MISC: UK Times Complementary Medicine Guide.- Homeopathy
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2004 11:05 am
Times On-Line have published today their Complementary Medicine Guide.
Homoeopathy seems to be covered reasonably well at
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 80,00.html
January 10, 2004
Homoeopaths
Homoeopathy: introduction
The long established complementary therapy comes with a royal seal of
approval. But does it work?
WHAT IS IT?
A system of medicine in which a substance that can make people ill is
diluted thousands of times to treat the symptoms it would otherwise create.
HOW IS IT SAID TO WORK?
A basic principle of homoeopathy is that of “like cures like”. Symptoms of
disease are considered indications that our health maintenance systems have
failed and the body is fighting infection. Rather than suppressing
symptoms, homoeopathic practitioners try to stimulate natural healing
processes with substances that, in normal doses, would have the same effects.
For example, belladonna (deadly nightshade) causes flushing, dry mouth and
throat, raging fever and convulsions (and ultimately death). Homoeopaths
use a high dilution of the plant extract to treat conditions such as
throbbing headaches, coughing spasms, high temperature and twitching during
sleep.
The energy that regulates a healthy balance in the body is known in
homoeopathy as the “vital force”. Stress, inadequate diet, lack of
exercise, hereditary problems or environmental factors can disrupt this
process, resulting in illness.
In common with many complementary therapies, this approach is based on
theories about how illness relates to the whole person, physically and
psychologically, rather than just a single “diseased part”.
Another basic principle of homoeopathy, and the one that arouses most
controversy in orthodox medicine because it defies known science, is that
of the “minimum dose”. Substances are diluted thousands of times over until
there is no detectable trace of the original.
Homoeopathic practitioners believe that the greater the dilution, the more
“potent” the remedy. Dilutions begin with a mother tincture: one drop of a
substance dissolved in a mixture of 90 per cent pure alcohol and 10 per
cent distilled water. Most homoeopathic remedies are derived from plants or
minerals — Rhus tox from poison ivy, Natrum mur from salt — but some are
“nosodes”, remedies made from diseased tissues or bodily secretions.
The recent anthrax scare caused a run in homoeopathic pharmacies on
Anthracinum, a nosode derived from the spleen of an anthrax-infected sheep.
Remedies are “potentised” by dilution either on the decimal scale (1:10,
denoted x) or the centesimal scale (1:100, denoted c). To produce a 12c
remedy, for example, one drop of the mother tincture is added to 99 drops
of an alcohol/water mixture and “succussed”, or shaken vigorously, and this
procedure is repeated 12 times. A 30c remedy is diluted and succussed 30
times. The most “potent” remedies of all are 200c, 1,000c, or even higher,
at which point not even a molecule of the original substance is likely to
be left.
Homoeopaths maintain that a “memory” of the active substance is imprinted
on the water molecules, which is capable of stimulating self-healing
processes through some, as yet undiscovered, mechanism.
Non-medical homoeopaths often talk about “vibrational energy”, whereas
homoeopathic doctors prefer to use terms from quantum physics.
PROFESSIONAL BODIES
The Faculty of Homoeopathy
The Faculty is associated with the British Homoeopathic Association, a
charity that promotes public awareness of homoeopathy. It has a register of
1,300 members worldwide and runs postgraduate training courses and
continuing professional development in homoeopathy for doctors, dentists,
nurses, pharmacists and other statutorily registered healthcare
professionals.
Medically qualified homoeopathic doctors offer the additional reassurance
of conventional medicine. With a GP referral you can attend one of five NHS
homoeopathic hospitals or claim private health insurance.
Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street West, Luton LU1 3BE (08704 443950)
The Society of Homoeopaths
The largest professional body for non-medical homoeopaths has nearly 1,000
registered members who have done a six-month registration process on top of
training (three years full time, four years part time) at 23 accredited
colleges where the curriculum includes physiology and anatomy.
