Frequently Asked Questions

 How to Administer, Store and Handle your Homeopathic Medicine

·       Take the medicine at least15-30 minutes before or after anything in the mouth i.e. food, drink (except water), toothpaste etc.

·       If your medicine is in pilule form, hold it under your tongue for 15 seconds before swallowing. It is very important not to touch the medicine with your hands. The simplest way to take a dose is to tip the pilule into the lid of your bottle, then drop it under your tongue.

·       If your medicine is in liquid form, place approximately 5 drops of the medicine into a glass of purified water and drink. If you prefer to sip the medicine in water, remember you will have to wait 15-30 minutes after the entire glass has been taken before you can eat, drink etc.  The amount of water you use to dilute/dissolve your medicine in is not significant, however 20ml is a good general guide to go by. Using more or less water, will not affect the medicines potency or action. It is important to know it not the amount  of drops you use that is relevant – it is the frequency of the doses prescribed that is essential.

·       If you are given a medicine in pilule form and would prefer to take it as a liquid, just drop 1 pilule in purified water, wait for it to completely dissolve then drink (refer to instructions in the point above). In cases where you are dispensing a pilule medicine to infants and children, you need only 10-20ml (1 tablespoon) and give it to them via a dropper or teaspoon.

·       If you are giving the medicine to an infant or small child, you can place the medicine in a small quantity of breast milk/water, dissolve, and dispense the medicine via a dropper or teaspoon.

·       Keep the medicine away from light, heat and strong odours such as perfume, aromatic herbs and spices or substances such as camphor. Avoid the use of essential oils either in burners or massage on the day/s you take the medicine. Most Massage Therapists won’t mind using a carrier oil such as wheat germ or apricot kernel oil as a substitute for aromatherapy if you ask. Any unused medicine can be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. Do not store Homeopathic medicine in the fridge or near any electrical appliance.

·       Substances such as Vicks or any other medicine may well inactivate your remedy. Please DO NOT discontinue any medication or supplementation unless advised by myself or another health care professional. Usually there is a way around this without compromising other medication you may be taking or causing interactions between medicines. If you are unsure about this please contact me.

·        If you are taking any vitamins, supplements or herbs, leave 1 hour between these and your homeopathic medicine

 How Often Should I Give A Dose?

After you have selected the medicine, you will need to decide on the dose. This is dependant on the urgency of the case - frequent doses for an acute illness that has come on suddenly and strongly, and less frequently for gradually developing illnesses.

• Prescribe according to the urgency of the situation.

• Once the medicine has started to work, when you notice a definite difference or change resulting for the medicine, continue with that medicine but give it less often, increasing the

• time between doses.Once there is a marked improvement, a strong positive reaction has occurred, it is essential to stop the medicine,

• This is the exact opposite instructions you receive about conventional medicines such as antibiotics, where it is necessary to finish the whole course of drugs.

• Homeopathic medicines act as catalysts or triggers, stimulating the body to heal itself. Taking too many pilules of the medicine can have the opposite effect.

• Repeat the same medicine if the same symptoms return as needed.

• Give approximately six doses before stopping and reassessing the case if there is no response. It is likely the wrong medicine has been prescribed.

• Change the medicine if the symptom picture changes.

• If your child is already under current Homeopathic treatment, consult the practitioner before prescribing.

Dosage Chart

 Can I Take More Than One Remedy At A Time?

The most important thing to remember is to give a single medicine only. You may find a few medicines suit the condition, but you must choose only one. Differentiating between medicines, by reading the CHARACTERISTICS of the ones you find suit the condition, is the best way to do this. If you still can't decide, take one of the medicines you have chosen for at least 4-6 doses. If you find this doesn't help, wait at least 2 hours and take another medicine you found suitable. If again, you find there is no relief, I suggest you consult a Homeopath, as the medicine you need may not be contained in this kit and/or other factors may need taking into consideration that are beyond the limits of home "first-aid" prescribing.

If you are certain that you have prescribed the right medicine but the symptoms still persist, the first thing to do is try it again. Wait at least 2-4 hours between the initial dose and the second (unless stated otherwise). If there is still no relief, consult a Homeopath, as once again the other factors may be influencing your condition, that are beyond the limits for which this kit was intended.

If you are sure about your choice of medicine, your get some or total relief, but the symptoms return after a few hours or day or so, take the same medicine again. Remember that apart from the right choice of medicine, the frequency of the doses is equally as important. If this pattern continues for more than 2-3 days, consult a Homeopath. It may be that you have chosen the correct medicine but a stronger dose is required (potencies higher than 30C need to be prescribed by a Homeopath. Taking more than one pilule at a time does not increase the dose - Homeopathy does not work like conventional medicine) or that the medicine you chose is very similar to the one your child does need. Alternatively the condition may be more than an acute problem and will need to be treated by having their entire case taken. In cases where you do seek the advice of a professional Homeopath, please tell them the medicine/s you have taken - whether you have taken the medicine within hours/days or even weeks or months previously. It is important they know about all aspects of your health and wellbeing, including Homeopathic medicines, herbs or any other drugs you may have taken. This is another reason record keeping is valuable.

When unsure about your condition, especially when the symptoms are persistent, always have a check with your health care provider. Some seemingly insignificant complaints may be an indication of a more serious condition developing.

Homeopathic medicines are a wonderful way to treat any of the symptoms outlined in this booklet because of their safety and effectiveness. I do not recommend however, that you give a medicine for every little complaint that crops up. Taking unnecessary medicines - whether homeopathic, pharmaceutical, or herbal, is something we should all try to avoid at any stage in our lives. In some cases, old-fashioned remedies that have been hailed "old wives tales" are a good, common sense, side-effect free approach to relieving a problem. Perhaps employing some of the supplementary measures outlined first, may alleviate the condition without the need to prescribe Homoeopathically.

Finally, please use your Homeopathic Kit with care. Just because they are a form of natural medicine and you don't need a prescription for them, doesn't mean you can use them without caution. Without careful attention to the instructions for use and the information on prescribing, you will end up confused and without relief for the symptoms. When used wisely, with diligence and close adherence to the rules, a long-lasting relationship between your family and Homeopathy will develop - you'll wonder how you ever got by without it.

 Is There Anything That Can Interfere With Homeopathic Medicines?

Yes. Antidotes are substances and elements that can interfere with the action of Homeopathic medicines.

Emotional or physical shock can also affect a remedy's action e.g. bad news, a visit to the dentist, car accident etc.

If a medicine isn't working or stops working, think of possible interference from antidotes.

Antidotes include: