    |
Homeopathy FAQ
We've put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), but of course if you have any other questions, please contact us Are homeopathic remedies safe? Are homeopathic remedies safe? Yes. They work by gently boosting the body's natural defenses, and are very safe, even for pregnant women, infants and sensitive patients. There is no danger of addiction or toxicity. Many women discover homeopathy during pregnancy as it is one of the safest forms of medicine. What are the remedies made from? Homeopathic remedies are a unique, potentised medicine, drawn from the plant, mineral and animal worlds. They are diluted to such a degree that not even a single molecule of the original substance can be detected (after the 6c potency). Remedies are made in Homeopathic Pharmaceutical companies usually in the UK; Nelsons and Helios are two main sources of remedies for Homeopaths in Ireland. Many remedies are vegan, those that are made from animal substances are in the majority of cases made without injuring the animal or in cases where a whole insect or spider is used only one is needed for a world supply of that remedy!! They are tested on healthy human volunteers, not on animals. We seek to practice homeopathy mindfully, it is an environmentally sustainable medical system requiring very low energy input and doesn't pollute. To make a remedy, the raw extracts (from plants or animals) or triturations (from minerals and salts) are made into a 'tincture' with alcohol which forms the basis of the dilution procedure. Dilutions are made up to either 1 part tincture to 10 parts water (1x), 1 part tincture to 100 parts water (1c), or 1 part tincture to 1000 parts water (1m). Repeated dilution results in the familiar 6x, 6c or 30c potencies that can be bought over the counter: the 30c contains less than 1 part per million of the original substance. At Dublin Holistic Centre we use all potencies from tincture and 1x right through to 1m, 50m and LM's. There are two homeopathic dispensaries in the Ireland, Nelsons Homeopathic Dispensary who offer a nationwide mail order service and O'Reilly's Pharmacy in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, your Homeopath may supply you directly with your remedy in which case they have sourced it from either Nelsons in the UK or Helios. Click here to link to Nelsons in DublinClick here to link to Helios in the UK If they are so dilute, how can they work? After each dilution the mixture is vigorously agitated by hand, or in a machine that delivers a calibrated amount of shaking. This is called succussion. How homeopathy works is not yet fully understood but it is thought that this process imprints the "memory" of the medicinal substance throughout the body of water as if a message is passed on. Click here to read an article in New Scientist on a new chemical discovery which could explain homeopathyAre you regulated by the Irish government? All Homeopaths who practice in the Dublin Holistic Centre are registered members of the Irish Society of Homeopathy. This means they practice in accordance with a Code of Ethics and Practice, hold professional insurance and have passed stringent academic and clinical assessments before being admitted to the Register. They are obliged to continually refresh and develop their professional skills via supervision and continuing professional development. Click here to visit the Irish Society of Homeopath's websiteDo I still need to see my orthodox/conventional doctor or consultant? Yes. We encourage you to maintain your relationship with your GP or other conventional doctor or consultant, as they are able to provide a diagnosis of your condition, monitor your prescriptive medication and can order investigative tests that we cannot provide. We prefer to work in an integrated way with your orthodox or conventional doctors if possible. Can Homeopaths diagnose illness? No, we cannot diagnose in any conventional sense, and we encourage you to see a conventional doctor for diagnosis of any unexplained symptoms. Instead, we make an assessment of your health which includes an assessment of the likely causes of your health problem, factors which may have contributed to your getting unwell, a treatment plan including consideration of factors (eg lifestyle, toxicity) that may be maintaining you in ill-health, and a homeopathic prognosis (this may differ from a conventional prognosis, as we make the best assessment we can of your body's ability to un-do whatever it has done to create your ill-health or unhappiness). Do I need to wait for the results of medical tests before booking in? No, this is not necessary, although you should still have all and any conventional tests and investigations that your doctor recommends, and tell your homeopath the results when you get them. Your homeopathic treatment will focus on your own subjective experience of your symptoms. This means that we focus on what you tell us about what it feels like to be you, and select remedies for you accordingly. If your Homeopath is properly-qualified, why do they still have supervision? Good homeopaths always seek to learn more. Supervision is increasingly recognised as necessary in a wide variety of professions, particularly as regards professionals in positions of responsibility that involve working with people. This includes social work, teaching, nursing, therapy and business management. Tell me what a consultation at the Dublin Holistic Centre is like? We aim to make the consultation experience enjoyable and therapeutic. It's a bit like a long chat with a good friend. We won't judge you or criticise you, and will listen carefully and empathically to what you say, and sometimes to what you don't say. Each consultation is a chance for you to see yourself and your path in life in a new light, and to start to understand your health. It's a little like counselling, but we don't need to dwell on the past, just to take a quick look at the kind of things that may have knocked you off the path of good health. Patients often say that they feel much better after a consultation, even before they've taken their first remedy, because they have started to understand how their problems developed, and therefore know better how to self-heal. Do I need to undress or be examined? No. You can just tell us about your symptoms, although we may ask to look at the colour or shape of your tongue and eyes. You will not need to remove any clothes (although you're welcome to kick off your shoes, sit back and relax). What questions will I be asked? The aim of the initial consultation is to start to get to know you: we need to know what it feels like to be you, so this means we will ask you to tell us all about your own medical history, all about the symptoms that are bothering you, as well as starting to find out what makes you unique. We'll be interested in your character and likes and dislikes, as well as about things that may seem totally unrelated to your problems (for example, we may ask about whether you stick your feet out of bed at night, whether thunderstorms affect you, or whether you sip or gulp your drinks). Homeopaths are aware that tendencies to certain types of diseases can run in families, so we will also want you to tell us as much as you know about your parents' grandparents' and siblings' health and medical histories. Rest assured that all these questions are entirely relevant to the problem in hand: we need to know you this well because we treat you, the individual, not just your symptoms. If there is ever anything you don't want to tell us, that's fine, too. Some of the Homeopaths will do house visits, contact info@dublinholisticcentre.com for more information. Do you do hospital or nursing home visits? This depends on the individual case: it can be problematic arranging for remedies to be given to patients in hospital or nursing homes, as the staff at such places are often wary of homeopathy and prevented by regulations from supervising homeopathic remedies being given. This means that treatment often requires the understanding and consent of the person in charge of the patient's care (if not the patient) and the regular help of the patient's friends or family. Can I book an appointment on behalf of someone else? Yes, if the patient is a child under 16 years of age, and you are the person with parental responsibility for that child; or if the patient is incapacitated and you have authority to make appointments on the patient's behalf. In all other cases, the patient must call us within 24 hours of the booking being made, in order to confirm that s/he does indeed desire treatment (this can be done 24 hours a day, using our messaging service). Payments can be made by cash or cheque in person at the clinic at the time of consultation. Some Homeopaths offer a Paypal service online where you can pay with your credit card in advance of the consultation. |
28 South William St,
Dublin 2 tel: 086 607 7038 info@dublinholisticcentre.com  
|