The University of Westminster and the University of Central Lancashire
offer a BSc in Homoeopathy. There is a code of ethics and practice, a
complaints procedure and a continuing professional development programme.
Some health insurance companies will cover approved practitioners.
Practitioners claim that the quality of homoeopathic treatment is as good
as that which you might receive from medically qualified homoeopathic
doctors.
Homoeopaths work in private practice or are sometimes attached to an NHS GP
practice. The society is planning, with other non-medical homoeopathic
organisations, to establish a single voluntary register of practitioners
meeting commonly agreed standards of education and practice.
11 Brookfield, Duncan Close, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6WL (0845 4506611)
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
Health professionals who have taken the Faculty of Homoeopathy’s basic
postgraduate training are Licensed Associates of the Faculty (LFHom).
Those who pass training for dentists, pharmacists and nurses may use the
letters DFHom (Dent), DFHom (Pharm) and DFHom (Nurse). Membership training
for doctors and nurses involves a minimum of four years part time and
successful candidates become MFHom. Outstanding practitioners may be
elected Fellows of the Faculty (FFHom).
Registered members of the Society of Homoeopaths use the letters RSHom, and
FSHom identifies a Fellow of the Society of Homoeopaths.
Those who have completed training at an accredited college but are not yet
registered may use the letters LHom and the phrase “licensed member of the
Society of Homoeopaths working towards registration”.
IS HOMEOPATHY PROVEN TO BE CLINICALLY EFFECTIVE?
Anecdotal evidence is strong but fails to translate into research studies.
Around 200 clinical trials of homoeopathic remedies have been carried out,
as well as several reviews of these trials.
Critics argue that homoeopathy may be no more than a placebo or dummy
treatment, as there is no plausible scientific explanation for its action.
Others say that since homoeopathic treatment is individualised and two
patients with the same complaint may receive different remedies, it is
impossible to test with a trial.
Most studies involved small numbers of patients and many were flawed. One
review, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
in 1998, initially showed positive results for homoeopathic remedies.
However, when the six best-quality trials were compared its edge
disappeared. Another study in the Lancet in 1997 supported homoeopathy but
research data is scarce and the researchers concluded there was not enough
evidence to show it was effective.
Some good-quality single trials suggest homoeopathy may benefit hay fever,
asthma and rheumatoid arthritis but even supporters agree that more
research is needed.
The NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination concluded in 2003 that there
is currently insufficient data either to recommend homoeopathy as a
treatment for any specific condition or to justify providing more of it on
the NHS.
IS IT SAFE?
Although toxic substances, such as arsenic, are the basis for many
homoeopathic remedies, the degree of dilution is such that the remedies are
completely safe.
The Faculty of Homoeopathy says reported cases of adverse side-effects are
very rare and most claims to this effect have confused homoeopathic
remedies with herbal medicines. Otherwise the big worry is that
non-medically qualified practitioners may fail to recognise symptoms of
serious illness and persist with homoeopathic treatment when patients
should be referred to orthodox doctors. Some practitioners offer
homoeopathic immunisation but the Faculty of Homoeopathy rightly advises
conventional immunisation for children.
Do not discontinue conventional medicine without consulting your doctor.
Homoeopathy is not suitable for surgical emergencies or conditions such as
cancer, though it may have a supportive role.
Ask for lactose-free tablets if you are lactose intolerant.
IS IT PAINFUL?
No. Remedies are taken orally and should be painless. Symptoms may briefly
worsen after treatment. Homoeopaths claim that the body is healed from the
inside out and deep-seated conditions may be temporarily replaced by more
superficial ones. As asthma improves, for example, eczema may flare in its
place.
HOW POPULAR IS IT?
Homoeopathy is one of the most accepted and popular complementary
therapies. The sale of homoeopathic medicines exceeds £25 million a year
and 12 per cent of adults in the UK have used homoeopathic remedies,
according to Mintel.
GP referrals to homoeopathic hospitals continue to rise. More than a
quarter of Scottish GPs have trained with the Faculty of Homoeopathy and in
Glasgow every GP practice has referred patients to the Glasgow Homoeopathic
Hospital.
