The First Visit To A Homeopath

So, you have finally made the decision to consult a Homeopath.  Or, maybe you are thinking about it.  Today, I wanted to share what an initial consultation is usually like.  


Homeopathy is perhaps the most holistic form of medicine.  I say this because a Homeopath like myself is looking for a medicine that not only is a good match for your main complaints but most importantly, fits you as a person.   In order to find the best Homeopathic Medicine for you, a Homeopath wants and needs to find out all about you.  


So, here is a breakdown of what an initial consultation can look like in my practice;


1) We start with an examination of your main complaints or as I like to say, "What health complaints bring you in to see me and are bothering you the most?"  At this point, you will talk about what you have noticed about these complaints.  


2) I will want to know what the complaint feels like.  If there is pain, what does the pain feel like? If there is a pain is it sore, sharp, throbbing, stabbing etc? 


3) What factors can change the complaint and make it better or worse.  Homeopaths call these modalities.  Some examples can be motion, sitting, touch, weather, time of day, being alone, foods and much more.


4) What else happens in your body with this complaint?  I am especially looking for a symptom that wouldn't be logically related to your complaint.  For example, experiencing diarrhea during a headache or heat in the face when your arthritic pain in you knee is bad.


5) Have you noticed that your complaint(s) have been worse since a certain event in your life?  Another way to think about this is have you felt that you have never been well since an event or series of events.  Some examples could be a physical trauma such as a car accident, a grief, loss of your business or even hearing bad news.


Homeopaths also want to know what is unique about you and if you have susceptibilities in the following areas;


1) Body Temperature:  Do you tend to be more warm or more cold?  How are you in the cold of the winter?  What about the heat of the summer?  How are you in the wind or with drafts?  How about certain types of weather?  Do you experience any symptoms when the weather changes or before a storm?


2) Digestion:  What foods do you naturally crave?  Which foods do you have a strong aversion to?  Which foods do you feel unwell after eating?  How is your appetite?  What is your thirst like?  Do you tend to get diarrhea, constipation, gas, abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating etc?


3) For Women:  What is your menstrual cycle like?  Is it regular or irregular?  Is it heavy or light?  What is the flow like?  What symptoms do you experience that tells you your period is coming?  Do you have/have you had cysts, fibroids etc?


4) Sleep:  What is your sleep like?  Do you have issues falling asleep or staying asleep?  Do you wake refreshed from sleep?  Have you been told you do anything while you sleep such as grinding your teeth, snoring, jerking etc?  Do you need to fall asleep in a particular position?


5) Do you perspire?  Is there anything unusual about your perspiration in terms of odour, smell etc?


6)  Tell me about your cycle of energy in a day.  When do you notice your energy is higher and when is it lower?


7) Finally, tell me what you are like as a person.  Some remedies are more suited to certain personality types.  What is your personality like?  How are you with specific emotions such as anger, depression, anxiety, jealousy etc?  Are you overly sympathetic?  Do you tend to hold a grudge?


As you can see- a visit to a Homeopath is very thorough.  Many of my patients report that they feel that I have listened to them and found it refreshing that a health professional was truly interested in learning all about them.  


Homeopaths are thorough because we want to find out all about you in terms of your physical, mental and emotional health.  We also need to get enough information to find a remedy that is the best match for you.  One of the most exciting parts of being a Homeopath is that even with 10 patients coming in with the same complaints for arthritis or anxiety, each person will get a different remedy.  Homeopathy is all about individualization.  So, it is not about giving remedies based on a condition or pathology, it is giving you the best remedy for you as a person.


I hope this helps to explain the process of seeing a Homeopath.  If you would like more information, feel free to visit my website at www.redpearlhomeopathy.com