathy recommends one single remedy at a time. It is important to remember that though homeopathic remedies are considered safe, they are energetic and interact with the body at an energetic level.

There are homeopathic products sold in the pharmacies and health food stores that are marketed to treat specific conditions like asthma, ADHD, PMS, and headaches.   These products use combinations of homeopathic remedies that individually have been proven to treat the specified condition.   Though these treatments may be effective for some, very often combining remedies changes the nature of the individual remedies and the affect of this energetic interaction can be clouded.  By administering one single remedy at a time, the homeopath practitioner can clearly evaluate the progress of the patient and his/her reaction to each remedy.

Classical Homeopathy vs conventional practices:
It should be clear by now that homeopath practitioners are not medical doctors, though a homeopath can be a licensed medical doctor.  Both professions have important but different roles in the art and sciences of health and healing.

Conventional medicine offers the best service for identifying and diagnosing disease (symptoms), caring for life threatening conditions and treating trauma and emergency situations.  Conventional medications have been equally tremendous in raising the life expectancy of the average person and managing chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.  However, these conventional medications do not come without their side effects which are disclosed in every prescription medicine.  Often enough, these side effects complicate a person’s natural disease state causing them to develop second and third layers of chronic diseases which are medically induced.

In most countries, homeopathic practices have not been developed enough to offer the diagnostic or emergency services so necessary for saving lives.  However, homeopathy presents the opportunity for people to be constitutionally healthy, thus minimizing the risk of developing chronic diseases.  It also presents the opportunity to treat existing chronic conditions with remedies that avoid debilitating side effects.  Homeopathic treatments strengthen the body’s natural defense mechanisms so that the healing process is shortened and suffering is minimized, even more so when used in conjunction with conventional medicine.

There are times when both conventional and homeopathic treatments offer maximum care for a patient. There was a case of an individual with cancer on the tongue.  The growth was about a centimeter and confined to the back of the mouth.  Immediately, a daily regimen of homeopathic remedies that were proven to be effective in a variety of cancer conditions including malignant melanoma was administered. After a couple of weeks, chemotherapy and radiation treatments began.  Within 2 months, the growth gradually disappeared leaving behind a scar.  The patient's vitality and spirit remained positive throughout the process and he didn't experience the usual side affects of that often accompany radiation and chemotherapy.   .  

Until the day comes when conventional facilities and homeopathic practices are united, we need to understand and respect that each method offers benefits that the other can not match.

Classical Homeopathy vs other alternative practices:
Alternative practices like acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractor, message therapy, naturopathy, reiki and the like are very effective in promoting good health and wellbeing.   Very often a homeopath practitioner may recommend combining any of these treatments with homeopathy to maximize healing.   If you are considering any other alternative treatments while being treated by a homeopath practitioner, I strongly recommend discussing this with your homeopath as other alternative practices may or may not compromise your individualized homeopathic care.

"In the healthy condition of man, the spiritual vital force, the dynamis that animates the material body, rules with unbound sway, and returns all the parts of the organism in admirable, harmonious, vital operation, as regards both sensations and functions, so that our in dwelling, reason, gifted mind can freely employ this living instrument for the higher purpose of our existence." Organon, paragraph 9

As we become healthy - that is as our material body is restored to normal body functions and sensations, we are able to use our mind and body to accomplish the more important things in life.  Ultimately, we want to improve the quality of our life, not just lengthen the days of our lives.

What can I expect from Homeopathic treatment?

Ultimately, you should expect to have a feeling of well being which means that in every aspect of your life you will feel healthy.   Your thoughts and emotions will be balanced, your body will feel healthy and function with optimum strength and your life will flow in harmony with the world around you.  The journey to optimum health is a process that takes time and patience.  This article offers insight into what you can expect during the process so that you can stay on the path throughout the duration.

To begin this discussion, let's understand the difference between acute and chronic illnesses.

Acute illnesses develop suddenly and are usually short in duration.  There is an obvious beginning, a climatic middle and an apparent end to the condition.  Examples of acute illnesses are the common cold, fever and influenza, headaches, chicken pox, measles, strept throat, bee stings and insect bites, boils and abscesses, athlete's foot, burns, cuts and scrapes, bruises, puncture wounds, fractured bones, and injuries to ligaments and tendons.  Unless a person's condition is complicated with a chronic illness, acute illness usually can be fought by the body's natural and healthy defense mechanisms.  Homeopathic treatment quickens this process, thus avoiding unnecessary suffering. When using homeopathic remedies during acute illnesses one can expect relatively rapid healing.

Chronic illnesses, on the other hand, develop slowly, usually with minimum discomfort at the onset and gradually worsen over an extended period of time.  Without proper treatment, the body's defense mechanism becomes weaker and weaker until it's too weak to fight such chronic diseases.   Quite often, these disease symptoms have been passed from generation to generation.  Just as chronic diseases begin slowly and progress gradually, the process to restore health is usually slow and gradual with noticeable improvement shortly after beginning treatment.

