Safety

Adverse reactions to mainstream drugs have become a major health problem. A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, for example, found adverse reactions to be the fourth cause of death behind heart disease, cancer and strokes in American hospitals. The researchers estimated that in 1994 some 2,216,000 hospitalised people had serious adverse drug reactions and 106,000 people died as a direct cause of adverse drug reactions. (Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidences of adverse drug reactions in hospitalised patients. A meta-analysis of prospective studies. JAMA 1998; 279: 1200-1205).

In the Queensland Sunday Mail newspaper of the 10/6/2001, the headline reads; “Medicine Linked to Cot Deaths, a popular over the counter medicine for children could be linked to sudden infant death syndrome.” These type of headlines seem to be occurring regularly, as drugs are marketed to the public and are then found to cause serious problems. Thalidomide is a classic example which many may remember. Thalidomide was prescribed during pregnancy and was linked to teratogenic effects.

How safe are homoeopathic medicines?
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States, the federal government department that oversees all medicines used in the USA, investigated homoeopathic products in the United States and could not find any confirmed reports of adverse reactions to homoeopathic medicines in the literature they examined. (Stehlin I, Homoeopathy: Real Medicine or Empty Promises?, Public Affairs Dept FDA, FDA Consumer Magazine, December 1996)

The World Health Organisation, which formulates and implements global health policy and is one of the world's highest authorities of healthcare, wrote in the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation (WHO Bulletin 77, 1999 2, 160-166) that; "There is no doubt about the safety of homoeopathy..."

The fact that homoeopathy is supported by the National Health Schemes of France, Germany and United Kingdom, where no other natural therapies are covered by these schemes should also provide a clear indication of the trust that these countries place in homoeopathic products. Homoeopathic medicines safety record has been built on 200 years of use around the world by people in all different situations. Homoeopathic medicines have been found to be safe for pregnant women, young children and older people and in other groups of people or situations where it is potentially unsafe to use mainstream, naturopathic or herbal treatments.

Are there risks in homoeopathic treatment?
Even though homoeopathic medicines are relatively safe, there can be the possibility of them being misapplied, which is a common danger across all health therapies. In Homoeopathy, the incorrectly prescribed medicine does not work effectively and therefore the health problem will continue unabated. In some cases there may be the possibility of an initial aggravation of symptoms and in others there may be no response at all, or a long period is required before a response is evident. In others, cure is no longer possible and palliation is required.

In many cases of ill health, there can be a complicated history and combination of diseases and treatments, as well as environmental and emotional issues that require professional treatment and management by an appropriately qualified practitioner. People can be at risk with homoeopathic treatment if there is professional misapplication of the therapy by the therapist (who may not be a Registered Homoeopathic Practitioner), perhaps by overstepping the bounds of their medical competence.

Can the medicines be used safely by ordinary people?
The ability to understand a person's health problem and prescribe an appropriate treatment using the homoeopathic method requires years of study, understanding of the normal anatomy, physiology, and disease processes (pathology) of the Human body, and a special skill, together with a full grasp of Homoeopathic Medicines.
However, Homoeopathy has the capacity to be used safely and effectively by ordinary people in acute, traumatic and emergency situations. Where these events are clear and the homoeopathic treatment is known, then the appropriately selected homoeopathic medicine can be administered safely and with confidence by anyone.

Before taking any homoeopathic medicines, particularly if pregnant, or if you are in doubt about any of these issues, then please consult with your Health Care Provider.

Other Information:

Serious Adverse Reactions: Serious adverse reactions are rare in Homoeopathic Medicine because of the potential safety barrier provided by the Potentisation process. This does not mean that serious adverse reactions may not be impossible however, but are deemed to be statistically improbable based on the historical data accumulated from their clinical use. Historically, Potentised Homoeopathic Medicines have built a reputation for safety backed by the confidence and security of having been tested by practical clinical use over several generations and by millions of people around the world.

