Naturopaths study different moralities in their program so they become similar to a general practitioner in Alternative medicine and advise patients on their lifestyle, nutrition, herbal and natural supplements or homeopathic remedies based on general protocols. A Homeopath studies homeopathy in depth and specializes in this science. Homeopaths recommend an individualized treatment plan for each patient in efforts to stimulate the body’s own healing power to recover itself.

Homeopathy is based on the philosophy that the body, mind and emotions are not really separate and distinct, but are actually fully integrated. Based on this perspective, a homeopath seeks a remedy that fits all of a patient’s physical and psychological symptoms. Although some people’s symptoms may be complex, a well-trained homeopath will know which symptoms should be specially noted, and can choose an effective, individualized remedy.
Prolonged emotional stress can cause physical problems, like upset stomach, difficulty in digesting foods, poor nutrient assimilation, weaker immune system, sleeplessness, etc. The opposite is also true. Illness and physical problems can result in anxiety or emotional uneasiness. Therefore, it is important for a homeopath to conduct an in-depth interview of a patient to ensure a proper, all encompassing remedy.

Level 1: First Aid
Homeopathy can be used in first aid to safely treat common ailments and occurrences, such as sprains and bruises, minor burns, skin irritations and reactions (including poison ivy, diaper rash and insect bites), teething pain, etc.
Level 2: Acute Homeopathy
Acute health problems are those in which the symptoms will eventually go away on their own. They are temporary conditions, such as colds, flu, coughs, sprains, etc. A homeopathic remedy can be useful and attractive because it is safe, gentle and has no harmful side effects. Homeopathy can also be used to assist sensitive conditions such as pregnancy.
Level 3: Constitutional Homeopathy
Constitutional homeopathy refers to the treatment of a person as a whole, including past and present symptoms. When accurately implemented, homeopathic constitutional care can elicit a profound healing response. Homeopathy can be extremely effective in treating chronic and long-term health problems. Recurrent ear infections, for example, can be treated with a homeopathic remedy for a longer period of time to strengthen the body’s immune system and to prevent future occurrences.

Symptoms are the language of a disease — the body’s attempt to balance itself. Without symptoms, a person could have a potentially life threatening illness with no way of identifying it. There have been many cancer patients who reported that they hadn’t suffered from a cold or flu in years prior to their diagnosis. The explanation was probably not that they didn’t have infections during this period, but more likely that their bodies were unable to fight these infections by producing necessary symptom indications.
Many conventional drugs try to inhibit and suppress symptoms — sometimes leading to even more serious symptoms. Conventional (allopathic) physicians do not usually recognize the new series of symptoms as being related to the old. Thus, they treat them as new and unrelated problems. Another example is fever which is the body’s attempt to raise the temperature to limit the growth of bacteria or virus and to activate the immune system’s white blood cells. If a person is given a symptom-suppressing medication — fighting the fever — too soon, they will be less able to fight the actual infection. Therefore, homeopathy does not seek to remove or suppress symptoms. Its goal is to recognize and remove the underlying cause of these symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies are indeed very small doses. However, they are specially prepared doses which undergo a specific process — including dilution of ingredients (called potentization), as well as a vigorous shaking (succussion).
Specially formulated homeopathic remedies will mimic the symptoms of the body in order to trigger body’s own immunity to recover itself.a positive healing response.The documented results from thousands of experienced homeopaths, and from millions of their patients, clearly show that these small, individualized doses produce profound health benefits.

Finding the appropriate homeopathic remedy depends upon gaining a complete understanding of the patient as a whole person. This means that the homeopath must take note of the physical, mental and emotional levels of each person before deciding on a correct remedy. Homeopathic remedies have been described as “designer medicines.” While this might seem like a simplistic and trendy view of homeopathy, it is true that remedies are specially “designed” for individuals based upon their unique, and sometimes complex, state of being. Take for example migraine headaches. We could easily demonstrate that one person might have pain on one side of their head, while another person had pain on both sides. Still another person could have nausea accompanying the migraine, and yet another could have dizziness. It is important to recognize that, in addition to the person’s physical symptoms, there are underlying psychological and emotional aspects as well. Homeopathic remedies are only given when the total continuum of physical and psychological symptoms has been identified.

