Homeopathy is holistic, meaning it aims to treat the whole person rather than just curing symptoms. It’s remedies are diluted so many thousand times that according to scientists there can’t be anything left in the pills or drops pople take. Yet homeopaths say the more the remedy is diluted, the stronger and more effective it becomes.

It’s principle is ‘like cures like’ – a substance that causes certain symptoms can cure them if used in tiny amounts prepared in a certain way. A remedy for heart palpitations uses coffee, which can cause them and the cure for insect stings is made from bees.

Stuff and nonsense? It works. Many reputable studies have shown that it’s not just the placebo effect , it often has better results than conventional medicines.

Each remedy also suits a different type of person. So if you have a long standing health problem, a homeopath will work out which of the homeopathic types you are and prescribe that remedy – to treat you rather than the disease.

The more honest you can be about your character, the easier it will be to diagnose yourself or be diagnosed by a professional homeopath.

It is important not to touch the remedy, not even your fingertips. Tip tablets into the bottle top, then straight into your mouth without handling them. Alternatively crush the tablet between two clean spoons and dissolve in water. Take a teaspoon.

Don’t eat, drink or smoke or brush your teeth for at least 15 minutes before or after taking a remedy. Also as soon as you start to feel better, stop taking the tablets. Unlike conventional medicine where you complete a course of medicine, homeopathic remedies stimulate the body’s own immune system, as soon as you notice an improvement, there is no need to continue taking the remedy.

Insomnia

If you are feeling stress, it is quite likely that you may undergo a period of insomnia. The worst thing is to wake up at 2 or 3am night after night, for if you cannot get a good night’s sleep, you will feel even less able to cope the following day.

Homeopathy provides several remedies that will help. The type of remedy you take will depend on the type of person you are and the worries you have.

If your mind is soaring overtime and is crowed with thoughts that won’t go away, preventing you form sleeping or making you wake far too early in the morning, try Nie Vomica 6 or 30.
If you cannot sleep because your nerves are on edge try Kali Phos 6x.
If sleeplessness is being caused by anxiety and fear and you are tossing and turning and waking up between midnight and 2am try, Arsenicum 6 or 30
If you cannot sleep because you are worrying about an event that will take place the following day, like a particularly bad meeting at work or a visit to the dentit , tyr Gelsemium 6 or 30.
And if you wake up at slightest sound or are over excited about something with all your senses on the qui vie, try Coffea 6 or 30.

Anxiety

If you are feeling overanxious, homeopathy has remedies which are suited the the type of person you are and the type of anxiety you are suffering:

If you are in a panic and full of agitation and restlessness, Aconite 6 or 30 may be the answer for you.
If you are suffering from diarrhoea caused by anxiety or you tend to fell claustrophobic or suffer from vertigo, then try Arg Nit 6 or 30.
If your anxiety is caused by oversensitivity and you are a highly emotional person with dramatic mood swings, try Ignatia 6 or 30.
If social situations cause you anxiety because you suffer from insecurity and lack of confidence, try Lycopodium 6 or 30.

Irritability

Overwork can make you extremely irritable. Here are some possible homeopathic solutions which will work short term. Again, these are suited to your emotional makeup and the nature of the problem:

For an irritable person who prefers to be left on his/her own, and feels worse for any kind of movement, try Bryonia 6 or 30.
For irritability accompanied by a feeling of weakness and backache, try Kali Carb 6 or 30.
If you are headstrong, irritating, faulting finding sort and have no patience and are irritated by smells, noise and light, then Nux Vomica 6 or 30 may be the answer for you.
If you tend to be a bully at home but in the outside world lack both confidence and decisiveness, and you wake up angry and irritable, try Lycopodium 6 or 30.
If you are irritable and snap peoples’ heads off and tend to feel overburdened by demands and easily offended, try sepia 6 or 30.
And finally if you are extremely sensitive about what others say about you and feel deep indignation, your problems probably arise because your anger is unexpressed. Try Staphsagria 6 or 20.

DIY Remedies

Aconite napellus, a first resort for fear or panic attacks and after physical trauma
Anacardium for anxiety caused by indecisiveness possibly hidden under a tough exterior
Argentum nitricum when you’re so worried you can’t concentrate.
Arncia for emotional or physical shock.
Arsenicum album for anxiety in a perfectionist.
Avena sativa for exhaustion caused by long term anxiety
Carbo vegetabilis for shock causing clammy hands.
Coffea for insomnia caused by an overactive mind – or too much coffee
Colocynthis for anger that causes headaches or indigestion
Gelsemium for shock or worry that making you feel irritable .
Ignatia amara for shock where you’re trying unsuccessfully to stay in control
Kali Phosphoricum for jaded nerves
Stramonium for a bout of sudden, intense panic.

For more information on Homeopathy, training courses and a list of qualified practitioners contact Angie at the Irish School of Homeopathy.