WHAT’S THE HISTORY?
The name comes from the Greek homoios (“like” or “same”) and pathos
(“suffering”) and was coined in the 18th century, but the concept of “like
cures like” dates to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates.
Modern homoeopathy was developed in the 1790s by the German physician, Dr
Samuel Hahnemann, who was looking for a gentler alternative to the extreme
treatments — violent purges, leeches and strong medicines — used at the time.
He dosed himself with an extract of cinchona tree bark that contained
quinine, a treatment for malaria, and found it produced symptoms of that
disease. The more he diluted the solution to make it safe, the stronger the
response. In 1810 he published his theory of homoeopath.
Hahnemann’s ideas spread across Europe to Asia and the Americas. Dr
Frederick Foster Hervey Quin founded the first homoeopathic hospital in
London in 1849. Queen Adelaide, consort to William IV, was the first of
many members of the Royal family to consult a homoeopathic doctor, and this
Royal backing contributed to homoeopathy’s inclusion when the National
Health Service was founded in 1948. There are currently five NHS
homoeopathic hospitals, in London, Glasgow, Tunbridge Wells, Bristol and
Liverpool.
THE FIRST CONSULTATION
Homoeopathic remedies are available over the counter in pharmacists and
health shops, but self-prescribing can be hit or miss. People with chronic
conditions should consult a homoeopathic practitioner.
The initial appointment is usually 60-90 minutes, during which the
practitioner should ask about your medical history, diet and lifestyle.
Some NHS GPs may provide basic assessment and treatment within 10-15 minutes.
A classical homoeopath seeks underlying causes for an imbalance and will
ask numerous questions about food preferences, moods, likes, dislikes, even
responses to factors like the weather, in order to identify your
constitutional type.
This is determined by your inherited and acquired physical, emotional and
intellectual make-up.
Remedies usually come as tiny lactose tablets, pillules, granules or
powders and ideally should be placed directly on the tongue and sucked or
chewed between meals.
Most homoeopaths advise you to avoid strong-tasting substances like coffee
or peppermint. You will be asked to report any reactions and changes in
symptoms at your next visit, when the prescription may be adjusted as
necessary.
HOW MANY SESSIONS MIGHT I NEED, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT IF THERE IS
A PROBLEM?
Short-term conditions, such as colds, may improve after only one dose. Some
long-term conditions may require many months' treatment.
Fees vary according to location and the homoeopath's experience. Dr
Foster's research shows the majority (82 per cent) of homoeopaths charge
between £21 and £40 per consultation.
Complaints about the practice of any registered doctor can be made directly
to the General Medical Council. The Faculty of Homoeopathy has a chairman
of the disciplinary and professional performance committee and the Society
of Homoeopaths has a professional conduct officer to whom concerns can be
addressed.
WHAT TO ASK BEFORE MAKING A FIRST APPOINTMENT
Is the practitioner a member of a recognised professional body?
How long have they been practising?
Are they experienced in treating similar conditions to yours?
How long is the treatment course likely to last?
How much do they charge and do they offer concessions?
Do they have full professional indemnity and public liability insurance?
For further information on the practitioners mentioned in this guide, visit
Dr Foster
*******
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 85,00.html
Homoeopathy: crucial questions
Dr Foster, in conjunction with Professor Edzard Ernst’s team at Exeter
University’s Department of Complementary Medicine, sent all practitioners
in this guide questionnaires designed to assess their safety, skill and
professional competence in their specialism.
The questions are indicated by the letters a to e after each therapist’s
name. Each letter relates to a specific area of practice and indicates
that, in Dr Foster’s opinion, the practitioners answered correctly and meet
the best practice standards devised by the University of Exeter and have
shown that that their practice in this area has reached a higher standard
of competence than the basic level professionally required of them.
a Patient information
Which of the following information do you routinely provide for patients?
