Homoeopathic treatment begins with an interview in which your detailed case-history is taken. This can take an hour or more. I need to know as much as possible about you in order to assess your case properly. Apart from the reason(s) you have come for treatment, this might include details of past illnesses and how you have experienced them, your general energy level, food and temperature preferences, and generally how you live and feel within and about yourself. Naturally, anything you say will be treated with the strictest confidence.
After the interview, I will prescribe a remedy or remedies, usually in the form of tablets, pills or even liquids that, when taken, should be allowed to dissolve on your tongue. Nothing else should be placed in the mouth for about 20 minutes before or after taking the remedy. This includes food, coffee, tea, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and strong-tasting or smelling substances such as mints and toothpaste. Some homeopaths believe these things may interfere with the action of the remedy, as well as recent dental treatment, recreational drugs, and any medication you may be taking. However, this tends very much to depend on the individual patient and their constitution. After all, trials have indicated that homeopathy works in Italy1-4 which is a nation well known for its love of strong coffee!5
Bellavite P, Ortolani R, Pontarollo F, Piasere V, Benato G, Conforti A. Immunology and homeopathy. 4. Clinical studies-part 1. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2006;3(3):293-301.
2. Bellavite P, Ortolani R, Pontarollo F, Piasere V, Benato G, Conforti A. Immunology and homeopathy. 4. Clinical studies-part Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2006;3(4):397-409.
Rossi E, Endrizzi C, Panozzo MA, Bianchi A, Da Frè M. Homeopathy in the public health system: a seven-year observational study at Lucca Hospital (Italy). Homeopathy. 2009 Jul;98(3):142-8.
Dominici G, Bellavite P, di Stanislao C, Gulia P, Pitari G. Double-blind, placebo-controlled homeopathic pathogenetic trials: symptom collection and analysis. Homeopathy. 2006 Jul;95(3):123-30.
