What is the difference between a naturopath and a homeopath?

Naturopath vs. Homeopath  What are the differences?

 Naturopaths are trained in a variety of healing modalities and homeopathy is just one the many methods they learn. A naturopath could be considered like a general practitioner of alternative medicine studying diverse modalities such as clinical nutrition, botanical (herbal) medicine, iridology, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine and homeopathy, among others.

     Naturopathy is practiced very differently from one practitioner to the other depending on his or her own strengths and interests. A naturopath’s education in so many different modalities means they lack expertise in any one, unless or until they choose to specialize. Some naturopaths prescribe homeopathically with a minimum amount of knowledge, some rarely use it, while others choose to specialize in it and work exclusively with homeopathic remedies.  Naturopaths often require numerous expensive tests to be undertaken or a lot of costly supplements, be they vitamins, minerals, herbal tinctures etc.

     A classical homeopath studies for four years only homeopathy and specializes in prescribing homeopathic remedies. Classical homeopathy espouses using only one remedy at a time at a single potency to address all of the symptoms - psychological, emotional and physical -that make up a person’s entirety. By prescribing only one homeopathic remedy makes it easier to determine the effects of that remedy without other factors muddling the picture. There exist thousands of homeopathic remedies and for example there could be 200 possible remedies for a particular ailment for this reason it requires a tremendous amount of learning and experience to prescribe well.  A classical homeopath spends years studying how to accurately prescribe as homeopathic remedies need to be prescribed individually to bring about the greatest and longest lasting improvements in health.  Homeopathic remedies are very inexpensive and have an extremely long shelf life.

Homeopathy works and new research supports this.

Despite the fact that back in the 1800s there were a number of homeopathic hospitals and medical schools in the US and Canada, the climate shifted and homeopathy became almost forgotten in North America.  However, homeopathy continued in Europe as well as in South and Central America, and India.  Now increasingly North Americans are looking for alternatives to traditional medicine, pharmaceutical drugs and surgery.  They want something that is less invasive as a first line of defence or homeopathy is being used when traditional medicine has not provided long term healing.

More and more research has been emerging recently that supports the validity of homeopathy.  And this   is helpful for those who are new to homeopathy to have confidence in its efficacy.  It is difficult to find reliable, factual on-line sources of honest information about homeopathy and its studies -- so I have provided some useful links to homeopathic research summaries and scientific publications of homeopathic studies for you to peruse at your leisure:

http://hpathy.com/scientific-research/research-homeopathy-part-13/

http://audesapere.in/database-of-scientific-publications-in-homeopathy/

The Swiss government commissioned a report that found homeopathy to be an effective, cost-efficient addition to the traditional and complementary medicine landscape. Here is a link to said report:

http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-642-20638-2

The eyes have it

Homeopathic treatment is effective for a number of issues related to the eyes.  I have treated a number of cases of conjunctivitis (pink eye) as well as styes very successfully using homeopathic remedies.  

Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva - the transparent membrane covering the eye.  There are three causes: bacterial infection, viral infection or allergic reaction.  Both the bacterial and the viral causes of conjunctivitis are contagious while the allergic reaction is not.  In most cases conjunctivitis clears up by itself within two to five days.  However, homeopathic treatment is worth considering if there are recurrent episodes of conjunctivitis or if there is a need to clear the conjunctivitis more quickly.  I gave a homeopathic remedy to my son when he returned after a weekend away and had had symptoms of pink eye since Saturday.  I gave it to him on his return Monday evening and by the next morning he awoke with clear eyes that no longer felt "scratchy".  I have prescribed a homeopathic remedy for one boy who had many recurrences of conjunctivitis.  It cleared up the flare up he had at that time very quickly and I haven't heard of him having another episode since.

A stye is an infection at the root of an eyelash.  It looks like a pimple or a boil and can become quite red, swollen with pus, and painful.  Traditionally styes are treated with ointments, drops, antibiotics and are surgically removed, if all else fails.  I have successfully treated cases of stubborn styes that were not responding to conventional treatment and in fact in one case the very next day after a stye had been surgically removed another stye appeared on the opposite eye.  Therefore, if you have a susceptibility to developing styes, if nothing has helped you get rid of a stye or if you want to consider a less invasive form of treatment before considering surgically removing a stye  - you might want to consider homeopathic treatment.

Homeopathy works to boost the immune system to quickly overcome an existent health challenge and it also makes the body more resistant to disease so that subsequent episodes are less likely to occur.

Homeopathy: For mental and emotional wellbeing

  Homeopathy works wonders when we are feeling out of balance emotionally.  Psychopharmaceuticals often have side effects and once started are hard to come off of or are never given up because then the same symptoms return.   Unlike prescription drugs that suppress the emotions, homeopathic remedies help to heal by addressing the underlying cause.   Homeopathic remedies are given in minimal doses and are stopped as soon as there is an improvement.


Consider homeopathy for anxiety, phobias, depression and other mental and emotional problems.  I saw a patient who was so fearful of flying that she would vomit several times each flight.  It was such a huge impediment as she really wanted to be able to travel.  This young woman did so well on a remedy that she has been able to fly frequently and even very long haul flights with no problems whatsoever.  To my knowledge she hasn't had to repeat the remedy at all.


I have also seen homeopathy work really well for depression.  A woman who was distraught at the end of her marriage was crying daily.  She couldn't seem to get out of that darkness and despair.  After taking a homeopathic remedy she stopped crying and within a short time she had a sense of hope, clarity and strength that had eluded her up to that point.


Here is a link to an article if you'd like to read more about the treatment of depression using homeopathy.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/healthier-ways-to-treat-d_b_740720.html

  

Arnica: Homeopathy's #1 first aid remedy

If you are new to homeopathy the first remedy to consider trying for yourself is Arnica.  Homeopathic Arnica is used to treat bruising, strains and sprains, and soft tissue injuries.  Take this if you feel bruised and sore, for example after overexerting yourself at the gym.  This is also good if you’ve been injured or in an accident and you immediately react by saying “I’m fine, leave me alone.”  That is when you should instantly remember this remedy. If you have the feeling of being bruised and sore all over and you feel exhausted because of jet lag, then Arnica is the remedy for you.

Many professional and amateur athletes depend on homeopathic arnica to recover quickly from injuries.  But is also something to consider using after a trip to the dentist or after surgery.

Homeopathic remedies are unlike prescription or over-the-counter drugs in that you need to STOP taking the remedy for it to continue working.  Therefore if you are feeling any improvement it is essential you not repeat the remedy again.  If you take a homeopathic remedy too many times this can halt the healing process and prevent the remedy from achieving its maximum potential.

Homeopathy: Natural, gentle, effective healthcare

Homeopathy: Natural, gentle, effective healthcare

     Homeopathy is a 200-year old system of medicine.  The World Health Organization recognizes it as the second most prevalently used therapeutic system in the world.  More than 300 million people in 80 countries use homeopathy.  A report commissioned by the Swiss Government found homeopathy to be more cost-effective than other forms of medicine, traditional or alternative.  

     Homeopathy is natural.  The remedies come primarily from the plant, animal and mineral kingdoms.  Homeopathy is safe and gentle.  It can be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers, newborn infants, the elderly and everyone in between.

     Homeopathic remedies help to stimulate the body's own defense mechanism so that the body can bring itself back into a state of balance.  They are single remedies that are prescribed for each unique individual to address their whole person and the various symptoms they are experiencing.

Consider this alternative so you can get back to your healthiest life possible.