Homeopathy’s Approach
Homeopathy is based on a”whole person” approach and prescribing based on “similarity of symptoms”. In homeopathy, the prescribed medicine will mimic the symptoms to stimulate body’s own immunity to recover itself. This treatment program is customized and individualized to the patient, with the intent of removing the underlying cause.

Conventional Medicine’s Approach
Conventional (allopathic) medicine is based on opposing the symptoms and usually relies on treating a patient’s physical symptoms.

Goals of the Homeopathic Approach
The Homeopath’s Role as “Detective”
It has been said that the work of the homeopath is to observe the patient, process and reflect on the gathered information, and then determine the underlying disturbance. Each signal/symptom offered by the patient can be thought of as a clue to determine the correct medicine. The patient’s eye contact, body posture, breathing patterns, voice quality, and expressions are also noted as potential clues. When all of the information about the patient’s physical, mental and emotional symptoms has been documented, then the final search for the answer begins. Unlike a detective — or medical physician for that matter — the homeopath’s goal is not only to remove the symptoms, but also to eliminate the essential causal problem by stimulating the body’s natural curative powers. This is the reason for obtaining such a detailed analysis of the patient.

The Homeopathic Treatment
The goal of the homeopathic treatment is to encourage the body to return to a natural state of balance and health. Like the missing pieces of a puzzle, homeopathic medicines help “fill-in” the gaps in the body to stimulate a person’s own healing potential and energies.

If you think you must “believe in” homeopathy for it to work, you need to know that it is not a placebo effect. Here are some powerful examples:
Infants: Homeopathic remedies and treatments are successfully used by parents for common infant ailments such as colic, teething pain and some infections.
Animals: There are many veterinarians using homeopathic medicines to treat domestic pets such as cats, dogs and birds, as well as barnyard animals like goats, horses and cows. Is it possible to have a placebo effect with animals?
Millions of people across the world use and rely on homeopathic remedies. Today there are a rapidly growing number of conventional medical doctors using homeopathic medicines, including:
39% of French family physicians
20% of German physicians
10% of Italian physicians
Moreover, in many European countries there is a growing trend of medical doctors referring patients to homeopathic physicians.

Open Communication & Observation

While it is the homeopath’s job to elicit relevant information by asking probing questions, the patient can expect a higher chance of receiving an effective homeopathic remedy if he or she is open and truthful in describing their physical and psychological symptoms. It is also important to be observant of the changes taking place in your system. To that end, you might want to keep a journal or notes on any noticeable changes or shifts in your symptoms or health.

The Follow-Up Visit

Generally, the homeopath will schedule follow-up visits approximately four to six weeks after the first interview and remedy prescription. In simple cases, a patient will feel significantly better after the first treatment. The follow-up visits are used to determine what additional methods or remedies are required. In some cases, it may be required to use more than one remedy sequentially so that balance and full health can be restored. Traditional homeopathy only applies one medicine at a time. What you will experience when you receive the correct remedy can include the disappearance of specific symptoms, more energy, stronger immune system functions, and a sense of increased well-being. Homeopathic treatments have rapid and far-reaching effects. Even if the changes require time to develop, they usually are long-lasting.

Once again this depends completely on the individual case . On average patients will see their homeopath on a monthly basis and less frequently as your condition improves. The duration of your treatment can be more adequately assessed after a constitutional case taking has taken place. patients should feel free to visit their homeopath at any point in time for any acute and first aid conditions that arise, such as to help heal colds & flues as well as injuries.

Compliance to treatment and follow-ups has a very important role in a successful treatment. Even when you are feeling better, the follow up visits in right intervals give the homeopath valuable information and helps to keep your treatment on track.