Anyone who has ever visited a Homeopath, knows only too well the strange and unusual
questions that they are asked. This is because the Homeopath needs to understand
THE PATIENT, not just symptoms and a disease diagnosis.
Each new patient booking an appointment is sent out a questionnaire to complete and
bring to their first appointment, together with (if available), any medical test
results, reports, X-rays, etc., and a list of any ongoing prescribed drugs.
The initial appointment takes 80 – 90 minutes, and investigates the following details:-
- Observation is made of the appearance, demeanour, skin colouring, form, size height,
weight, vitality, responses, nails, tongue, eyes, etc.
- Current conditions, previous medical history and family medical history (if known).
- Enquiry into the nature of the symptoms is made, the intensity and the frequency
as to their repetition, and also as to whether any other symptoms appear at the same
time, or if they are alternating (e.g. lung symptoms alternating with skin symptoms.
- Any precipitating causations to the onset of the symptoms, be they physical (e.g.
car accident) or be they mental/emotional (e.g. family tragedy).
- Any circumstances or conditions that make the symptoms better or worse (e.g. heat,
cold, walking, lying, pressure, outdoors, confined spaces, sunshine, etc.) are crucial
to understand, as this information confirms THE INDIVIDUAL way that a symptom or
set of symptoms affects that unique person.
- The nature, quantity and frequency of all body discharges has to be considered, so
it is advisable to mention any recent changes, (e.g. mucous, perspiration, urine,
faeces, periods etc.).
- Eating habits, food desires and aversions; aggravations, and allergies are considered
in this section.
- Hobbies and interests , as they indicate the element of joy taken from life.
- Sleep, so crucial to allow cell tissues to repair themselves, needs to be a regular,
good quality constant in everyone’s life. Details relating to sleeping habits, dreams,
position usually adopted to sleep, amount of coverings, needs for fresh air or windows
closed, any sleepwalking, sleep talking, snoring habits tells the Homeopath a great
deal about essential needs in a person. Any insomnia, especially if there is a regular
wakeful period in the night is important. The refreshment quality on waking indicates
how much benefit the mind and body have received from the overnight rest. Some people
have sleepy episodes in the daytime. Some people are “night owls”, whereas others
prefer to be “up with the larks”.
- The mental functions of understanding, memory and concentration, are essential to
have any appreciation of life, and the WILL is the indicator to a person’s ability
and desire to get out of bed in a morning.
To summarize; the Homeopath needs to understand what makes the client function –
all that is important to them, their life’s purpose, their very essence and will
to live. Happy contented emotions are crucial to health. Any struggles, be they mentally,
emotionally, or spiritually must to be made clear to the Homeopath in order that
they can bring about balance and harmony of body and mind.
There is a Hierarchy within the human being – this Hierarchy considers that the Spirit
is more important than the Mind, which is more important than the Emotions, which
is in turn more important than the Physical Body, and that within the physical body,
the Brain is the most important organ and the Skin is the least important level.
The appreciation of this understanding helps the Homeopath measure the patient’s
progress. One of Constantine Hering’s greatest contributions to Homeopathy was to
realize that there are four directions that indicate cure is happening:-
- Symptoms should move in a direction from above to below in the body
- Symptoms should move in a direction from within to without in the body
- Symptoms should move from a deeper level to a more superficial level, and
- Symptoms should reappear in the reverse order to which they came about - all as part
of the path towards a true cure.
Drawing a time line to show how ill-health has progressed helps to demonstrate how
that model is being fulfilled.
In order to achieve the best results from a Homeopathic consultation, openness and
honesty in providing all necessary information to the Homeopath is imperative. This
will allow the Homeopath to accurately prescribe your constitutional remedy – the
Similimum to you and your symptom picture, thus enabling your body to restore itself
to optimum best health.
FOLLOW UP appointments are usually about 30 – 40 minutes. An assessment of progress
is made and any further remedy(ies) prescribed. There are some conditions that have
to be observed when under Homeopathic treatment that can be downloaded under HOMEOPATHIC
TREATMENT NOTES FOR PATIENTS.