Over dosage: The potentisation process used in the manufacture of Homoeopathic Medicines reduces the possibility of consuming toxic quantities of Medicine, perhaps by someone inadvertently consuming a whole bottle at once. Inadvertent consumption of a whole bottle of medicine in one instant, is the same as taking two pills at one time, it is only one exposure. In Homoeopathic Medicine, for a response to occur from an exposure to a medicine, there must be a similarity between the symptoms that a disease is producing in a particular suffering person, and the symptoms that the particular medicine has the potential to produce in the same person. This is why in Homoeopathic Medicine, the wrong medicine is no medicine at all.
In any event of inadvertent consumption of any medicine please seek professional advice.
To avoid inadvertent consumption by children: KEEP MEDICINES OUT OF CHILDREN’S REACH

Unwanted Effects: It has been reported in some Homoeopathic literature that sometimes Homoeopathic Medicines may in some circumstances temporarily stimulate unwanted effects in some people. If any unwanted effects are experienced after commencing treatment with Homoeopathic Medicines, immediately stop the medicines and seek professional advice. Unwanted effects may occur in the following instances*:

* Over stimulation: In some circumstances, by constant and excessive repetition of a medicine, it may be possible to become over-stimulated by the medicine.
Please seek professional advice before changing the repetition frequency of prescribed medicines.
* Altered Relationships: Occasionally, concurrent underlying chronic disease may be unrecognisable due to the balance of existing unknown disease relationships or because the medical history is not known. Sometimes, Homoeopathic Medicines may change the balance of these relationships producing a change in the presenting symptoms. This may mean that symptoms can change with Homoeopathic Treatment, without the person feeling any better.
If your symptoms change, worsen or new symptoms develop after commencing Homoeopathic Treatment, stop the medicine and seek professional advice. (For example; a person suffering from Cold Sores may also unknowingly have acquired Genital Herpes concurrently without producing any symptoms of Genital Herpes. This is because there is a known relationship between Cold Sores and Genital Herpes in some people. Cold Sores can reduce the symptoms produced by Genital Herpes. Treating Cold Sores alone with Homoeopathic Medicine will wipe out the concurrent Cold Sore disease that is balancing the effect of Genital Herpes. This then may mean that the person will begin to feel the full effects of the Genital Herpes and will require Homoeopathic Treatment for this also).
* Aggravations: It has been reported in some Homoeopathic literature that on rare occasions in some people, some Homoeopathic Medicines may temporarily augment the symptoms of the disease for which they have been selected to treat. If your symptoms worsen after commencing Homoeopathic Treatment, stop the medicine and seek professional advice.
* Side Effects: It has been reported in some Homoeopathic Literature that on extremely rare occasions in some people, some Homoeopathic Medicines may stimulate temporary accessory symptoms. If new symptoms develop after commencing Homoeopathic Treatment, stop the medicine and seek professional advice.

Things that may reduce the effectiveness of Homoeopathic Treatment.

Eating & Drinking: When taking Homoeopathic Medicines, it is better to wait a few minutes prior to or after taking any other substance by mouth. Eating, drinking or brushing teeth may introduce substances in the mouth that can form a barrier that may prevent proper exposure to the medicine. Of course in an emergency, waiting will not be an option and the medicine should be administered regardless of any other circumstances.
Other Substances: There are many things that can effect Homoeopathic Treatment in different ways. For example, some things can change the relationship between the medicine and the disease, some things can damage the medicines before they are administered. It is not feasible to write about all of them. To safeguard your medicine(s) please note the following:
Protect all homoeopathic medicines from excessive heat, direct sunlight, strong odours, constant electrical/magnetic fields, microwaves/radiation, as well as camphor and menthol.
Two common substances that can potentially impede the action of Homoeopathic Medicines are Camphor and Menthol. There are many commonly used products that contain these substances, some of them are listed here: Vapour Rubs or Inhalers, Rubbing Balms, Aroma Oils, Insect Repellents, Chewing Gum, Throat Lozenges.
Please consult with your Healthcare Practitioner about other substances that you may be using.
Symptom History: A Medical History is important in Homoeopathic Science, and sometimes it can be hard to remember things that happened many years before. Occasionally, important information is not related or can be misconstrued during the consultation process.
Unknown Factors: Sometimes, some people fail to respond to selected Homoeopathic Medicines for unknown reasons. It may be due to not explaining their health complaint accurately, or to a misunderstanding between the patient and practitioner, possibly due to language problems. As Homoeopathic Treatment relies on accurate, subjective symptoms, it is sometimes difficult.
Further research in Homoeopathic Medicine may help to solve many unanswered questions.

Homoeopathic Practitioners cannot guarantee any response from Homoeopathic Treatment, nor can they ensure any time limit for response to treatment. Treatment is offered based on past experience of efficacy in accordance with published international best practice in Homoeopathic Medicine.