What Is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a therapy that treats the whole person, utilizing the healing capacity of the body’s energy or “vital force.” The vital force is what makes all of us more than just our physical components and biochemical reactions. When the vital force is adversely affected by disease, it creates symptoms – signs that the body is trying to defend against a disturbance. Symptoms disappear when the disease is eliminated. True health in homeopathic terms is present when a person experiences complete freedom of mind, body and spirit.

What Kinds of Ailments Can Homeopathy Treat?

Homeopathy can treat almost all mental or physical illness. As a general rule, the stronger the vital force, the more quickly a patient will advance toward health.

Homeopathic Remedies

Remedies are extremely dilute, natural substances that stimulate the vital force to function to its full capacity. Remedies work through the “Law of Similars”, which can be stated, “like cures like.” In other words, when a substance reproduces symptoms of illness in an individual, it stimulates that person’s own defense mechanisms to eliminate the illness. There are over 3,000 homeopathic remedies but only one that exactly matches the disease state of an individual; it requires a trained homeopath to recognize this remedy. Through their special preparation, homeopathic remedies are rendered non-toxic while their potency is actually increased through a combination of dilution and succussion (shaking.) Thus, inert substances can become powerful medicines, and toxic ones can become safe and curative. Homeopathy therefore has the advantage of avoiding the side-effects of conventional drugs, and can be used in conjunction with them.

What is a Typical Course of Treatment?

Your first homeopathic interview will take about two hours. During this time Beth will ask you about all areas of your life; many patients report feeling better even before the first remedy because they enjoy the process of discussing their physical and mental health.

After the first interview you will receive a homeopathic remedy. Depending on your condition, the first follow-up visit generally occurs four to six weeks later and takes about forty-five minutes. The number of visits you will need depends upon your response to the remedy. Relief can occur in a time frame similar to the onset of the disease. In acute diseases, relief can occur within a few hours to a day or two. In chronic illness, improvement is slow and gradual; improvement time depends on the severity and duration of the illness and previous use of conventional treatments.

About Flower and Gem Essences:

Beth also works with flower and gem essences. Unlike homeopathy, flower and gem essences are not potentized, so they work more slowly. You need to take them several times a day over an extended period to see deep changes, although you may experience immediate emotional relief upon taking them. When Beth makes an essence mix, she combines several essences tailored to your individual needs. Flower and gem essences work very well in combination with homeopathy.

Beth has an on-going practice of making her own flower and gem essences. Many of these essences are made from California native plants that she encounters on her hikes.  To make an essence, place a flower, plant or gem in a bowl of distilled water and then set the bowl in the sun for about three hours. The sun’s rays transfer the energetic properties of the plant to the water.  Essences are relatively easy to make, and Beth occasionally gives her clients the “homework” of making their own essences when plants that will help them that are locally available.