Minutus

Dear Helen,

Your situation speaks poignantly to the cultural importance of
medicine as opposed to other health care choices. In a way, it's a
similar situation, for parents of young children, as a preference for
private, religious, home, or state-run schooling, a willingness to let
the kids watch television or not, faithfulness to attending a
religious service regularly, allowance of war toys or not, dressing
and teaching kids behaviors related to traditional gender roles or
not, allowing kids to eat packaged sugary foods or not... there are a
lot of potential reasons why, today, parents of young children might
encourage or discourage their kids' association with someone. You
could certainly have a conversation with those who have truly been
close friends, express your distress at potentially losing their
friendship, and see what their thoughts are. One or more of them might
even be intrigued by your strong commitment to homeopathy, especially
after a couple of success stories, and ask you how to get started. You
need to stick to your beliefs because they work for you, regardless of
what someone else might say.

Some of these folks, however, probably just aren't going to be your
close friends because you diverge strongly on some basic values
(probably on some of the other above issues as well as homeopathy vs.
allopathy). Where might you get acquainted with families who more
closely share your values? Having a close support group of
like-minded families with young children is incredibly helpful when
dealing with the challenges of raising a family!

Good luck! Rosemary
Quoting helensan@att.net:

Hey Helen,
Where do you live? I sure don't want to set up shop there!
Cheers,
Dr. H. Thomas Cotter (Homeopath)

i out rightly oppose the idea "loosing friends beause of homeopathy" . in my 10 years of professional service to homeopathy and 6 years of lecturer ship in a homeopathic medical college i have influenced my friends to try homeopathic medicine . many of them benifited and i got respect from them and not disgrace. a friend in need is a friend in deed , a true friend must support ur feelinga and belief in good works. even if ur friend does not like homeopathy let us not discuss this matter with him and be a good human and not a troubling homeopath. always remember " the aude sepere( dare to speak the truth)" attitude of the master hahnemann. all the best.

rchyde@lmi.net wrote:
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You are right in saying this. I've actually had both situations arise. As I've continued as a homeopath, those most opposed to holistic thinking either aren't in my world any more or I don't try to influence them one way or the other (family members, for instance). My family members have slowly come around to at least respecting the possibility that homeopathy may work, largely as a result of opportunities I've taken for helping them in acute situations. Most of my friends at this point share my desire for holistic, health-preserving care. Why would I make new friends with someone who's going to argue with me about it? But there is often, at least in the US, an initial sorting out when someone suddenly shifts from the allopathic paradigm to the homeopathic one. Rosemary
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There is enormous pain seeing people whom you know and love suffer when you think they could be helped, Maybe its their path but apart from ones homeopathic friends it is hard to avoid a feeling of estrangement. It happens and must be lived with and as Rosemary says one can choose the new ones, Jean.
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My experience has been similar, Rosemary--some have "come around"
(actually my family is pretty "alternative" anyway), and with others
(e.g. my husband's family) it simply isn't a frequent or casual topic
of conversation. Sad, because his mom is such a dyed-in-the-wool
arsenicum, and I ache to give her some...

I like Nagendra's comment, "if ur friend does not like homeopathy let
us not discuss this matter with him and be a good human and not a
troubling homeopath." There are so many things that can be
either divisive (e.g. if I choose to be "a troubling homeopath"), or
simply matters of variety, and possible future curiosity (if I choose
to be simply a friend and a "good human"). Although shared interests
can be wonderful for bonding, still I don't choose my friends on the
basis of religion, or diet, or exercise habit--or choice of medical
system. It's a long and winding road we're on, with plenty of room for
all of us to learn as we go...
friend *has* cut you off because of your medical choices--I guess
there's no easy answer to that one...
Shannon

Nagendra,
I am an American who lives in India for almost eight years. India has an acceptance of homeopathy like few countries do. In America, there have been many quacks with fake promises. Americans also have their own way of thinking and do not so easily accept what any doctor says. This isn't always true as I have said, many have fallen under quacks because they do realize the allopathy is limited and not a god.
Believe me, you can lose friends over homeopathy. We know it works, and there are few things more difficult than to see a friend of our suffering as we can pretty much guess the remedy that could help them. I have learned that certain of my American friends have no capacity for homeopathic medicine. I've learned not to bring it up for the sake of our friendship. That is their free choice not to want homeopathy.
My two anna's worth,
Cynthia Rankin
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