Dr. Rukshin Master

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON HOMOEPATHY

1. What are the three levels of homoeopathic therapy?

Level 1: First Aid

Homoeopathy can be used in first aid to safely treat common ailments and occurrences, such as sprains and bruises, minor burns, skin irritations and reactions (including poison ivy, diaper rash and insect bites), teething pain, etc.

Level 2: Acute Homoeopathy

Acute health problems temporary conditions, such as colds, flu, coughs, sprains, fever, headaches, diarrhoea, cramps, acute muscle spasms, tonsillitis, asthma, earache, toothache and any acute infections like UTI, typhoid, viral fevers, dengue, etc.

Level 3: Constitutional Homoeopathy

Constitutional homoeopathy refers to the treatment of a person as a whole, including past and present symptoms. When accurately implemented, homoeopathic constitutional care can produce a profound healing response. Homoeopathy can be extremely effective in treating chronic and long-term health problems. Example, Chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, increased Cholesterol, Rheumatism, arthritis, thyroid disorders, etc.

Skin diseases for example, like eczema, psoriasis, acne, dry skin, pigmentations, allergic dermatitis, etc can also be greatly helped.

Homoeopathy also has recently proved itself in treating Cancer patients as well as assisting patients with their side effects from radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

2. Can children be given Homoeopathy?

Children especially should be given homoeopathy. Their bodies are even more sensitive to strong chemical compounds and heavy medications than adults. If they are treated with Homoeopathy from childhood they can develop stronger immune systems and be healthier adults than those that are not on Homoeopathy.

3. Is Homoeopathy slow to act?

This is the most popular myth about homoeopathy but it is not true in all the cases. In fact, if the choice of medicine is correct the patient would show immediate signs of improvement. In acute diseases the response time is within minutes while in chronic diseases it can extend to days; it all depends on your disease state.

4. Can Homoepathy help in Psychiatric diseases?

Psychiatric diseases like Mood disorders, schizophrenia, acute psychosis, anxiety disorders, depression, OCD’s etc. see some of the best results from Homoeopathic treatment. Patients that are on psychiatric treatment are addicted to their medications. They need a constant supply of mood elevators and anti-anxiety medications in their system. If they skip a dose, it can lead to their body over reacting and going into aggravation.

Homoepathy tries helping the patient first by identifying the cause of their illness. If it is due to emotional shock, anger, sadness or a deep seated loneliness. After which it addresses that emotional sphere of the patient thus trying to cure them by helping them face their problem and being in a position to deal with it.

Once the physician is able to stabilize the patient with homoeopathy, anti-psychiatric drugs can also be weaned off leaving the patient disease free.

5. Is it ok to take Homoeopathy along with my Regular ongoing medications?

This depends on what condition you are taking medication for.

In certain chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes it is not advisable to stop your medications immediately as your body is used to functioning with those medications. Hence, you can continue your medications in conditions like this.

Another reason why it wouldn’t be advisable to continue both would be that the homoeopathic physician wouldn’t be able to judge which medication is helping his patient and how to adjust the dosage for the same.

6. Is Homoeopathy placebo?

You could refer to the “Efficacy of Homoeopathy” section for this answer

7. Where is homoeopathy popular?

Homoeopathy is particularly popular in France, England, Germany, Greece, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa. Approximately 40% of the French public have used homoeopathic medicines, and 39% of the French physicians have prescribed the medicines. About 20% of German physicians occasionally utilize these natural medicines, and 45% of Dutch physicians consider them effective. According to a survey in the British Medical Journal (June 7, 1986), 42% of British physicians survey refer patients to homoeopathic physicians, and a New York Times article reported that visits to British homoeopaths is growing at a rate of 39% a year.

Despite these impressive statistics, homoeopathy is particularly popular in India where there are over 120 four-year homoeopathic medical schools.

Homoeopathy is also growing very rapidly in the United States. Market research shows that sales of homoeopathic medicines have grown at a rate of 10-20% per year during the past ten years.

Many of the most famous people and cultural heroes of the past 200 years have been known to use and/or advocate for homoeopathy, including 11 U.S. Presidents and dozens of world leaders, 7 popes and numerous other spiritual leaders, literary greats, sports superstars, world-class musicians & articles, and corporate leaders.

8. Are homoeopathic medicines safe?

Absolutely! Homoeopathic medicines are given in sub-physiological doses. They do not have any chemicals or added colors in them. Usually they do not have any side effects and they cannot cause any structural damage in general. They are safe for infants and pregnant women too. But homoeopathic medicines often have very profound action on human economy, so they should not be taken without consultation with a qualified homoeopath.

Homoeopathic medicines act by stimulating body’s own defense mechanism to correct the process which has lead to the disease condition. Medicines tell the body ‘What to do?’ – the actual work is done by the body itself.

9. What dietary measures and life-style changes are required under homoeopathic treatment?

In General only those dietary and lifestyle changes are recommended which would be specific to your disease. Let’s say sugar restriction for a Diabetic or Salt restriction for a Hypertensive patient; but nothing other than that. If a food-substance is playing a causative, maintaining, or aggravating factor, only then it should be avoided.Homoeopathic medicines act on a very deep plane; so they are usually not affected by routine dietary articles and the routine stress of our lives.

However a Good doctor will always recommend to you what you should be eating, which foods have positive effects in treating your disease. Those will be told to you once you start Homoeopathic treatment.

10. Do homoeopathic medicines have steroids?

No. It is a misconception that has been developing in the recent times. Due in many cases after seeing the improvement in a very short time people think that homoeopaths give steroids.

All Homoeopathic medicines are prepared by using scientific predefined methods of extracting the medicinal properties from source substances. There is no scope or need to adulterate the derived medicines with any other substances, as this would completely obliterate the curative properties of the same. The prescription of homoeopathic medicines is based on the similarity of the symptoms of the patient with those produced by the drug (in its purest form) when proved (clinical trials) in healthy individuals. So any addition to the original medicine would completely alter its medicinal properties and hence alter it non-curative. Also if steroid is added the medicines will taste bitter.

If the patient has any doubts he should check the medicines from a standard laboratory before consuming any quantity.

Patients could perform the Liebermann Buchard test, Calorimetric method using Tetrazolium blue salts. This will give a False Positive Result proving the absence of steroids in your Homoeopathic Medicine.