The questionnaire will also help to provide reference information for the future, and I will update it as things change and improve.

 

Normally I start the Principal consultation by asking you for a description of the condition - or conditions - for which you are seeking treatment.  The questions will be quite detailed.  For instance, if you are suffering from some form of headache, I will ask about the nature of the pain: is it stabbing, shooting, throbbing, burning, aching, etc?  What is its precise location?  Is the pain deep inside the head, superficial, or does the pain move?  What makes it better?  Or worse?  I will also ask about any other physical mental complaints that might be occurring at the same time.

 

After we have discussed the main conditions, I will ask questions about different aspects of your life.  This provides me with a complete picture, and helps to choose the remedy that most closely fits you as an individual; Homeopathic treatment is tailored to your personal characteristics as well as the medical condition.  I will also ask about the quality of your life.  How vital and energetic do you feel?  How does food, weather, time of day or even time of year affect you?  I would like you to be as candid as possible – nothing is too trivial or insignificant.  Many patients have an innate or intuitive sense of why something is happening in their life, and I welcome these insightful comments.  At some point, depending on the condition, I may also need to do a physical examination. And if you have any other information pertaining to your condition, please bring it along.

 

Do not hesitate to mention something that happened a long time ago or something that you consider to be unusual or irrelevant. Do share with me as much as you can, as I will base my prescription on the analysis of all the factors which have contributed to your current discomfort, be it physical or emotional, current or from distant past.

 

Principal consultation normally last from 60 to 90 minutes depending on the patient.

 

Standard (follow-up) Consultation.

 

Usually I would like to see the new patient for the second consultation in few weeks. At the beginning of the treatment I prefer to keep in contact with the patient all the time to see the reaction on the remedies and the progress of the treatment. You can contact me by e-mail of phone. As your treatment progresses I would advise you to see me every 4 or 6 weeks. Some remedies take longer to work especially deep constitutional remedies.

 

During the Standard consultations I normally assess your health after taking the remedies and adjust the treatment plan accordingly. Although it varies from person to person, but changes and improvements are usually seen between each consultation. Some people can see dramatic improvements in a very short period of time, and for others it can take slightly longer. After taking a homeopathic remedy, you may feel an increase in energy as your immune system is lifted and the healing process begins. Homeopathic medicine treats the whole person, so you can expect to experience improvement on all levels - physical, mental and emotional not just the disappearance of your initial symptoms.

 

During the treatment you may feel or experience a slight worsening of symptoms or some old symptoms return briefly before disappearing for good.   You may simply feel a little better day by day, and over time you will notice improvements in energy or feel happier and more relaxed.  A temporary aggravation of symptoms indicates that healing is happening, and is a good sign. Please call for reassurance if you are concerned.

 

You might get cold or cough between your appointments, if the illness is unrelated to anything you have experienced in the past, and you know others who have a similar illness (there is something going around and you have 'caught' it), then you might be able to use homeopathy to help you through it. If you get a fever it is generally inadvisable to suppress a fever. Fevers are one of the body's self-healing mechanisms and actually help your body to fight infection. As long as your temperature is not too high it is healthier to let nature take its course. Rest and sleep as much as possible. Drink plenty of fluids and eat only if you feel hungry. A light diet will give your digestion a rest and help your body to recover faster too.

 

In all cases, the aim of homeopathy is to help you to heal quickly, gently and permanently. And because homeopathy works by strengthening your own immune system and healing response – you will find that you are generally much healthier and able to recover from any other illnesses that may occur – or avoid them altogether!

 

The effects of a homeopathic remedy (even a single dose) can last for several weeks and sometimes several months. Homeopaths are trained to recognize what are new symptoms, and when symptoms may be due to an aggravation of the original disease, so if you are not sure which kind of consultation you need then please ask.  Sometimes, what may seem like an acute illness is actually a flare up of a bigger underlying problem which will require a longer consultation.

 

Standard consultation normally last from 30 to 50 minutes.

 

Length of homeopathic treatment.