How many sessions the patient is likely to need; what other treatment is
available for this condition; what the treatment will involve; what it will
cost; how payment should be made; possible transient side effects of
treatment; how the therapist can be contacted out of clinic hours
b Stopping ineffective treatment
The recent House of Lords report on complementary therapies says therapists
should know the limitations of what their therapies can achieve and
recognise when they need to refer the patient to another medical
professional or stop treatment. Practitioners must recognise that not all
patients will respond to treatment and that there is a point at which those
people must be advised not to spend any more money and discharged. Exeter
University considers that this point for homoeopathy should be four weeks
for acute complaints and two months for chronic conditions.
c Communication with GPs
How frequently do you communicate with GPs about the diagnosis of your
patients (assuming you have the patient’s permission)? Exeter University
says GPs should always be informed about other treatments their patients
are receiving unless the patient refuses. To do otherwise may jeopardise
patient safety.
d Continuing professional development
In the past 12 months how many accredited continuing professional
development (CPD) seminars have you attended, or how many hours have you
spent developing their post-qualification professional knowledge and skills?
e Record keeping and patient history
During initial consultations do you always record: age, gender and address,
name of GP, current medication, family history and past medical and
obstetric history?
For further information on the practitioners mentioned in this guide, visit
Dr Foster
*******
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 92,00.html
Homoeopaths map: how to find a therapist near you
Find the region and county in which you live (see map)
If you live in a large town, therapists are listed in order of postcode (eg
in Bristol, therapists in BS1 come before those in BS2)
If you live in a smaller town or rural area, look under Elsewhere
Entries here are in alphabetical order In counties where there are not many
therapists, such as Cornwall, they are entered alphabetically by town or
village.
For readers in London, therapists are divided between East, North, South
and West
For those in Wales, Scotland and N Ireland, therapists are entered under
Rest of UK at the bottom of each section.
*******
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 95,00.html
Homoeopaths: key to letters
This key explains the letters after each therapist's name:
Professional membership qualifications
FFHOM: Fellow of the Faculty of Homeopathy
LHOM: Licensed member of the Society of Homeopaths working towards
registration
LFHOM: Licensed Associate of the Faculty of Homeopathy
MFHOM: Member of the Faculty of Homeopathy
RSHOM: Registered member of Society of Homeopaths
Key to letters
a Information given to patients
b Stopping ineffective treatment
c Communication with GPs
d Continuing professional development
e taking patient history
*********
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 03,00.html
Homoeopathy
Case history: twins but different treatments
Stephanie Payne’s twins both developed eczema and are being treated at the
Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital. But the five-year-olds have quite
different temperaments and are receiving completely different treatments to
suit them both.
“Melissa was the first to develop eczema badly at about the age of three,”
said Stephanie. “I went through the conventional medical route. This meant
her having steroid creams, which did little good.
“Neither twin had it really badly but they had weepy sore patches. About
once a year their eczema would break out all over. I was at my wit’s end.
The twins were ten weeks premature and I knew that premature babies are
prone to eczema but knew almost nothing about homoeopathy. Then I saw a BBC
Watchdog programme that mentioned alternative treatments for children,
suggesting that you ask your GP about them.
“Our doctor referred Melissa to the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital on
the NHS. The treatment started working within a fortnight and soon led to
an almost complete cure. At around the same time her sister Yasmine’s
eczema was starting to get bad and the hospital suggested I bring her in too.
“The homoeopaths took case histories for each, taking their personalities
into account. Melissa is more of a worrier and is not always as confident.
Yasmine, meanwhile, is more robust, more happy-go-lucky and more confident.”
Melissa was prescribed pulsatilla, which is taken from the pasqueflower and
often recommended for women and sensitive children. “I tried Yasmine with
the pulsatilla, but it had no effect, so the homoeopaths gave her sulphur,”
said Stephanie. Sulphur is often recommended for eczema, particularly if
the sufferer has a gregarious nature.
