As he was translating a book by Cullen on medicines and their uses, Hahnemann challenged the ideas about how such medicines might work. This led him to take the substance himself so he could experience and describe its effects on a healthy human being. Repeating this type of experiment with other healthy volunteers (these experiments were called "provings") led him to observe and describe the basic principles of homeopathic medicine. Homeopathy has now been in practice for over 200 years and continues to grow in its popularity.

permanent side effects – they are a perfect choice of therapy.

Homeopathic remedies are specially made in homeopathic pharmacies from any substance in the natural world. Remedies are prepared by a specialized method of serial dilution and succussion which liberate the healing properties within the substance.

How do we know what the remedies can do?
Every remedy used by practitioners undergoes what we call a "proving".

A proving is our method of research into what the potential action of a remedy is - in other words, what symptoms it is capable of producing (physically and mentally) in healthy individuals (never on animals), can then be used in an individual suffering from similar symptoms to produce a healing response. This is referred to as "The Law of Similars" or "like cures like" and is one of the guidelines to prescribing.

After each proving of a remedy, the information gained is validated (through symptoms experienced, clinical experience and observation), collated and then finally recorded in the Materia Medica (reference book of remedies). Any symptoms that were produced in the provers during that time will subside once the remedy is ceased and they return to their previous health state, leaving no lasting side effects. It is the serial dilution and succussion of these remedies that ensures their safety.

Today, there are over 2000 remedies available to choose from for treatment and the list continues to grow.

Homeopathy is a therapeutic system. Its principles differ from those of conventional medicine, as does its approach to the patient and to the concept of ill health. However, it cannot replace all other forms of health care. It can be used as the treatment of first choice in a wide range of conditions such as coughs and colds etc and can be a useful addition, or "complement" in other situations, for example, to support good recovery after operations etc.

action so to ensure you get the best out of your remedies:
• Ensure that you store the remedy in a cool dark place preferably away from electronic devices.
• Avoid taking the medicine within half an hour of drinking coffee (including decaffeinated), eating and brushing
   your teeth, unless you use a mint-free toothpaste, as these substances can inactivate the medicines.
• Keep the medicine away from certain essential oils. These include peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, camphor,   
   rosemary and thyme. These oils also inactivate the medicine.
• If travelling with homeopathics, try and prevent them from going through x-ray machines and ask the customs if
   they can hand them to you on the other side of the screening process. I have never had a problem if you show
   them the bottle and explain that they are homeopathic medicines or better still, get a letter from your
   Homeopath before travelling.

medical history, family history, physiological and emotional wellbeing and general information about you as a person.

Often the practitioner will want to know whether you feel better or worse at particular times of the day, in the warmth or cool, moving or being still, and so on. They will ask whether you've noticed other things that make you feel better or worse or whether you have any particular food cravings or aversions. They will also ask about how you are feeling within yourself. Are you feeling stressed, irritable, anxious or extremely happy and at ease. What kinds of situations stimulate certain reactions from you? All this information leads to the prescription of the right remedy for you.

Follow-up consultations - Usually take 30 to 45 minutes and the questions asked are primarily concerned with assessing your response to your prescription and to make a future treatment plan. Even when symptoms have improved, the treatment may need to be adjusted or changed in order to maintain further progress.

Acute consultations - Can take up to 30 mins and are aimed at the treatment of acute symptoms such as coughs and colds, flu's, infections, bumps and bruises etc.

Lisa is also able to provide free talks to groups or in-services to hospital staff who are interested in understanding more about homeopathy and its benefits. Please email or call to book.

Being a client of homeopathy means your making a commitment to your health. It involves you participating and taking responsibility for your health and allowing me to support you through the healing process. Your active participation, cooperation in following directions and your understanding and patience with a unique process which is aimed ultimately to bring you the best possible results.