Homeopathy is a system of medicine that essentially stimulates the body’s natural healing forces to recover health.

This therapy has been used for over 200 years since the German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, re-discovered the healing ‘law of similars’. This states that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy body can cure these symptoms in a sick person.

Making homeopathic medicines

Substances are taken from the animal, mineral and plant world and tested by observing the symptoms they produce on healthy people. Called a proving, this forms the foundation of symptom pictures of remedies that will be used for sick people showing the similar symptoms.

Remedies are prepared by trained Homeopathic Pharmacists with serial dilution and thorough mixing to make micro-doses that are generally safe and non-toxic.

Homeopathic treatment

The patient, not the disease is treated. There is an understanding that the mental and emotional bodies are just as important as the physical bodies and a classical homeopath will consider the individual case of each patient when making the prescription.

Consultations can be for simple acute illness or for chronic disease which then involves a consultation of several hours to discover the unique ‘symptom picture” for each client.

Practitioner training

New Zealand homeopathic training consists of a four-year diploma offered by this country’s three Homeopathic colleges. This NZQA approved diploma has training standards set by the Homeopathy Professional Advisory Board.

To become a registered member of the New Zealand Council of Homeopaths, applicants must have completed this training or an overseas equivalent diploma.

As part of the entry requirements, Homeopaths also demonstrate clinical safety and efficacy by presentation of their cases and an intensive interview with the NZCH executive.

Recently qualified homeopaths are given two years to complete this process as an intern under professional mentorship.

To maintain registration, Homeopaths must also complete on-going professional development hours through seminars or conferences.

For more information about homeopathy and the NZCH see www.homeopathy.co.nz