Allopathic Drugs and Homeopathy

One of the biggest challenges for modern homeopaths is the frequent use of drugs that are being used to treat all illnesses. For the homeopath, we see these as obstacles to cure. This is true. But how do we deal with drugs when our client comes to us seeking help and is taking other allopathic drugs from their doctor?

In an ideal world, all of our clients would be informed and willing to go through the steps of healing without drugs. But most clients are already indoctrinated and insured into the allopathic system. Yet most say they do not want to take drugs and want help. That's why they have come to the homeopath. So what is a homeopath to do? First, I personally never take anyone off of the drugs that they are on. This, I explain, is between themselves and their doctor who prescribed them. I do not want the responsibility of managing the drug withdrawal and never know for sure how much the drug is affecting the person. I want the client to become more responsible and communicate this desire to their doctor if they are really wanting to get off of the drug. I always ask what medications they are taking and what is working. Especially if the drug has not been effective, I will encourage the client to work with their doctor to get off of the drug as soon as possible.

Because I was not the prescribing physician, it is not my place to override the doctor's order. I would not want them to do this to my homeopathic prescription (which they do anyway out of ignorance) so I do not want to do this to them. Plus, because homeopathy and most homeopaths are not regulated and able to prescribe drugs, then it is not within our jurisdiction. Legally, it is the best approach and will keep your practice clean.

Like most homeopaths though, I am a purist and know the detrimental effects that drugs can have on the person. I realize the difficulty it can make for successful case management and cure. I explain all of this to my client and let them decide how they want to proceed. Once they are informed, then it is much better for them to feel empowered to work with their doctor to change their drugs.

In receiving a chronic case that has been influenced by drugs, it is important to understand how the disease has developed and try to see the original expression. Years of drug therapy can mask many symptoms as well as add more of their own. Use a Physicians Desk Reference to learn more about the direct effects of the drugs your clients are taking, especially if you suspect that new symptoms of the drug are being mixed with the dis-ease expression. Iatrogenic disease is one of the biggest drivers of over-the-counter drugs and complications to chronic dis-ease that bring the person back to their doctor. It is important to realize this and work with your client to understand the progression. Most often they will tell you about it but never make the connection that drugs are a part of their disease. Again, education is so very important in homeopathic treatment.

Sometimes it is necessary to clear the effects of a drug, especially if the drug effect is known. Tautopathy, a form of isopathy, can be used to treat the person with the diluted and potentized remedy of the drug they are suffering from. For example, suppose a child had a severe reaction to a vaccination by DPT. Then potentized DPT vaccine would be used to help clear the drug. There are several thoughts regarding the best potency but as with all potency issues, the client's vital force will let you know which approach to take. If the vital force is strong and the complications are not too many, then a single higher potency may be best. But if the condition is more chronic and it looks like it will take more time to unwind the case then lower potency with a daily dose would be more appropriate.

Another method of drug clearing is with NAET. This is an acupuncture technique that helps the body to desensitize itself to specific allergens. Sometimes one or several treatments can completely clear the person of the drug. Then the body re-stabilizes itself and the original disease will reappear. Always seek a professionally trained acupuncturist in this technique.

Treating through drugs can be challenging but not impossible. I observe that most clients respond well even continuing their drugs. If the vital force is strong, it can still respond to the properly selected homeopathic remedy. When a person starts to respond and is feeling better, they are much more inclined to go back to their doctor and request changes in their drugs. They can see that they are not as necessary as they once thought. This is the critical time to really stay current with your client as they come off of the drug while under homeopathic care. The return of the original disease can sometimes create a real challenge for your client. They need support and assurance that the remedy will continue to work.

Sometimes, if the acuteness of the return of old symptoms is too challenging for the client, it may be necessary to change remedies for a short period of time to treat the new symptoms. It is extremely important to choose the very best remedies during this time. Take good notes, select good rubrics, and investigate the new remedies extensively before leaving the original remedy that brought some relief. It is most likely still the best remedy, but if there is a better remedy that will help more in the acute, then give it. But be very careful not to spoil the case.

While it is important to understand the drug, it is equally important to understand the person's dis-ease. Pay careful attention to the symptoms of the case and whether new symptoms are appearing that would be of the original disease; indicating the person is getting worse. If the symptoms were present before the drugs were started, it is indicating a return of old symptoms.

Case management is crucial for successful homeopathic prescribing. Experience is the best teacher but it is always good to have a good teacher to guide the more novice homeopath through this process. It requires great skill in listening to the client and gathering good information. At this time, it is very important to ask questions about the original disease. For the client, they may have taken for granted that over the years things just got worse, in spite of the drugs. But now is the time for the homeopath to be a very good investigator and learn all they can about the progression of the disease, the drugs the person has taken, and what the dis-ease may look like as it progresses.

Paying close attention will make you a very good homeopath. Allopathic drug treatments, especially in the western world, will challenge every homeopath at some point. Be diligent and educate your client. They may be supported to heal themselves. No drug could ever accomplish this.