 

This depends on what sort of illness is being treated as well as other individual characteristics.  A broad indication is that diseases that have been slow to develop over a period of time will take longer to resolve.  Other more recent or acute complaints may be quicker to cure.

 

On the Principal consultation I will discuss a treatment plan for you and then will be in a better position to advise how long your treatment is going to last. For some chronic conditions it might take from 6 to 12 months to completely eliminate your problem.  

 

Homeopathy encourages a patient to think through their problem, and see how it has developed. It is very important to eliminate the maintaining causes of the present condition; otherwise the problem might come back. A good example is if additives and chemicals in food make a child hyperactive symptoms will remain until the child switches to a healthy diet. To make the process of the treatment shorter and more efficient special diet and supplements are often advised. And, once a point of cure has been reached, regular check-ups can help you maintain good health and prevent chronic illness.

 

Confidentiality.

 

Anything you share with me is treated with complete confidence. The notes I take are not accessible to anyone else but me.

 

Cost.

 

My patients will receive all the homeopathic remedies that I prescribe on your appointments and in-between. I don’t send my patients to the pharmacy to buy the remedies unless the patient lives abroad. The cost of the homeopathic remedies includes into consultation fee. However the cost of the herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements are not included into consultation fee.  

I charge different fees in my clinics.  If you would like to find out my charges please contact me.  

 

Homeopathic remedies.

 

They are generally in the form of small, pleasant tasting pills, which you allow to dissolve in your mouth. Sometimes you will be given the remedy in a powder or liquid form. As long as they are kept in a cool place out of direct heat or light, they will stay effective indefinitely.

 

Conventional medicine.

 

As each therapeutic system is working on different levels of the body there is no danger of contraindications. Homeopathic remedies work well alongside most conventional medicines. It may be important to have your doctor monitor the medications you are taking as your requirements for long-term drugs may change during the course of homeopathic treatment. You should never discontinue your conventional medications without consulting your medical doctors.

 

Contacting me.

 

Please contact me if you have any questions about your treatment or any unusual symptoms. If I am unavailable, please send me an email or leave a message on the answerphone and I will return your call as soon as I can within the next 24 hours. The best time to phone is between 9am and 5pm most weekdays. I do not return the calls during the weekends. If I am away for an extended period of time I will leave an alternative number where you can get advice.

 

Home visits.

 

Home visits may be arranged for some family appointments, the elderly or disabled people. There is an additional charge of £20 plus parking and congestion charge (if applicable)

 

Telephone and email advice

 

Telephone advice between consultations for the existing patients is free, and you are welcome to phone with queries, or to let me know how you are after taking your remedy.  If you need treatment for new symptoms in the period immediately following a consultation, and you phone for advice then there are also no further charges as the symptoms are usually associated with the original illness being treated.

 

However, if you are not receiving regular treatment, are not between appointments or have not seen me in the past  four weeks,  and you would like to be treated for an acute illness (eg flu, minor injuries or a sore throat etc), then you should request an acute consultation by phone. 

 

After a short consultation (about 15 minutes) a remedy will be prescribed which you can either collect in the usual way, or select from your homeopathy kit.  The fee of £20 is payable only once no matter how many times you need to call for advice or a new remedy during the course of  the acute illness.  Before phoning for an acute consultation you may find it useful to note the main symptoms and consider any possible causes.

 

However if you are unable to contact me or I am on holiday, then I advise you to call the Homeopathic Helpline on 0906 534 3404, which is open from 9am to midnight every day of the year and costs £1.53/min for a call of up to 10 minutes.  If necessary you will be recommended a remedy to purchase from a pharmacy.

 

Appointment Cancellation Policy.

 

If you must cancel your appointment, you need to contact me no less 48 hours in advance to avoid a missed appointment charge. Appointments cancelled between 48 and 24 hours before your scheduled appointment will be charged half the appointment fee. If you do not contact me, forget your appointment, or notify me less than 24 hours in advance, you will be charged the full appointment fee.

 

Insurance and Code of Ethics

 

I am a fully insured registered member of the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths. I am bound by the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths Code of Ethics and Practice - a copy of which may be viewed at my practice room.