My
Family's Experience with Homeopathy
by
Joel Preston
joel.b.preston.1@nd.edu
Our
use of homeopathy started about a year after my daughter was born
when she woke up with a large black area under her eye. Naturally
it was on a Sunday so our pediatrician met us at the emergency room
and it was an infection (a spider bite we believe).
Because
she believed we were conscientious parents she gave us a prescription
and we went home. (Otherwise she would have been admitted -- doctors
have that power.)
Monday
we were able to get to see the doctor up in Chicago who is an MD
but practices classical (not mix and match) homeopathy. Before we
got home, the black area under her eye was mostly gone and we were
convinced.
The
remedies in homeopathy are apparently determined by giving one to
a perfectly healthy individual and seeing what results. (Called
proving.) Then, when an individual gets this symptom, that
remedy is used.
But
it's not that simple (not like a vaccine -- which would be used
on everyone who has a particular symptom.) The doctor takes into
account all kinds of things that I thought were odd, the big picture,
so to speak. Like the kinds of foods you like, which side you sleep
on, do you prefer it hot or cold, etc.
Overall,
though, homeopathy works like a miracle for my daughter because
(I believe) her body is not contaminated. Normal drugs counteract
the remedies. Each year she has gotten healthier I believe as
her immune system gets stronger. At this moment it is unlikely she
would be bothered more than a day when she gets the current problem
going around that puts everyone else out for a week or two.
My
wife has had a number of things that have been cured (i.e.
they do not return), including floaters in the eye and a precancerous
condition inside her cheek.
I myself
have been extremely healthy, maybe a headache in 30 years. But that
has ended. About 8 years ago psoriasis began which around
last Christmas became psoriatic arthritis (an uncommon form
of it but with distinct symptoms that take a good rheumatist to
decipher). (It can't be done with lab tests.)
There
is no cure for this. The drug of choice is an anticancer one (methatrexate)
which in time will damage the liver. I declined that one. I am using
a NSAID. This form of arthritis will cause deformities, pain, and
inflammation. I needed a wheelchair for a couple of months and then
a cane.
We
have a homeopathic vet for our pets and he sees this person who
I'm told is a world famous homeopathist (both for his practice and
for himself) who lives in England but comes to NY 3-4 times a year
to see patients.
With
my vet's recommendation I got an appointment. (My regular guy in
Chicago wasn't getting anywhere.)
It
was pretty exciting to get to talk to the best of the best.
What
he believes started all this happened here at work. The building
I'm in now was torn down to the frame and rebuilt. Before that was
done I came visited the building and looked around, mainly looking
to salvage anything useful (I do electronic engineering work).
There
was a small unlocked room that had a tiny amount of radioactive
material, I'm sure in a container that met some government emissions
criteria. But not doubt there was some exposure and that exposure
triggered the psoriasis.
In
the hour interview when that fact was finally exposed he immediately
decided that was the cause (some people think this is hogwash and
that's what alternative therapies do, i.e. wait for a weird fact
and then blame that).
The
remedy was something -- bromide in a water-alcohol solution (1 oz
eyedropper bottle). I take 2 drops in a tablespoon of distilled
water, swish it around my mouth and swallow. I start with a low
concentration, I'm up to my second level.
In
the third month I stopped using the wheelchair and then the cane.
The growth of the psoriasis has basically stopped (though the sq.
in. amount has not declined.) When it flared up I could almost see
it growing.
I can
move around on uneven ground now (I coach a soccer team) and a number
of movements that caused a lot of pain before do not now. I do not
think the rheumatologist would give credit for this to the NSAID
(indocin). But the combination of that and the remedy seem to be
doing quite well.
I've
begun on a low dosage because he didn't want to aggravate the psoriasis,
though we are trying to address the arthritis.
A few
more things. There are NO bad side effects from the remedies,
they just don't work because there are not the right ones. Getting
the right remedy is the art of homeopathy. After the first visit
it can normally be done on the phone and it's inexpensive.
You
need to use common sense. We do use regular doctors and the laboratories.
(By the way there were 2 items in my blood/urine workup that were
out of normal (sed rate and calcium level) which have both returned
to normal.
It's
hard to summarize the 13 years in a few paragraphs, but here it
is. Any questions send me an e-mail.
Joel
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