the homeopathic coach

Holistic Counselling and Process Orientated Psychotherapy?

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I have been training in a new and deep approach to finding health and well being through a form of Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy called Process Oriented Psychotherapy. (Yes, it's quite a mouthful:). This post explains why this is hugely important for recovering from chronic ill health and why it offers a paradigm shift in the way we approach psychological issues.

Why Can't I just get Better?

Sometimes you come across something that just resonates with you. Maybe you resonate with it because you need to it for yourself? Sometimes it resonates as it just makes sense. As an experienced Homeopath, I have been seeing patients for over a decade and as with many other Homeopaths, our holistic and powerfully effective approach attracts those seeking solutions to chronic and long term health issues. Now this means that the client in front of me most likely has a complex array of mental and emotional symptoms, as well as physical ones. As the Homeopathic approach is always holistic, we purposefully and carefully treat all these symptoms but reasonably often the client requires support both Homeopathically and also psychologically.

Here in Australia Psychologists are readily available, but after years of referrals that sometimes worked out and sometimes did not, I found I was looking for a different approach. One that looked at the client in the same holistic way that I do and could compliment my homeopathic work. This means it had to be something that worked on a deeper level than the conscious mind.

A few years ago I came across a form of Holistic counselling called Process Oriented Psychotherapy and I will explain what it is here, and why I am now using it in my clinic.

Process Oriented Psychotherapy

Process oriented Psychotherapy or Process Work (PW) as it is known, started in the 1970s. It was developed by a physicist called Arnold Mindell who had trained as a Jungain therapist and saw that as integrated beings we need a more fully integrated approach. Modern Process Work combines theories of modern Physics, with Taoism and Jungian Psychology. It also combines the learning from many successful approaches to psychology such as gestalt and psychodrama. As I do not want to bore you with long theories here, I will just touch on a few of the key theories and then explain what it means for you as a client of Process Work.

Taoism

This is the idea of following nature. The PW therapist does not have an agenda for your counselling session and they approach each session with a 'beginner's mind'. This is important as it allows the session and what happens to be guided by the client and their process. The premise is that the process of the client is guided by the unconscious mind and therefore when we allow this process to unfold it knows what it needs and what it needs to express. There is a great unconscious intelligence that is untapped within us, and when we are guided to step out of the way we can often learn some extraordinary things about ourselves!

Modern Physics

Amongst other concepts PW works with the quantum physics concept of the 'Uncertainty Principle'. Within the therapy setting this means that the role of observer is very important as it means that what is observed is determined by who is observing and the method of questioning. We also know from the chaos theory that small variances in initial conditions produce vastly differnt outcomes. So the relationship and interaction between client and therapist in each session is vitally important.

Jungian Psychology

Amongst other things Jungians believe that the unconscious is benign and in Process Work we use a teleologocal approach which means that events are striving towards a meaningful and purposeful goal. This means that small things are also important and that synchronicities (when seemingly unrelated events are connected) are taken note of and worked with.

Awareness is Paramount

In essence PW is an awareness model. The therapist works to be aware of many things that are occuring for the client even when they are occuring out of the client's current awareness, whilst simultaneously maintaining awareness of their own process. This self awareness is very important as it means the therapist is at all times striving to be aware what is their own process and what is the client's.

So how does this work in my practice?

If you have worked with a Homepath you will know that we use counselling skills as part of our natural consultation and healing process. Although I use some Process Work within my consultations I also offer a combined Homeopathy/Pocess Work package of one monthy Homeopathic consultation and three hour long Process Work sessions. I also see clients for individual counselling sessions without Homeopathy if they so wish.

Who does this work for?

Process Oriented Psychotherapy and holistic counselling will work for anyone who needs a form of talking therapy. But it works especially for those with chronic health issues that they just cannot seem to heal. In my practice I see people with chronic ill health and or depression and also those who are lost on their way in general, and need to get back in touch with themselves and their path in life so they can move forward with greater awareness and empowerment.

Paradigm Shift

Most psychological work and counselling approaches the mind and emotions as a pathology that needs to be helped to be healthy and more balanced. Process Oriented Psychotherapy does not start from this premise but rather accepts that there is an innate intelligence in the subconscious and that this is requiring expression through our behaviours, dreams and chronic physical symptomology. If we as a therapist follow this expression, it will lead to clarity, peacfullness within the cleint and above all greater integration and awareness of themselves. It could also assist healing of long standing physical complaints!

I will be writing a further post on some of the key practical concepts used in a Process Work session and am happy to explain further if you want to contact me.

Treating Anxiety, Stress and Depression

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Sometimes even the most calm person can experience stress and anxiety. Unfortunately in today’s world it’s very common to feel underlying anxiety for too much of the time, and depression too is all to prevalent.

Homeopathy is effective in treating Anxiety, Stress and Depression

So what can be done and how can Homeopathy help? Well I think it’s very important to know that there have been scientific research studies carried out on the efficacy of Homeopathic medicines on outcomes of patients with these conditions.

Studies and Trials

A randomized placebo controlled (but not double blind) trial with 60 subjects was conducted in France with patients suffering from anxiety in which half were given a homeopathic formula marketed as .L.72.2 in France and .Anti-anxiety. in the USA, while the control group was given a diazepam (Valium) (Heulluy, 1985). “The results indicated that L72 was as effective as diazepam on all measures.”

