How to do well in homoeopathic practice

The simple guidelines to start Homoeopathic practice are as mentioned below:

· The simplest way: Start the treatment by prescribing a Homeopathic remedy which covers the totality of the patients’ general, physical and mental characteristics.

· Homeopathic superficial & deep acting remedy:Certain homeopaths prescribe a superficial acting homeopathic remedy (a remedy covering the physical, local or pathological signs and symptoms) with the intention of relieving the patient immediately (or palliating the condition in irreversible states), and periodically prescribe the constitutional or deeper acting homeopathic remedy at intervals, with the intention of a longer and sustained homeopathic cure.

· Homeopathic Dosage: You can prescribe the homeopathic remedy initially, then take a break, and resume the dosage if the condition relapses. For e.g. 3 doses of a homeopathic medicine can be prescribed on the first day, followed by placebo for a week. Reanalyze the condition and if the condition demands so, repeat the dosage.

· Homeopathic Palliation: In conditions which need palliation, the chosen remedy can be prescribed daily, the potency of which will vary with the intensity of the condition.

· Zigzag mode of Homeopathic treatment:This is useful in cases which present numerous symptoms and no clear indication for a single remedy. Start with the main indicated remedy which covers the totality of the most characteristic symptoms. As the signs and symptoms change or the degree of the symptoms change, the remedy or potency changes too. Be careful to distinguish between symptoms of the homeopathic remedy and those of the patient as you may prove the remedy in some cases. Do give time for things to subside and don’t be impulsive.

· Intercurrent Homeopathic remedies:Remedies such as Psorinum, Thuja, Tuberculinum, Syphilinum etc play a vital role in stimulating cases which does not yield any results.

· Homeopathic remedy classification into kingdoms and groups:There are numerous authors who have classified remedies into different groups or kingdoms and the symptoms common to them (Plant, Animal, Minerals and their subkingdoms). Definitely worth reading to get an understanding of their common symptoms and will help you streamline and classify patients as well. However, do not indulge into this if you aren’t familiar with the basic keynotes of homeopathic remedies. Your decisions can become biased and you will tend to ignore remedies which actually need to be prescribed.

· Prescribing Homeopathic remedies based on single keynote symptoms: Traditionally homeopaths have done this and an excellent tool when time is the essence. The results can be fantastic provided the symptom matches the exact symptoms (keynote, 3rd degree) as in the MM (e.g as in Allen or Boericke MM). Not as easy as you may think as you need to be a keen observer with thorough knowledge of these Homeopathic keynotes.

· Homeopathic Doctrine of signature: You may be aware that numerous remedies in Homeopathy are compared to their natural state or existence. A plant or animal’s anatomy or behavior when resembles a certain facet of our patient has useful relevancy and can be the guiding sign or symptom. Do not get carried away with this notion as it can be disastrous and misleading. You may have read published articles where homeopaths prescribe an animal remedy simply because the traits were like an animal; or, a remedy from the plant kingdom as the patients showed some vulnerability etc. You will end up becoming prejudiced, so be cautious. Do not ignore what is in front of you while creating some mysterious interpretation in your mind.

· Rely on Homeopathic remedies which have been proven and documented: Do not indulge into prescribing homeopathic remedies which haven’t been proven thoroughly or lacks clinical data. Relying on a handful of cases isn’t sufficient. If in doubt apply the same in your practice and judge for yourself. In the recent past a limited number of homeopathic remedies are repeatedly presented and documented in Homeopathic Magazines by ‘Classical Homeopaths’. They seem to have forgotten our common polychrest remedies and repetitively mention unknown and non-proven remedies. Very misleading indeed!

· Don’t be obsessed by the term “Classical Homeopathy”If you practice homeopathy as per the ‘Organon’ you are a classical homeopath, automatically. The word ‘Classical’ simply means that you practice homeopathy as per Hahnemann’s rules and does not necessarily mean that you indulge into taking lengthy case and family histories, as most new to homeopathy feel.

· See cases as they are and not as you imagined it to be:Only if you have a thorough knowledge of most of the homeopathic remedies can you make a sound prescription. If you are thorough only with the polychrest remedies and fail to appreciate the smaller ones, you will end up prescribing only a handful of homeopathic remedies. So keep reading…

· Don’t be delusional or egoistic:Most homeopathic prescriptions are based on the patients’ symptoms and will be the likely similimum. Do not criticize a homeopathic prescription or methodology simply because you fail to understand it or follow a certain school of thought. Your experience and clinical successes should speak for itself.

· Ideal drug pictures of new and lesser known homeopathic remedies:Cases presented by homeopaths in seminars or publications are based on the physicians ability to precisely fit the patients symptoms with that of the remedy and depends on his/her understanding of that remedy. If the same case was presented to another homeopath it is very likely that some other homeopathic remedy may be prescribed as the case may be perceived differently. There is no ideal or supreme homeopathic drug picture. There is only the most likely drug picture. You will learn to identify homeopathic remedies with time. Read and learn from your teachers and senior homeopaths, but do not follow them blindly. Learn from your own experiences. Do not expect miracles by blindly prescribing a homeopathic remedy which was found to be useful by someone else.