Whether treating acute or chronic illnesses, the initial consultation is critical.  Acute illnesses may require up to an hour to evaluate while chronic conditions usually require as much as two hours to properly evaluate.  The homeopath will delve into the intricate details of the person's state of being, focusing on the sensations and changes in the patient's functions during his illness.  The evaluation may also take into consideration personal characteristics like his body temperature, food cravings, tendency to thirst, sleep habits including dreams along with a personal and family history of illnesses. The homeopath is looking for what is unique about how the individual expresses his illness.   For example...  if four people are being treated for headaches, each could benefit from a different remedy based on their different sensations and functions - one may describe a sharp pain at the back of the head, another a pulsating pain on the forehead, another a burning pain all over and yet another may say it's a twisting pain at the temples.

After the consultation, the homeopath may need some time to select the most similar remedy and determine the appropriate dosage, or s/he may be able to suggest a treatment on the spot.  Treatments may be one single dose or repetitive doses and are individualized to the patient’s condition and unique characteristics.

There are times when selecting the appropriate remedy takes a little trial and error which can slow the process down a bit. This usually happens when the information provided at the initial evaluation is insufficient.  To illustrate, consider the following situation.  A mother of 7 had a sever case of cold sores all over her mouth including her tongue and the roof of her mouth.   Her medical doctor had no treatment for her and suggested she let it heal naturally or go to the hospital for further care.  Initially, I considered this an acute situation, so I quickly evaluated her physical symptoms and took note that she was overwhelmed with the task of managing her home and children.  One single remedy was suggested with some improvement but not the expected results. Again, another remedy was suggested and again there was some improvement, but not enough.  After two weeks of suffering, I decided that this was apparently a chronic situation and that a thorough evaluation was in order.  After the second consultation, I recommended a third remedy.  Within hours healing began - by the next day the cold sores were completely gone.

A brief and mild aggravation after the treatment is sometimes experienced. The aggravation is evidence that the remedy was slightly more energetic than the natural disease state, and one should experience improvement shortly thereafter.  In chronic conditions, healing should be slow, consistent and gradual, though sometimes there is a regression.  When this happens, a repetition of the remedy may be appropriate or a re-evaluation of the treatment is required.  At times healing is instant, but that is usually in acute cases and not to be expected in chronic illnesses.

All chronic illnesses require a complete understanding the individual’s overall condition to arrive at the most appropriate remedy. Very often the first remedy selected is appropriate but, as healing progresses, more appropriate remedies become more evident.  In such cases, the homeopath will re-evaluate the treatment and recommend a new treatment.

Many illnesses, whether acute or chronic, can be life threatening.  If homeopathic treatment can not offer rapid healing in such life threatening situations, one should seek conventional medicine immediately. Homeopathic care may continue in conjunction with conventional medicine.  Never should the care and well being of a person be compromised for the sake of homeopathic treatment.
 
Health is a journey. One must be patient, consistent, persistent and aware of the process regardless of the method of healing.

"The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of the health, or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable and most harmless way, on easily comprehensible principles."  Organon, paragraph 2



 
This second principle of Classical Homeopathy gives us the expectation that healing at the deepest level should be rapid, gentle and permanent.

What is Homeopathy?

Classical Homeopathy is a holistic healing practice that uses the energy sources within Nature to reset the energy source within an individual so that the body and mind can heal itself.  This article describes the development of homeopathy and the basic principles that continue to guide the classical homeopathic process for more than 200 years.


In the Beginning... 
In the early 1800s, a German medical doctor by the name of Samuel Hahnemann founded the practice of homeopathy and defined the principles of cure in his publication “Organon of Medicine.”  Hahnemann discovered early on in his career that conventional medical practices of the times caused more harm to the sick than it did good.  So, he abandoned his medical practice but maintained a presence in the medical world by translating materia medica.  Because he was dissatisfied with the results of orthodox medical treatment, he questioned the prevailing medical theories and proved their inaccuracy.  


In one experiment that he conducted on himself, he took a regimen of an extract prepared from Peruvian bark (quinine).  To his surprise, he develop symptoms that were similar to malaria, and when he stopped taking the extract, all the symptoms disappeared.   This was a revolutionary discovery that was not found anywhere in the medical practices of the time.   He searched for precedents for this affect and found them in the teaching of Hippocrates (460-377 BCE) who is regarded as the father of medicine.  Hippocrates taught that likes can be cured by likes... that any illness caused by one means can be treated successfully by a similar means. *  This discovery propelled him to investigate and experiment with a wide variety of substances, and dilutions of those substances, in order to understand the effect on human suffering.  He devoted the rest of his life to researching and developing the principles of what we call today “Classical Homeopathy”.

