So, you’ve decided to give homeopathy a try, and you have a remedy that seems to have characteristics that match the characteristic symptoms of your ailment (that piece is essential)… Now what?

This question is a great one… and very important.

Anyone who has been exposed to ordinary medicine is accustomed to dosing medicines mechanically, e.g., every four hours, every twelve hours, once a day, and so on…

Homeopathy operates on a distinct principle. Unlike conventional medicine, where dosing is often mechanical, in homeopathy, the remedy is taken as needed, and dosing is ceased upon improvement.

With homeopathy, the patient or homeopath first chooses an appropriate remedy at a particular potency (we will talk about potencies in another article). If one has an acute condition, particularly one that is intensifying or ascending, the remedy can be taken with frequency. (What is an acute condition? Generally speaking, an acute condition is one that lasts for a short time but can begin rapidly and have intense symptoms.) In an acute state that is intense or ascending rapidly (rapidly rising temperature, rapidly ascending pain, etc.), a dose of the remedy may be needed every 5-30 minutes until relief is noted. In other instances, such as for acute conditions that are less intense or ascending more slowly, the remedy should be taken once with a wait-and-watch period to allow an opportunity to assess changes in the case.

These dosing rules apply to newborns, children, adults, and the elderly. Adhere to them, and you will have success with homeopathy. And with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your illness, as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet N.D. provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because in her experience it is the deepest healing modality available in that it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but can actually stimulate the body to start to heal itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long distance using Skype. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well.