“It is definitely working for her,” said Stephanie. “I get annoyed when
people are sceptical about the treatment. You don’t always have to know why
something works for it to work.”
Homoeopathy seems to be covered reasonably well at
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 80,00.html
January 10, 2004
Homoeopaths
Homoeopathy: introduction
The long established complementary therapy comes with a royal seal of
approval. But does it work?
WHAT IS IT?
A system of medicine in which a substance that can make people ill is
diluted thousands of times to treat the symptoms it would otherwise create.
HOW IS IT SAID TO WORK?
A basic principle of homoeopathy is that of “like cures like”. Symptoms of
disease are considered indications that our health maintenance systems have
failed and the body is fighting infection. Rather than suppressing
symptoms, homoeopathic practitioners try to stimulate natural healing
processes with substances that, in normal doses, would have the same effects.
For example, belladonna (deadly nightshade) causes flushing, dry mouth and
throat, raging fever and convulsions (and ultimately death). Homoeopaths
use a high dilution of the plant extract to treat conditions such as
throbbing headaches, coughing spasms, high temperature and twitching during
sleep.
The energy that regulates a healthy balance in the body is known in
homoeopathy as the “vital force”. Stress, inadequate diet, lack of
exercise, hereditary problems or environmental factors can disrupt this
process, resulting in illness.
In common with many complementary therapies, this approach is based on
theories about how illness relates to the whole person, physically and
psychologically, rather than just a single “diseased part”.
Another basic principle of homoeopathy, and the one that arouses most
controversy in orthodox medicine because it defies known science, is that
of the “minimum dose”. Substances are diluted thousands of times over until
there is no detectable trace of the original.
Homoeopathic practitioners believe that the greater the dilution, the more
“potent” the remedy. Dilutions begin with a mother tincture: one drop of a
substance dissolved in a mixture of 90 per cent pure alcohol and 10 per
cent distilled water. Most homoeopathic remedies are derived from plants or
minerals — Rhus tox from poison ivy, Natrum mur from salt — but some are
“nosodes”, remedies made from diseased tissues or bodily secretions.
The recent anthrax scare caused a run in homoeopathic pharmacies on
Anthracinum, a nosode derived from the spleen of an anthrax-infected sheep.
Remedies are “potentised” by dilution either on the decimal scale (1:10,
denoted x) or the centesimal scale (1:100, denoted c). To produce a 12c
remedy, for example, one drop of the mother tincture is added to 99 drops
of an alcohol/water mixture and “succussed”, or shaken vigorously, and this
procedure is repeated 12 times. A 30c remedy is diluted and succussed 30
times. The most “potent” remedies of all are 200c, 1,000c, or even higher,
at which point not even a molecule of the original substance is likely to
be left.
Homoeopaths maintain that a “memory” of the active substance is imprinted
on the water molecules, which is capable of stimulating self-healing
processes through some, as yet undiscovered, mechanism.
Non-medical homoeopaths often talk about “vibrational energy”, whereas
homoeopathic doctors prefer to use terms from quantum physics.
PROFESSIONAL BODIES
The Faculty of Homoeopathy
The Faculty is associated with the British Homoeopathic Association, a
charity that promotes public awareness of homoeopathy. It has a register of
1,300 members worldwide and runs postgraduate training courses and
continuing professional development in homoeopathy for doctors, dentists,
nurses, pharmacists and other statutorily registered healthcare
professionals.
Medically qualified homoeopathic doctors offer the additional reassurance
of conventional medicine. With a GP referral you can attend one of five NHS
homoeopathic hospitals or claim private health insurance.
Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street West, Luton LU1 3BE (08704 443950)
The Society of Homoeopaths
The largest professional body for non-medical homoeopaths has nearly 1,000
registered members who have done a six-month registration process on top of
training (three years full time, four years part time) at 23 accredited
colleges where the curriculum includes physiology and anatomy.
The University of Westminster and the University of Central Lancashire
offer a BSc in Homoeopathy. There is a code of ethics and practice, a
complaints procedure and a continuing professional development programme.
