Over-the-counter or over to the professionals?

A park bench, somewhere in West London. Sounds of children playing, faint hum of traffic. An almighty sneeze, followed by nose blowing.

Mia:            “Bad?”

Rosie:         “Blasted steroid allergy, the doctor has run out of ideas. I just get a massive rash on top of the sneezing. I’ve tried all sorts”.

Mia:            “What about homeopathy?”

Rosie:         “Yeah, I tried that – didn’t work”

Mia:            “What did you take, then?”

Rosie:          “Oh, I don’t know – some homeopathic mix for hayfever. The chemist said to try it. Useless.”

Sound of sniffling, sneezing, nose-blowing.

Mia:            “Have you tried talking to an actual homeopath?”

Rosie:         “No, what for? – it doesn’t work.”

Mia:            “Why do you think they train for years?”

Rosie:         “Do they?”

Mia:            “Yeah. Three years full time for a BSc”

Rosie:         “A degree in homeopathy?!”

Mia:            “So how could some product from the chemist do the same job? A proper homeopath can spend hours working with you.”

Rosie:         “What for?”

Mia:            “That way you get the specific remedy that’s right for you. It’s not about the hayfever, or the migraine, or the eczema, or whatever – it’s got to fit the person who’s got those symptoms. YOU!“

Rosie:         “Alright, let’s have a phone number then. I can at least ask someone a question or two”

Mia:            “Try Therapy Directory – they’re online. Just pick ‘homeopathy’ and put in your postcode.”

A salvo of sneezing, rustling of paper tissue, sniffing sounds.

Mia:            “Bless you!”

This is a typical scene: self-limiting health condition, unpleasant symptoms, but there are limits to effective medical solutions, what to do so that spring and summer won’t be a misery? Many people reach for brightly packaged, well marketed, over-the-counter (OTC) ‘homeopathic’ remedy mixtures. And find they don’t work. Whether one of these remedies will work for you is effectively a lottery. 

If an OTC remedy happens to match your symptoms, it will work. If it isn’t a match, it cannot work. Individualisation, proper assessment and follow-up with a professional is what makes a remedy homeopathic (matching symptoms to remedy and matching remedy to patient response). Homeopathic remedies can be prescribed by a medical doctor with add-on homeopathy training, or by a professional homeopath. Examples of individualised hayfever treatments are shown in this research abstract: http://www.homeopathyjournal.net/article/S1475-4916(16)00011-4/abstract

A responsible homeopath will always work complementary to your GP and other healthcare providers, and will want to be sure that you have sought appropriate medical advice. 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author. All articles published on Therapy Directory are reviewed by our editorial team.

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London, NW10 5QX
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Written by Suse Moebius, BSc (hons) RSHom
London, NW10 5QX

Suse Moebius is in private practice in Kensal Rise, North-West London. With 17 years experience under her belt, she frequently works with people suffering with hayfever and the whole spectrum of atopic conditions, as well as many other health problems. Suse's practice is complementary, supporting general health care.

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