Homeopathy - a Gentle Way to Treat Insomnia

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Homeopathy a Gentle Way to Treat Insomnia

• Dr. Ruth Lever Kidson

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Advantages of Homeopathy

• It has no side effects.
• It is holistic - it treats the whole patient.
• Whereas orthodox drugs act on the nervous system
  to induce sleepiness, a homeopathic remedy will
  work to raise the patients level of health so
  that the body finds it easier to restore itself
  to normal functioning.

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The Theory of Homeopathy

• Like cures like - a substance which will
  produce certain symptoms if it is taken by a
  healthy person will cure those same symptoms if
  they occur as the result of a disease.
• Potentization - when substances are diluted in
  a certain way the resultant remedy becomes more
  effective the more dilute it becomes.
• A wide range of potencies is available but high
  potencies should only be used by qualified
  homeopaths.

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Does Homeopathy Work?

• Yes! Many more patients respond to homeopathy
  than can be accounted for by the placebo effect
  (improvement because the patient believes it will
  help him - generally said to be around 30 per
  cent of those treated).
• A large number of double blind trials have shown
  that homeopathy can produce significant benefits.
  
• Homeopathy works well on animals, small children
  and people in comas, for whom the placebo effect
  cannot possibly be an influence.

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Choosing a Remedy

• Homeopathy works treats the whole person, so the
  closer the match between the remedy and the
  patients symptoms, the more likely is the
  prospect of a cure.
• There are many different types of insomnia and
  many symptoms associated with it. So it is very
  important to choose the remedy that most closely
  matches the symptoms.

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Taking the Remedy

• A single tablet should be allowed to dissolve
  under your tongue at bedtime every night for
  about a week (unless the homeopath advises
  otherwise).
• If after that a week it hasnt helped, it should
  be discontinued because otherwise there is the
  risk of eventually developing the symptoms
  associated with that substance (this is known as
  proving).

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A Few of the Remedies Used

• Calc. phos. (symptoms include aching joints,
  tense muscles and difficulty waking up in the
  morning)
• Chamomilla (being kept awake by anger or pain or
  as a side effect of medication)
• Ars. alb. (feeling restless even though
  exhausted)
• Lycopodium (feeling that you havent slept at
  all)
• Aconitum apellus (insomnia associated with
  anxiety or panic attacks or with vivid and
  frightening dreams)
• Lachesis (insomnia occurring around the
  menopause)
• Gelsemium (useful for pregnant women)
• Ignatia (insomnia resulting from distress or
  depression).

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Therapy vs. Self-Help

• Every remedy is associated with a large number of
  symptoms so, although it is possible to
  self-treat (particularly as a first aid measure),
  good results are more likely if a qualified
  homeopath is consulted.
• A qualified homeopath will be able to achieve a
  much closer match with the remedy(based not just
  on the current problem but also on past medical
  history, likes and dislikes, habits and
  personality).
• A qualified homeopath will be able to prescribe
  higher potencies which may be needed to treat
  chronic problems.

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Outcome

• It may take a while for the therapy to work but
  the patient should notice some degree of
  improvement fairly soon and then just needs to
  keep taking it until the sleep pattern returns to
  normal.
• For more information on complementary, orthodox
  and self-help methods of treating insomnia go to
• http//www.HowToSleepSoundly.com