Some health insurance companies will cover approved practitioners.
Practitioners claim that the quality of homoeopathic treatment is as good
as that which you might receive from medically qualified homoeopathic
doctors.
Homoeopaths work in private practice or are sometimes attached to an NHS GP
practice. The society is planning, with other non-medical homoeopathic
organisations, to establish a single voluntary register of practitioners
meeting commonly agreed standards of education and practice.
11 Brookfield, Duncan Close, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6WL (0845 4506611)
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
Health professionals who have taken the Faculty of Homoeopathy’s basic
postgraduate training are Licensed Associates of the Faculty (LFHom).
Those who pass training for dentists, pharmacists and nurses may use the
letters DFHom (Dent), DFHom (Pharm) and DFHom (Nurse). Membership training
for doctors and nurses involves a minimum of four years part time and
successful candidates become MFHom. Outstanding practitioners may be
elected Fellows of the Faculty (FFHom).
Registered members of the Society of Homoeopaths use the letters RSHom, and
FSHom identifies a Fellow of the Society of Homoeopaths.
Those who have completed training at an accredited college but are not yet
registered may use the letters LHom and the phrase “licensed member of the
Society of Homoeopaths working towards registration”.
IS HOMEOPATHY PROVEN TO BE CLINICALLY EFFECTIVE?
Anecdotal evidence is strong but fails to translate into research studies.
Around 200 clinical trials of homoeopathic remedies have been carried out,
as well as several reviews of these trials.
Critics argue that homoeopathy may be no more than a placebo or dummy
treatment, as there is no plausible scientific explanation for its action.
Others say that since homoeopathic treatment is individualised and two
patients with the same complaint may receive different remedies, it is
impossible to test with a trial.
Most studies involved small numbers of patients and many were flawed. One
review, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
in 1998, initially showed positive results for homoeopathic remedies.
However, when the six best-quality trials were compared its edge
disappeared. Another study in the Lancet in 1997 supported homoeopathy but
research data is scarce and the researchers concluded there was not enough
evidence to show it was effective.
Some good-quality single trials suggest homoeopathy may benefit hay fever,
asthma and rheumatoid arthritis but even supporters agree that more
research is needed.
The NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination concluded in 2003 that there
is currently insufficient data either to recommend homoeopathy as a
treatment for any specific condition or to justify providing more of it on
the NHS.
IS IT SAFE?
Although toxic substances, such as arsenic, are the basis for many
homoeopathic remedies, the degree of dilution is such that the remedies are
completely safe.
The Faculty of Homoeopathy says reported cases of adverse side-effects are
very rare and most claims to this effect have confused homoeopathic
remedies with herbal medicines. Otherwise the big worry is that
non-medically qualified practitioners may fail to recognise symptoms of
serious illness and persist with homoeopathic treatment when patients
should be referred to orthodox doctors. Some practitioners offer
homoeopathic immunisation but the Faculty of Homoeopathy rightly advises
conventional immunisation for children.
Do not discontinue conventional medicine without consulting your doctor.
Homoeopathy is not suitable for surgical emergencies or conditions such as
cancer, though it may have a supportive role.
Ask for lactose-free tablets if you are lactose intolerant.
IS IT PAINFUL?
No. Remedies are taken orally and should be painless. Symptoms may briefly
worsen after treatment. Homoeopaths claim that the body is healed from the
inside out and deep-seated conditions may be temporarily replaced by more
superficial ones. As asthma improves, for example, eczema may flare in its
place.
HOW POPULAR IS IT?
Homoeopathy is one of the most accepted and popular complementary
therapies. The sale of homoeopathic medicines exceeds £25 million a year
and 12 per cent of adults in the UK have used homoeopathic remedies,
according to Mintel.
GP referrals to homoeopathic hospitals continue to rise. More than a
quarter of Scottish GPs have trained with the Faculty of Homoeopathy and in
Glasgow every GP practice has referred patients to the Glasgow Homoeopathic
Hospital.
