This is from a series I wrote when I was blogging as a homeopathic health coach. It is basic information that I wanted to leave available for free but may not pertain to my most recent blogging venture :).
Last time in this series, we talked about how to identify provings and aggravations and what to do about them. Today we're going to cover some troubleshooting tips!
Homeopathy Doesn't Always "Work"
Homeopathy can be a strange animal to understand. I have heard many people say something like, "I took that one remedy one time and nothing happened. It doesn't work!"
The first thing you want to check is that you've followed the basics laid out for you in the rest of this series. Learning and using homeopathy can take more patience and focus than we're used to. I grew up believing that your mom and your doctor were responsible for my health. Now that I feel the responsibility for my own and my children's health, the study of homeopathy has been worth the times that it just "didn't work".
So let's talk about some of the reasons that homeopathy may not be working and what you can do about it.
The Wrong Remedy
The most obvious reason homeopathy isn't working is because you have picked the wrong remedy. When you take a remedy that doesn't match your symptoms close enough, your body doesn't respond to it. If one or part of your symptoms go away, you've probably chosen a remedy that is close but doesn't completely match.
The quickest and easiest way to fix this problem is to pick a new remedy! Refer back to your reference of choice and pick the next best remedy. Even trained homeopaths will often take two or three tries before they pick the "right" remedy for a particular situation.
Another option is to focus your studies in on cell salts. Cell salts are often used in homeopathy as a maintenance or mineral restorative type of thing. But they can also be used acutely with great success. And, there are only twelve of them to master!
A final option is to find combination remedies that focus on what you're trying to get relief from. Boiron has excellent combos that we have had great success with. The Homeopathy Store also has some great options.
Not Enough Doses
Sometimes it takes a few doses in order to feel relief from a remedy. If you take a remedy but don't feel any change, remember that it is safe to take it two or three more times, especially if you were confident the remedy was the right choice.
It is possible that the issue you are trying to treat is deeper than something acute dosing can help with. As a general rule, the longer you've been dealing with an issue, the longer it will take for a remedy to help. So if you are trying to find relief from more of a chronic, ongoing, issue, go ahead and take your remedy in a 6C a couple times a day for up to a week. If you notice relief, try the remedy occasionally as you need it. If it doesn't help, stop the remedy and change course.
Sometimes you won't have a 30C or 200C in an acute or emergency situation. In this case, if you give a 6C you may have to give it as often as every 5 minutes in order to find relief. This can usually help if it's the right remedy, but sometimes you truly need a different potency.
The Wrong Potency
You know you have the wrong potency when you find some relief from a remedy but it doesn't "hold". Maybe it lasts for only 5 minutes and then your issues are back. You can, of course, continue to try the remedy as often as you need it.
However, what would be more effective is if you can try a higher potency. As an example, using Arnica 6C to help relieve your pain from a twisted ankle will problem help but in a very limited way. But if you bump that up to 30C you'll probably find more relief that lasts longer. And if the pain warrants it (remember to pick the potency that matches the intensity), then a 200C could be what you need.
Layers are Out of Order
There will be times when the issue you are trying to help with homeopathy is not ready to be relieved yet. What I mean by this is that your issue could be underneath a layer of other problems.
Pathological layers are acquired as we go through life. Sometimes our vitality is strong enough to work through these attacks on our health. Sometimes you work through the layers with homeopathy, herbs, or other supportive modalities. But sometimes the layer (attack) is suppressed or we are unable to completely recover. Homeopaths will work on these layers as they have been trained. If you suspect this to be a problem for you, it may be a good time to contact your local homeopath. (Or check out the Chronic Homeopathy course on my Paid Content page!)
Miasms
Miasms would be another reason to find a homeopath to work with. "Miasm" is a word in homeopathy that means a deep-seeded and difficult layer. A miasm can be acquired in your life, but more likely it is inherited from prior generations. If you have genetic "weaknesses" that are difficult for you to overcome, you may have a miasm at work in your life.
A miasm can also block the effectiveness of remedies. There are specific remedies that are used to remove these deep-seeded layers and it takes time and patience. Working with a homeopath can be one of the best investments of time and money you make in your life.
These are some of the most common reasons your remedies aren't working. Try some of the solutions to see if they help you out!
Next post in series: What Can You Use Homeopathy For?
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