What is Homoeopathic Medicine, and, how do you pronounce it? Homoeopathic (Home-e-o-path-ic) Medicine is a branch of natural medicine based on the principle of treating like with like. Homoeopaths (Home-e-o-paths) treat a patient's presenting symptoms by prescribing an individualized, specific, highly diluted and triturated medicine, (made from animal, vegetable or mineral sources), which, taken in a crude dose, would cause similar symptoms when given to a healthy person. In assessing the patient, your Homoeopath works very much like his/her colleagues who practice orthodox medicine, by way of a physical examination, running/referring the appropriate tests, X-rays etc, and by further asking you about your health complaints during a consultation, however to a more thorough extent. Rather than just excepting that you suffer from headaches, your Homoeopathic Practitioner would question you about the exact location, type of pain, time and repetition, what relieves or aggravates the pain, and is it associated with any other condition; in order to effectively treat the patient, thereby the headaches. The same process is then repeated by investigating every complaint you may be suffering from, diagnostically assessing the progress of the condition, and then finally treating you for your most troubling symptoms.

What health complaints can Homoeopathic Medicine treat? Homoeopathic Medicine can treat most diseases, health complaints or conditions. Actually, there is no condition which homoeopathy cannot be used to treat. Wherever a set of individualized symptoms can be obtained, the patient is treatable, however, as in any medical system, there are limitations, (as in the case of terminal illnesses, which would then be managed with the appropriate homoeopathic analgesics, etc., or where surgery or surgical techniques are necessary in order to save life). While it may not be able to cure cases of advanced chronic illness, it can often alleviate the suffering and thus improve the quality of the patient's life. Additionally, it can be safely used as an adjunct to orthodox treatment without fear of harmful interactions or toxic side-effects. This is to the patient's advantage for it means that he/she can undergo homoeopathic treatment without having to stop all orthodox drugs immediately. Many people find that they are able to reduce or even stop their intake of conventional drugs as a result of having homoeopathic treatment. While Homoeopathic medicines can be taken with orthodox drugs, the later may inhibit their action to a certain extent. This is to be expected as Homoeopathic medicines work by stimulating the body's natural defences, whereas most allopathic drugs work through the suppression of these defences.

What's the difference between Homoeopathy and Naturopathy? Both Homoeopathy and Naturopathy are natural therapies, however, whereas Homoeopathy is a specialized system of medicine which individually treats the patient with a single natural medicine, the medicine is more powerful as a homoeopathic preparation. Naturopathy is a system of natural therapies which treats the person by way of diet, vitamin and mineral supplements, lifestyle changes, massage, reflexology etc, which, as reported by former patients of other natural therapists, assists the health for only as long they took the prescriptions. The main difference is that Homoeopathic Medicine stimulates the body to heal itself, therefore you only have to take it until there is a reaction, and then stop, watch and wait for the improvements in your health. Rather than merely controlling your health complaint, you can overcome it, naturally, with Homoeopathy.

Is Homoeopathy covered by Private Health Funds? Homoeopathic Medicine is accepted by all major Private Health Funds (except Medibank Private), which provide cover for homoeopathic treatment by Registered Homoeopathic Practitioners.

How long does it take for the medicine to work? In most acute complaints, the results are most commonly felt after the first, to first few doses, however, in more long-standing, chronic conditions, the 'rule of thumb' prognostic approximate is about one month of treatment for every year you've suffered from the health complaint. Although there are exceptions to the rule, it is usually quite accurate, however, it is of the utmost importance that you maintain the treatment in order to achieve the results. As Homoeopathic Medicine works with nature, it will take time in order to cure you (if in deed, your condition is curable), but in doing so, you will improve from strength to strength. Much like a seed grows into a tree, nature takes time, and so does a cure.