WHAT’S THE HISTORY?
The name comes from the Greek homoios (“like” or “same”) and pathos
(“suffering”) and was coined in the 18th century, but the concept of “like
cures like” dates to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates.
Modern homoeopathy was developed in the 1790s by the German physician, Dr
Samuel Hahnemann, who was looking for a gentler alternative to the extreme
treatments — violent purges, leeches and strong medicines — used at the time.
He dosed himself with an extract of cinchona tree bark that contained
quinine, a treatment for malaria, and found it produced symptoms of that
disease. The more he diluted the solution to make it safe, the stronger the
response. In 1810 he published his theory of homoeopath.
Hahnemann’s ideas spread across Europe to Asia and the Americas. Dr
Frederick Foster Hervey Quin founded the first homoeopathic hospital in
London in 1849. Queen Adelaide, consort to William IV, was the first of
many members of the Royal family to consult a homoeopathic doctor, and this
Royal backing contributed to homoeopathy’s inclusion when the National
Health Service was founded in 1948. There are currently five NHS
homoeopathic hospitals, in London, Glasgow, Tunbridge Wells, Bristol and
Liverpool.
THE FIRST CONSULTATION
Homoeopathic remedies are available over the counter in pharmacists and
health shops, but self-prescribing can be hit or miss. People with chronic
conditions should consult a homoeopathic practitioner.
The initial appointment is usually 60-90 minutes, during which the
practitioner should ask about your medical history, diet and lifestyle.
Some NHS GPs may provide basic assessment and treatment within 10-15 minutes.
A classical homoeopath seeks underlying causes for an imbalance and will
ask numerous questions about food preferences, moods, likes, dislikes, even
responses to factors like the weather, in order to identify your
constitutional type.
This is determined by your inherited and acquired physical, emotional and
intellectual make-up.
Remedies usually come as tiny lactose tablets, pillules, granules or
powders and ideally should be placed directly on the tongue and sucked or
chewed between meals.
Most homoeopaths advise you to avoid strong-tasting substances like coffee
or peppermint. You will be asked to report any reactions and changes in
symptoms at your next visit, when the prescription may be adjusted as
necessary.
HOW MANY SESSIONS MIGHT I NEED, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT IF THERE IS
A PROBLEM?
Short-term conditions, such as colds, may improve after only one dose. Some
long-term conditions may require many months' treatment.
Fees vary according to location and the homoeopath's experience. Dr
Foster's research shows the majority (82 per cent) of homoeopaths charge
between £21 and £40 per consultation.
Complaints about the practice of any registered doctor can be made directly
to the General Medical Council. The Faculty of Homoeopathy has a chairman
of the disciplinary and professional performance committee and the Society
of Homoeopaths has a professional conduct officer to whom concerns can be
addressed.
WHAT TO ASK BEFORE MAKING A FIRST APPOINTMENT
Is the practitioner a member of a recognised professional body?
How long have they been practising?
Are they experienced in treating similar conditions to yours?
How long is the treatment course likely to last?
How much do they charge and do they offer concessions?
Do they have full professional indemnity and public liability insurance?
For further information on the practitioners mentioned in this guide, visit
Dr Foster
*******
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 85,00.html
Homoeopathy: crucial questions
Dr Foster, in conjunction with Professor Edzard Ernst’s team at Exeter
University’s Department of Complementary Medicine, sent all practitioners
in this guide questionnaires designed to assess their safety, skill and
professional competence in their specialism.
The questions are indicated by the letters a to e after each therapist’s
name. Each letter relates to a specific area of practice and indicates
that, in Dr Foster’s opinion, the practitioners answered correctly and meet
the best practice standards devised by the University of Exeter and have
shown that that their practice in this area has reached a higher standard
of competence than the basic level professionally required of them.
a Patient information
Which of the following information do you routinely provide for patients?
