How to prepare for my first homeopathy appointment?

[lakeruby]

I'm traveling a long way to meet with a homeopath at the end of the month, and I'm getting nervous. What should I expect? I want to make sure I get as much out of this as possible, since it's quite expensive and I won't be able to see her regularly (I can call her, though).

Any advice on how to prepare?
Thanks!

[mamefati28]

I just had my first and am going to my follow up in an hour.
I would begin a list now of things that are coming up for you (concerns, questions) etc. Something that you can take along to make sure you cover everything. I realized that I did not mention a lot of things due to being overwhelmed.
Be prepared to answer A LOT of questions
Intake form if they require one
good luck!

[Panserbjorne]

It somewhat depends on what kind of homeopath you are seeing....but here are some generals things that tend to help everyone:

I would begin by writing down a brief timeline....what happened in your life, when and how it affected you. Again, brief-just jot down notes.

Then list all the things that affect you on a regular basis and take a significant amount of your time, energy and attention. What are the pressing issues?

Consider when else in your life these complaints have manifested. "The only other time I've had this was during finals in college, or when we moved to a new state when I was a kid, or after my first pet died I felt something similar to this."

Then think a bit about how those things present. By this I mean, "I get massive migraines, but they always hit when I am angry, they always start on the left side, they happen only in the mornings."

Talk about the quality of pain/discomfort if there is any. "I get massive migraines and it's like someone is sticking nails into my skull, or beating my head with a hammer, or a drill boring into my head" etc.

Then write down what makes each of those things worse, or better. For instance, "I get massive migraines, but I feel so much better if I can eat a hot meal, or if I can lie down" etc.

That should pretty much cover you! That will give you a big old head start. Good luck and have fun! Remember too that a homeopath's job is to tease out what they need to know.

[lakeruby]

Thanks! That's really helpful. I will work on making those lists this week!

[annette23]

I used to use homeopathy. A while ago there was a campaign to raise awareness about what homeopathy is and I was initially dismissive of it. But their message surprised me. they claimed that there was no active ingredient in it. This surprised me. The packaging obviously lists ingredients. This got me looking into it a little more though. The process of manufacture dilutes the ingredients until there is, quite literally, none of it left. I was thinking that this was absurd until I read what the New Zealand Council of Homeopaths had to say on the matter. :/

Point one is especially worrying. If there is no material substance, what is there that acts on the body? NZHoC even admitted that they don't know how it works (turns out it's just a really expensive placebo) and that more research needs to be done.

I pose this question; If more research needs to be done, how can they ethically sell this to patients?

LakeRuby, if you're set on going, I would recommend that make sure you don't have any serious ailments you are seeking treatment of. The only thing they can cure you of is thirst and the weight in your wallet. If it's a placebo treatment you're after, grab a coffee with a good friend that will let you talk about anything that is on your mind. It'll work just as well.

Regards,
Annette
[just a little miffed at how much I've wasted on this stuff over the years]

[gilamama]

most homeopathic remedies are diluted to the point where there is none of the original substance left (some do have some left). this is because homeopathy is a form of energy medicine so the physical substance is not what does the healing like with herbalism or western medicine. the dilution is the means of extracting the energy. so a more diluted remedy is a more powerful one and homeopathy has profound physical effects, this has been documented with research and i and others can vouch for this. ppl who have not felt the effects of homeopathy have probably not taken the right remedy. like with western medicine sometimes it is a process to get to the exactly righ perscription, sometimes it happens first try.
blessing on your healing path! -gila