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Homeopathy: Medicine
for the 21st century -- Its time has come
by Sally Tamplin
Homeopathy is a light that shines in the darkness. In the aftermath of the Asian
tsunami disaster, the world more than ever needs the presence of this gentle, holistic
healing art.
As a classical homeopath it is my life's passion and a wonderful privilege to be
able to bring people to a better state of health; however, homeopathy still remains
little known in modern-day America. My colleague, Jacob Mirman, has a whole wall
in his office devoted to old postcards of homeopathic hospitals scattered throughout
the U.S. that were once a concrete testimony to the respect that homeopathy once
enjoyed. The reader may be intrigued to note that the first medical association to
be formed in the nation was homeopathic.
Now, more than ever, the power of our remedies is needed to help heal the bodies
and minds of those who have lost everything. When taking the case of a sick person,
a homeopath will look at the totality of their symptoms from the mental, emotional
and physical levels. The most important symptoms, however, are those that we attribute
to the mental and emotional spheres. I have recently received a report from a contact
in Colombo that many children and teenagers are locked in fear -- some can no longer
speak. In the months and years to come, the psychological devastation will surely
haunt areas of the world that Western holiday brochures have often described as,
"paradise." So how do we begin to restore paradise lost?
We have observed that the world has begun to unite in a massive fundraising and giving
drive to provide first aid medical care, food, clean water, clothing and shelter.
This is a wonderful thing to observe. My concern is what happens when the houses
and schools are rebuilt and the fishing boats replaced? Mental and emotional scars
do not go away. Conventionally prescribed medications may help with sleep, anxiety
and depression, but they do not address the underlying cause. I want the world to
know that homeopathy treats the cause. A carefully chosen remedy has the power to
make a shift in someone who is stuck in a place of sickness whether this manifests
as a physical, mental or emotional problem.
I often recall a story that was relayed to me when I was a student studying at The
School of Homeopathy in England. A woman and her husband had been involved in a bad
car crash; he was flung from the vehicle and left at the roadside. His wife was not
badly hurt, but upon seeing her husband lying at the roadside unconscious and unresponsive,
she believed him to be dead. She reacted with fear and she remained in a state of
fear.
Her husband was taken to the hospital. He was not dead, but obviously badly injured.
Despite eventually making a complete recovery and coming home, this story does not
have a good ending. His wife remained in the same fearful state of the time of the
accident when she came across what she perceived to be her husband's dead body. When
he came home, she did not recognize him. She declared that he was a stranger and
that her husband was dead. She received a lot of conventional medical psychiatric
care, but nothing helped her.
Several years later, the family sought homeopathic help. The woman was given a single
dose of a homeopathic remedy. It restored her sanity and her husband. The remedy
that was given is particularly indicated in situations where someone is suffering
with ailments from fright where the fear still exists. It was the remedy of choice
years after the event. I wonder how many Asians may need a well-chosen homeopathic
remedy in the months and years to come?
In the fear and devastation that engulfed New York in the wake of 9/11, homeopaths
were using homeopathic Arnica and Aconite, along with the Bach Flower Essence Rescue
Remedy. These are the main remedies that I would recommend to have on hand in a first
aid box when disaster strikes.
In the days following the tsunami, I received an e-mail from a homeopathic colleague
in England. She related how her daughter and some friends had traveled to Phuket
for the holidays. They had tried but to no avail to get rooms in a hotel on the beach.
They made do with a villa some way out of town and this is what saved them. However,
a couple of young people in their group were in town when the wave struck. They were
smashed into buildings; although they were OK, they received horrendous bruising.
Luckily, my colleague's daughter had a homeopathic kit and was able to treat her
friends with homeopathic Arnica. They made a speedy recovery.
In the months and years after 9/11, homeopaths in New York have been able to help
many people who have never been well since this particular traumatic experience touched
their life. Many of these people have had psychiatric help and counseling, but it
was not until they found their way to a homeopath's door that their real healing
began and they could begin to pick up the pieces of their life.
I urge you to open your mind and learn about homeopathy. Many homeopaths give talks,
but sadly, these are often not very well attended. On the evening of January 10,
I made the 85-mile round trip in poor driving conditions from my home in Eagan to
Maple Grove to give a seminar on Homeopathy and First Aid. It was attended by six
people. Homeopathy has tremendous healing potential; its time has come, please make
sure that you are there too!
When to use Homeopathic Arnica:
This is the remedy of choice in accident situations; it helps with bumps, bruises,
bleeding, fractures and broken bones. Usually when someone has had an accident they
are in a state of shock. The keynote symptom of Arnica is that they will send the
doctor away. Arnica patients say that they are fine, they tell caretakers and concerned
onlookers to go away, they deny anything is wrong when it is quite obvious to all
around that they have really hurt themselves and are very sick. You may give Arnica
on the way to the E.R., as it will help with pain, shock, bruising and swelling.
I recommend that my clients take one dose of Arnica before surgery or a dental extraction,
and then several doses as required afterwards. It really does significantly help
the body's ability to recover and heal.
When to use Homeopathic Aconite:
Aconite is the remedy to think of when something happens or an illness happens very
suddenly and the patient is filled with fear. You can see the look of terror in any
patient needing this remedy. They are extremely restless, probably shaking and telling
you that they are going to die; in fact, this is the keynote symptom. They may be
in extreme pain. In contrast, Arnica will send the onlooker away because they say
that they are OK. Someone needing Arnica will deny that anything is wrong.
Homeopathic remedies can be purchased from most health food co-ops, Byerlys stores
and Present Moment in Minneapolis. I suggest that you buy the 30c potency. The remedies
come in the form of tiny sugar pills that are dissolved under the tongue. In an emergency
situation, the remedy may need to be repeated at frequent intervals. Stop the remedy
once the patient is beginning to feel better. Homeopathic remedies have no known
interaction with conventional medications.
I have given you some basic information, but I recommend that for further information
you find a book to read about homeopathy -- or better still, when you see a class
advertised, make it a priority to attend. If you or a loved one has chronic health
problems, consider seeing a professional homeopath.
Donate to Homeopaths Without Borders
The homeopathic charity Homeopaths Without Borders needs your help. Currently they
are putting together a team of M.D. homeopaths to send to the disaster area. They
will take with them not only conventional medical expertise but more importantly
the knowledge of our remedies. This will be the first steps towards establishing
a number of homeopathic clinics in various areas that will offer ongoing help for
the future and teach local people how to use homeopathy. They will be run by volunteer
professional and medical homeopaths from the U.S., Canada and Europe. We have a large
and well-respected homeopathic community right here in Minnesota. Please join us
in this Minnesota initiative to raise funds for medical supplies and the personal
needs of the homeopathic volunteers. Your donations are tax deductible. You can send
checks, money orders or pay with Visa or MasterCard to the following address: Homeopaths
Without Borders, Tsunami Relief Fund -- Minnesota Initiative, P.O. Box 1550, Basalt,
CO 81621.
Sally Tamplin, DSH, MARH, is executive director of the Minnesota Homeopathic Association.
She practices with Jacob Mirman, M.D., at the Homeopathic Clinic in Richfield, Minn.
Call (612) 836-1424 or visit www.alternative-horizons.com.
To find out
more about The Minnesota Homeopathic Association, please visit MnHomeopathicAssoc.org
Copyright © 2005 Sally Tamplin. All rights reserved. |
| February 2005 |
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