Defining Homeopathy... 
The term Homeopathy (sometimes spelled Homoeopathy) comes from the Greek words “homoios” meaning similar and “pathos” meaning disease or suffering. In short, homeopathy uses similar diseases or similar suffering to cure the sick.  You're probably asking yourself... "What does that mean similar diseases?"  First of all, what is the meaning of the word disease?  When broken down into syllables, “dis” - “ease” is literally the opposite of comfort or calm.  When a person is sick, s/he has a natural state of discomfort at the level of the vital force.  The vital force is the term homeopaths use when describing our human, energetic source of life.

When an sick person is treated with homeopathy, s/he takes a homeopathic remedy which has an energetic similarity to the disease or discomfort they are experiencing.  Let’s call it an artificial “hologram” of the natural disease.  It’s not a real dis-ease but it has a similar energy of the natural state of the person. The hologram essentially attaches to the natural one, thus neutralizing it.  Once the energy of the natural disease has been removed, the body taps into it's natural ability to heal itself.

Basic Principles of Homeopathy...
Hahnemann called this very fundamental principle of homeopathy the “Law of Similiars” or “like heals like”.  Though Hippocrates understood this concept, it was not his original thought.  In fact, we can trace this concept further back into Biblical text.  In the book of Genesis, there are two specific references. The water known at May Mar - bitter water - was sweetened when a piece of bark was placed into the water.  Why did the bark sweeten the water?  The taste of the bark was bitter by nature, and therefore the bitter bark replaced the bitterness in the water thus leaving behind sweetened waters. In another chapter, there was a plague in the form of poisonous snakes causing death amongst the Hebrews. To bring about their salvation and cure, G-d commanded Moses to erect an image of a snake using  copper. The word snake in Hebrew is “nechash” and the word copper is “nechoshet”; two very similar words with similar Hebrew letters.  The copper image of the snake was the similar that cured the natural disease from the snake.  It is interesting to note that this image of the copper snake became the universal symbol of healing throughout the generations.

In modern practice,  a homeopathic remedy is prepared from any natural substance in creation.  Most remedies are from elements, minerals, plants, and animals, but there are remedies from imponderables like electricity, the sun, and the moon, as well as nosodes which are from disease substances like malaria, gonorrhea, cancer and tuberculosis.

Hahnemann defined another fundamental principle of Homeopathy which he called the “Minimum Dose.” This principle was established after he discovered that the more a substance was diluted, the more effective it became and with fewer  or no side affects.  Today, remedies are prepared from crude substances which are diluted tens, hundreds and even thousands of times.  The crude substance is pulverized (or in the case of solid minerals, soaked in a liquid over time) to create what is called a “mother tincture”.  We often see these mother tinctures in the health food store sold as herbal supplements like St. John’s wort or Echinachea.   In homeopathy, these mother tinctures are diluted and
succussed (shaken) until there is little to no molecular presence of the original substance.  What is left behind is the energy print of the substance - that is, that “thing” or vital force which gives the substance it’s essences or character.  This process is called dynamization and potentization.

How do we know that a substance has an energy print or a vital force?  The same way we know that humans and animals have an energy force or vital force which gives it life.  Take that away and we are nothing more than a lifeless mass of nothing.  So too, with everything else in creation.  An onion is not an onion if it doesn’t have the inner power or the energy to taste or smell like an onion, or to feel like an onion with all its layers, or even to affect us like onions do.

What happens when you cut up an onion?  Your eyes start to tear, maybe your nose starts to run, your eyes burn, there is a burning sensation on the skin if the onion is really strong, and believe it or not there is a dullness of the mind when the aroma of the onion is left to linger.  Now imagine a condition that has these similar symptoms: watery burning eyes, runny nose, and mental dullness.  In practice the homeopathic remedy from the red onion, known as Allium Cepa, may be used in the treatment of some allergies or the common cold.

How does a homeopath know what symptoms can be healed by any particular remedy?  It’s called “provings” or human testing.  Hahnemann established the practice of testing or “proving” remedies by experimenting on healthy human subjects... specifically himself and his colleagues.  After taking the potentized (i.e. diluted and succussed) substance, he and his colleagues would carefully document every physical, mental or emotion symptom that appeared during the experiment.  The modern approach to “proving” remedies is carefully managed using double or triple blind experiments and placebos so that the integrity of the proving can withstand the test of clinical experience.

"The physician's high and only mission is to restore the sick to health..." Organon, paragraph 1

This statement is the first principle that guides the homeopath in his/her treatment of each and every client.  Unlike other practices which manage and control illness, Classical Homeopathy presents an opportunity to "restore the sick to health" by stimulating a person's vital force based on his or her unique holistic condition which allows the body to naturally heal itself.

*Family Homeopathy - A Practical Guide for Home Treatment by Paul Callinan