"Real things are cured by a process...."

I love telling people that I am a homeopath. I get the full range of responses, from - Wow, that's so cool! To raised eyebrows with polite, 'oh, interesting,' and of course asking my advice about herbs and nutrition of which I am definitely not an expert. If you want to know, my answer to that is moderation.

But there is one misconception I sometimes come across that I feel compelled to clear up because I see it as an assumption that may keep many people from benefitting from homeopathic treatment.

"Don't you have to already be pretty healthy to use homeopathy?"

In short: no.

You can be on death's door, have antibiotic- resistant MRSA, AIDS, cancer, autism, funny pains with no explanation, delusions, nightmares, jealousy, depression... or just curious.

Some people with conditions like I listed above may experience a full cure. This has been documented with autism, depression, anti-biotic resistant infections, and indeed dramatic turn-arounds in AIDS patients (see homeopathyforhealthinafrica.org), as well as thousands of other conditions that have diagnosable names, and many that don't.

Others may experience much improvement, or mild improvement that they were otherwise not finding with other treatment. Still others find that their other treatments- diet, acupuncture, chiropractic, etc...- actually seem to be *more* effective when combined with, or preceded by homeopathic treatment.

I think this assumption may come from the characterization of homeopathy as an energy treatment. Perhaps there is the idea that one's energy must be 'pure' or already in a more 'evolved' state before a remedy can act.  Energy is, and what state it is in does not determine the efficacy of the modality. It does indicate to the practitioner which potency of the remedy is indicated, or which remedies are called for. In very low states of vitality, it may not be appropriate to use homeopathy because the physical body has pathology that is too advanced. In which case, very low potencies and cell salts can be used to palliate and make a patient comfortable. Remedies can be used to ease anxiety and fear when death is near.

But the fundamental principles of homeopathy: like cures like, using a minimum dose, and individualizing treatment- are true and effective no matter the condition, or the starting health of the patient.

Wherever you find yourself this January, 2014, homeopathy can meet you. From 'never well since...(flu, pregnancy, surgery, etc...)' conditions to chronic pains, acute infectious illness, allergies and food intolerances, and so much more, a homeopathic remedy can often bring space and resolution where there was only stagnation. As Richard Grossinger wrote in Planet Medicine:  "Real things are cured finally by a process, not a particular medicine."

If you are curious about how homeopathy may fit into your process, get in touch.