How many sessions the patient is likely to need; what other treatment is
available for this condition; what the treatment will involve; what it will
cost; how payment should be made; possible transient side effects of
treatment; how the therapist can be contacted out of clinic hours
b Stopping ineffective treatment
The recent House of Lords report on complementary therapies says therapists
should know the limitations of what their therapies can achieve and
recognise when they need to refer the patient to another medical
professional or stop treatment. Practitioners must recognise that not all
patients will respond to treatment and that there is a point at which those
people must be advised not to spend any more money and discharged. Exeter
University considers that this point for homoeopathy should be four weeks
for acute complaints and two months for chronic conditions.
c Communication with GPs
How frequently do you communicate with GPs about the diagnosis of your
patients (assuming you have the patient’s permission)? Exeter University
says GPs should always be informed about other treatments their patients
are receiving unless the patient refuses. To do otherwise may jeopardise
patient safety.
d Continuing professional development
In the past 12 months how many accredited continuing professional
development (CPD) seminars have you attended, or how many hours have you
spent developing their post-qualification professional knowledge and skills?
e Record keeping and patient history
During initial consultations do you always record: age, gender and address,
name of GP, current medication, family history and past medical and
obstetric history?
For further information on the practitioners mentioned in this guide, visit
Dr Foster
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 92,00.html
Homoeopaths map: how to find a therapist near you
Find the region and county in which you live (see map)
If you live in a large town, therapists are listed in order of postcode (eg
in Bristol, therapists in BS1 come before those in BS2)
If you live in a smaller town or rural area, look under Elsewhere
Entries here are in alphabetical order In counties where there are not many
therapists, such as Cornwall, they are entered alphabetically by town or
village.
For readers in London, therapists are divided between East, North, South
and West
For those in Wales, Scotland and N Ireland, therapists are entered under
Rest of UK at the bottom of each section.
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 95,00.html
Homoeopaths: key to letters
This key explains the letters after each therapist's name:
Professional membership qualifications
FFHOM: Fellow of the Faculty of Homeopathy
LHOM: Licensed member of the Society of Homeopaths working towards
registration
LFHOM: Licensed Associate of the Faculty of Homeopathy
MFHOM: Member of the Faculty of Homeopathy
RSHOM: Registered member of Society of Homeopaths
Key to letters
a Information given to patients
b Stopping ineffective treatment
c Communication with GPs
d Continuing professional development
e taking patient history
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 03,00.html
Homoeopathy
Case history: twins but different treatments
Stephanie Payne’s twins both developed eczema and are being treated at the
Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital. But the five-year-olds have quite
different temperaments and are receiving completely different treatments to
suit them both.
“Melissa was the first to develop eczema badly at about the age of three,”
said Stephanie. “I went through the conventional medical route. This meant
her having steroid creams, which did little good.
“Neither twin had it really badly but they had weepy sore patches. About
once a year their eczema would break out all over. I was at my wit’s end.
The twins were ten weeks premature and I knew that premature babies are
prone to eczema but knew almost nothing about homoeopathy. Then I saw a BBC
Watchdog programme that mentioned alternative treatments for children,
suggesting that you ask your GP about them.
“Our doctor referred Melissa to the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital on
the NHS. The treatment started working within a fortnight and soon led to
an almost complete cure. At around the same time her sister Yasmine’s
eczema was starting to get bad and the hospital suggested I bring her in too.
“The homoeopaths took case histories for each, taking their personalities
into account. Melissa is more of a worrier and is not always as confident.
Yasmine, meanwhile, is more robust, more happy-go-lucky and more confident.”
Melissa was prescribed pulsatilla, which is taken from the pasqueflower and
often recommended for women and sensitive children. “I tried Yasmine with
the pulsatilla, but it had no effect, so the homoeopaths gave her sulphur,”
said Stephanie. Sulphur is often recommended for eczema, particularly if
the sufferer has a gregarious nature.
“It is definitely working for her,” said Stephanie. “I get annoyed when
people are sceptical about the treatment. You don’t always have to know why
something works for it to work.”