Beginning homeopathic treatment
What should I be looking for when I am choosing a homeopath?
First and foremost, you need to find someone you like and trust, since homeopathic care requires a fair amount of discussion about your physical, mental, and emotional state. A good homeopath should be a non-judgmental, excellent listener — an “unprejudiced observer,” as Hahnemann would say.
In addition to those qualities, however, you should also be comfortable with their level of education, experience, and case management philosophy. Has your homeopath studied homeopathy in depth? Are they certified in homeopathy or working under supervision of a certified homeopath? Do they prescribe more than one remedy at a time? How do they individualize their treatment? How will they communicate with you after the initial intake appointment?
You may be particularly interested in finding a homeopath who has a fair amount of experience in working with clients who have symptoms similar to yours. Some homeopaths do particularly well with children or have large numbers of clients with conditions such as autoimmune disorders, reproductive issues, or even cancer. No matter who you choose, it is important to remember that the homeopath is treating the person who has the condition, not the condition itself.
Finally, you should understand and be comfortable with your homeopath’s scope of practice, which differs depending on whether they are an MD, nurse, naturopath, or professional homeopath. Individuals seeking homeopathic care who are suffering from serious health conditions (e.g., asthma, clinical depression) are best monitored by licensed healthcare providers in addition to homeopathic treatment. For serious conditions, homeopathic care cannot be used as a substitute for conventional or emergency medical care.
I graduated from the Academy of Homeopathy Education as a classically trained homeopath and earned my national certification in 2023. I am not a medical doctor but have deep training in homeopathy (see the “Are homeopaths medical doctors?” section on the Learn page)
What should I expect during an appointment?
At Nomad Homeopathy, I block 2 hours for an initial intake appointment. During that time, I’ll guide you through the process but really you’re the one in the lead. It’s your time to talk about the physical, mental, and/or emotional symptoms that are bothering you most, when and how they started, and how you experience them. It’s my job to recognize and understand patterns as they relate to potential remedies, and I will often ask questions that may seem to have nothing to do with your chief complaint. Sometimes symptoms that seem insignificant can help point to a remedy when considered with the larger totality of your symptoms, such as your strong food cravings, over-the-top reaction to your neighbor’s dog or excessively hot weather, or even the theme of your nightmares .
For young children, the mother’s pregnancy and birth experience can potentially have a strong impact on the child’s state, and this insight can be helpful both in analyzing the child’s case and in supporting the mother if she’s interested in receiving homeopathic care.
Follow-up appointments can take as long as an hour but are often less, and are an opportunity to assess how your symptoms have changed. What seems better? Worse? The same? Has anything new come up? These answers are critical in understanding what to do next to promote steady improvement over time. Do we need to stay the course? Change the frequency or potency of the remedy? Change remedies? Stop dosing altogether?
Acute appointments are short - 30 minutes long or so - because the focus is on a recent, self-limiting condition. However, because acute conditions also tend to be more intense and the symptom picture changes more quickly, frequent follow-ups via text, email, or phone calls up to once or twice daily for a week are the norm.
How do I get the remedy?
When it comes to acute and chronic complaints, sometimes the recommended remedy and potency are readily available and can be found either in a home kit or at the local health food store (locally stocked remedies are often made by Boiron). At other times, the remedy or needed potency is not as common and needs to be ordered online. There are a number of good homeopathic pharmacies that ship online. I work with Hahnemann Labs in California, but may recommend another pharmacy depending on your location.
How do I take the remedy?
This depends — the initial recommendation on how to take the remedy (one dry dose, repeated liquid doses, etc.) comes from an assessment of a number of factors, including your overall level of health and potential obstacles to cure. When you receive your remedy recommendation, you will also receive instructions on how to take it. These recommendations may change depending on how you respond to the remedy, so good communication is key!
What happens if my symptoms change/get worse/old symptoms come back?
Tell me! Usually we plan on an informal email check-in within a week or two of starting a remedy, but if there is a significant change before then, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Understanding and responding correctly to these situations can be complex but is the key to seeing steady improvement over time.
Can I still take my prescription medications?
Yes. Any decision about reducing/changing prescription medications is one that you should make with your doctor, not me.
If I get a cold/flu/cough/ earache/insomnia can I take an over-the-counter homeopathic remedy while under chronic treatment?
No. There are times when acute homeopathic prescribing is called for, but if you’re already under chronic homeopathic care, it’s better to talk to me rather than self-prescribe.
where can I learn more?
There are so many great books out there about homeopathy. Here’s a starter list, including two long-time personal favorites by Ann Jerome and Mirando Castro.