Consultation
A homeopathic prescription is based upon an extensive interview with the patient. During the initial consultation, which is very thorough and quite lengthy, the homeopath needs to carefully question the patient in order to build up a multi-dimensional picture to match one of the drug pictures and find the most appropriate remedy for that person. Several people all suffering with the same named disease, or a set of symptoms, may require completely different homeopathic medicines. A clinical examination may or may not be necessary.
The patient provides the needed information through a careful description of his or her symptoms. All symptoms are considered valid. Homeopath carefully listens to patient with an open mind and nonjudgmental manner. Often, it is a symptom that a patient considers irrelevant, perhaps peculiar, or rather strange, that actually helps the homeopath to select the most appropriate remedy. The homeopath will inquire into many aspects of the patient’s life. Sleep habits, disposition during awake hours, food preferences, bowel and bladder habits, mental and emotional characteristics, fears, effects of weather, sexual history, etc. are explored in the detail interview. A prescription is based on the totality of the symptoms – even if only one or few symptoms need to be treated at a given time – which makes homeopathy a holistic discipline.
Treatment progress
The patient’s progress is reviewed on subsequent visits and further prescriptions may be necessary. Although rapid results can by achieved particularly in acute illness; a more gradual improvement is expected in chronic illnesses and also when the person’s vitality is low (possibly as a result of previous illness, vaccination, or conventional drugs). It is not advisable to discontinue or reduce the dosage of allopathic/other medications already being taken without consultation with the homeopathic physician as well as the practitioner who prescribed them.