Manchester-based homeopath Sarah Davies is urging women to look after their health by taking regular time out for themselves.

Women’s lives today are busier and more stressful than ever, with many struggling to balance the demands of jobs, childcare and looking after the home. Stress can increase the likelihood of illness, with research linking it to decreased functioning of the immune system (1) and raised cholesterol levels. (2)

And women are one-and-a-half times more likely to be affected by anxiety and depression, according to the charity Mind.

Sarah says women often put themselves last to the detriment of their own health. “I see many women patients who have ignored their symptoms and plod on when ill or tired. It’s really important that women listen to these early warning signs and often all that is needed is some relaxation time. ”

This year’s Homeopathy Awareness Week (June 14 – 21) is focusing on women’s health issues. In recognition of this, Sarah is inviting women to take advantage of a free 15-minute consultation a her clinic in Burnage, available until the end of June. It is an opportunity for women to discuss any health concerns they have and find out how homeopathy might help them.

Homeopathy is a system of medicine based on treating the individual with highly diluted substances given mainly in tablet form, which triggers the body’s natural system of healing. Based on their experience of their symptoms, a homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to the patient.

Sarah explained that women often turn to homeopathy as a last resort when all else has failed. Either conventional medicine has no “cure” (such as in chronic thrush or persistent bladder infections) or they do not want to take long term medication such as HRT for menopausal symptoms or the contraceptive pill for heavy periods. Sometimes, despite debilitating symptoms, doctors can find no “disease” to explain the symptoms.

Homeopaths see each patient as an individual, treating the person rather than the illness. Hence, patients with the same medical diagnosis will need different homeopathic medicines (known as remedies) according to the complex interaction of their symptoms. A homeopath will also need to know a range of detailed information, such as lifestyle, food preferences, and personality traits.

The sorts of problems women frequently consult homeopaths about include acne, mental and emotional issues, persistent infections, menopausal symptoms such as mood swings and hot flushes, and hormonal problems such as PMT and heavy periods.


For more information, please contact Sarah Davies RSHom on 0161 224 8248 or email  homeopath@lifesalve.co.uk or visit Sarah’s practice website www.lifesalve.co.uk.


Notes:

There is a growing research evidence base demonstrating that homeopathy is clinically effective beyond placebo,3 that treatment by a homeopath is safe4 and that homeopathic medicines can have specific biological effects. (5)

By the end of 2009, 142 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing homeopathy with placebo or conventional treatment had been published in peer-reviewed journals. In terms of statistically significant results, 74 of these trials were able to draw firm conclusions: 63 were positive for homeopathy and eleven were negative. (6)

Five major systematic reviews have been carried out to analyse the balance of evidence from RCTs of homeopathy – four were positive, (7,8,9,10) and one was negative. (11)

Homeopaths registered with The Society practise in accordance with a strict Code of Ethics and Practice, hold professional insurance and have passed stringent academic and clinical assessments before being admitted to the Register. The Society of Homeopaths can be contacted on 0845 450 6611 or visit www.homeopathy-soh.org.

The Society of Homeopaths is the largest professional organisation registering homeopaths, with 1,500 registered members.

References

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Steptoe A, Brydon L. Associations between acute lipid stress responses and fasting lipid levels 3 years later. Health Psychology, 2005; 24(6): 601-7
3. Taylor MA, Reilly D, Llewellyn-Jones RH, et al. Randomised controlled trials of homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series. Br Med J 2000; 321: 471–6
4. Dantas F, Rampes H. Do homeopathic medicines provoke adverse effects? A systematic review. Br Homeopath J 2000; 89: 535–8
5. Witt CM, Bluth M, Albrecht H, et al. The in vitro evidence for an effect of high homeopathic potencies – a systematic review of the literature. Complement Ther Med, 2007; 15: 128–138
6. Mathie, R. The Research Evidence Base for Homeopathy. British Homeopathic Association, 2009.
www.britishhomeopathic.org/export/sites/bha_site/research/evidencesummarypdf
7. Kleijnen J, et al. Clinical trials of homeopathy. Br Med J, 1991; 302: 316–23
8. Linde K, et al. Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. Lancet, 1997; 350: 834–43
9. Linde K, et al. Impact of study quality on outcome in placebo controlled trials of homeopathy. J Clin Epidemiol, 1999; 52: 631–6
10. Cucherat M, et al. Evidence of clinical efficacy of homeopathy – A meta-analysis of clinical trials. Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 2000; 56: 27–33
11. Shang A, et al. Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy. Lancet, 2005; 366: 726–32