In this helpful section, you’ll find tips on preparing, taking and storing your remedies.
You can print out a useful guide to keep close at hand or for those times you’re on the road and need to carry your homeopathic medicine with you.

Storing the remedy

Store all homeopathic remedies in a dark, cool (not cold) place, such as a closed cupboard. Keep them out of the sun and away from anything that has an electrical current, such as a computer or refrigerator. This will extend their viability.

Also, keep remedies out of reach of children. Homeopathic remedies are sufficiently diluted so no poisoning will occur if a child accidentally ingests the granules, but he or she might then temporarily develop symptoms of that remedy.



Taking the remedy

General tips:

* When advised to take your remedy in the form of dry pellets, avoid touching them. Use the remedy tube or cap to transfer the pellets to your tongue, without touching the cap. Otherwise, transfer them from the cap to a spoon and take by spoon.

* When advised to take make your remedy in water, you will dilute the pellet/pellets in purified, filtered or good drinking water. Usually remedies will be dissolved into a 4oz or 1/2 cup of water. Don’t touch the pellets when putting them into the cup or bottle you’re using.  It is best to (and) transfer them by using the cap or clean tweezers.

* To slightly increase the potency of the remedy when it is in a bottle succuss the liquid by striking the bottle against the palm of your hand the number of times instructed at your visit; otherwise if in a cup stir it vigorously.  These succussions create greater resonance within the substance and allows the body to accept the remedy more easily. In homeopathy, we look for the right balance for each patient as too much power can overwhelm the vital force.

* It is best not to eat or drink anything within 20 minutes before and after taking a remedy. Also, don’t brush your teeth during that period. After 20 minutes, the remedy is fully absorbed, and you can eat and drink. Follow your prescription if it includes specifics such as what time of day to take your remedy or how many times a day/week to take it.

For more on preparing your remedies, please see the Remedy Instructions Form.

Substances to Avoid:

Certain substances or practices have been found to interfere with the effects of homeopathic medicines. To ensure the best possible response, please try to avoid these during the period you are taking the remedy:

Coffee (regular and decaf) *
Camphor, or products containing eucalyptus and camphor oils
Dental work, teeth cleaning, drilling or anesthetics
Electric blankets
Mint, or mentholated products
Recreational drugs
Some conventional drugs (Inform your homeopath what you are taking)
X-Rays

* If you drink coffee, please let me know, as there are potencies and dosing schedules I can adapt to your treatment and still allow you to have coffee. However, there may be a few days you’ll need to abstain from coffee so I can see the remedy’s true action. It isn’t the caffeine in the coffee that interferes, so decaf coffee presents the same problem.

After taking the remedy

You are your own best doctor. Observe your body’s reactions. You may want to keep a journal or brief daily/weekly notes.

Acute treatment: When treated for an acute condition, such as a cold, flu, or toothache, you can expect to notice the remedy acting fairly soon. If, after one hour, you feel a 50% or greater improvement in your symptoms, don’t take another dose. In homeopathic medicine, less is more. The remedy is working and will continue working. Only dose again when you feel the beginning of a relapse. This may be in one hour or it may not be until the next day.

If you feel no improvement at all after one hour, take another dose equal to the first. Wait and watch. If again, you feel no response, repeat the dose a third time. Always remember to STOP taking a remedy when you are strikingly better or any worse after a dose.

If after three doses, you feel no improvement, stop taking the remedy. Call me, and we’ll discuss another remedy. If you feel only slight improvement after your three doses, please call or email me for instructions on whether to repeat or alter the dose or change remedies.

After taking a remedy, you may feel a brief intensification of the presenting symptoms and/or a temporary return of old symptoms, as the vital force is stimulated to heal. This is a good sign, but if a reaction occurs that you are in question about, please contact me.

Chronic treatment or Constitutional remedies: Please do not treat yourself on your own. Follow the specific instructions that were given with your remedy. If it has been a while since you have been in the office, schedule an appointment to see if you are on track with the correct remedy and potency. Often before replenishing your remedy, I will want to see you in the office to make sure you are on track. Please keep your follow-up appointments – they’re an important part of your healing path.

Follow-up

I will track your progress in the first few weeks after the initial prescription. During this period, it is helpful if you keep a brief, to-the-point journal. Some reactions include sleep patterns, dreams, energy, condition of your main complaint, and any aggravations. Bring your journal with you to your follow-up appointments.

You also can email your notes to me in advance of your appointment, and I may be able to advise you on your next step by phone or email. However, in general, emails should not replace follow-up appointments.

In the treatment of a chronic illness, the follow-up appointment is usually 6-8 weeks after your initial consult. The better the treatment goes, the longer the intervals will be between appointments.

(coming soon) Remedy Instructions – Printable Form