Jonathan Davidson, MD, a professor of psychiatry at Duke University, conducted a small study of adults with major depression, social phobia, or panic disorder. He found that 60% of the patients responded favorably to homeopathic treatment (Davidson, 1995; Davidson, 1997). Dana Ullman states: “When one recognizes the considerable safety in using homeopathic medicines, it is remarkable that the majority of psychiatrists and psychologists are not referring appropriate patients to homeopaths prior to having powerful conventional drugs prescribed for them. ”

Happy Homeopathic healing to you all!


© Sam Adkins 2011
Would you like to include this article in your newsletter or website?
You can as long as you include the following blurb with it:
This article was brought to you by Sam Adkins The Homeopathic Coach who teaches families about healthy living and natural remedies using homeopathic medicine. An internationally renowned expert, her helpful articles are regularly syndicated online. She publishes the ezine Homeopathy @ Home to provide free Homeopathic tips, tools and resources to educate and inspire you to use Homeopathy at home. Get Sam’s BLOG.

The 7 ‘Commandments’ of Homeopathic Healing

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Do you ever go to a single appointment for a health issue with your doctor and then not go back to find out his/her opinion? Do you consider that you know better how your treatment might be progressing than the specialist you have just paid to see? It seems with Homeopathy this can happen and it is easy to understand why. I want to share a patient story from my clinic last week and explain why this happens, so you do not make the same mistake.

The Patient Experience Spectrum

There are two main types of patients in the Homeopathic practice spectrum of experience. At one end of the spectrum we have patients who are using Homeopathy for the very first time. They know someone who has had a good result using Homeopathy so they are prepared to come and give it a go so they have some faith that it might work for them but they do not understand it’s philosophy. Then at the other extreme end of this patient spectrum are the regular Homeopathic users. They have had experience with homeopathy and they always come back when they need it because they know it works and have a good understanding of how it works.

The Importance of the Second Consultation

When Homeopaths prescribe for a patient who is new to Homeopathy there are some key things they need to convey. The Homeopath tries to convey some information about the process of healing that he/she hopes will occur if the medicine is correct. This is important because a new patient of Homeopathy has been conditioned by conventional medicine to expect the following:

  • Immediate but sometimes temporary relief from symptoms
  • Diagnosis or ‘labelling’ so they know where they “FIT”

Although Homeopaths can be very good diagnosticians, we are not really interested in putting patients into boxes. The reason for this is because we are interested in the patient’s individualistic symptomology. We prescribe for the individual, not a disease. Homeopathic medicines do not create side effects, so when we prescribe it is the healing process of the individual that comes into play and when seeing a patient for the first time this can be hard to accurately predict.

A case example from my clinic

Last week for example I had an email from a patient for whom I had recently prescribed. The email suggested that because the patient had since our appointment determined through some testing that she was deficient in certain nutrients that she should “get this sorted” first. The subtext was that in the few days since the prescription, the most debilitating symptom (that she had had for over 3 years and tried countless health modalities – all unsuccessfully) and therefore the symptom of which the patient was most aware, had not changed. Luckily for me this patient was open to discussion and duly returned 10 more days later. The vital importance of this delay will become apparent so read on…..

The 7 ‘Commandments’ of Homeopathic Healing

It seems that as Homeopathy is little understood in the general population it might help to use this case example to explain how Homeopathy heals and what it might look like for you as a patient. The following are 7 pointers that will help you to understand how Homeopathic healing can work and what you can expect.

  • Homeopathy can effect deep and permanent healing – It does not palliate unless poorly prescribed and to effect this deep healing takes time. Sometimes the process of healing might take a path that does not fit with your preconceptions about what it means to get better before you reach your desired outcome.
  • Homeopathic Medicines Do Not Heal You – They act as catalysts or stimuli to enable your body to re-balance and heal itself. This takes time and initial shifts from a deep acting Homeopathic medicine can be subtle at first.
  • Emotional and Mental Symptoms are Just as Important as Physical – When there is a long standing physical complaint or chronic condition the emotional/mental symptoms are always part of the symptomology that needs to be treated. So although you may be desperate for a response to your main physical complaint you may experience subtle emotional/mental shifts first. This is a very god sign that if you hang on in there your physical complaint is highly likely to ameliorate.
  • Homeopaths are Highly Skilled Case Takers. – Homeopaths spend 60-90 minutes at your first consultation because they are trying to really understand you as an individual and how your ill-health impacts on your life and from whence it may have come.
  • The Second Homeopathic Appointment is Crucial – This is the opportunity for the Homeopath who has spent due diligence on your first consultation and prescribing for you to re-evaluate any objective assumptions that may have been made about your case and more importantly to see and evaluate how your healing has progressed. It sometimes happens that a patient returns with a misconception conception that no healing has occurred as their main symptom has not improved. Once in the consultation however and under the detailed questioning of the Homeopath, it becomes clear that there has been amelioration in many other areas and symptoms and that overall there is a significant improvement in their over all well being. Thus they go away smiling and encouraged.
  • Time Needs to Pass Between Appointments – It would be much better for the pockets of Homeopaths to have patients return after a week for follow up appointments. Although this is sometimes appropriate more often than not usually 2-4 weeks are left between appointments. This time is crucial as the body needs time to respond to generate significant healing in chronic cases and if the Homeopath repeats a medicine too soon it can stop the healing process in its tracks.
  • Homeopaths Treat you Gently – If a Homeopathic medicine is prescribed in a potency that is too high for the patient, there is the potential for a strong aggravation of symptoms. This is unpleasant for the patient and is not good news for business either! Homeopaths therefore start gently when they have a new patient and it is after the response to the medicine has been gauged at the second appointment, that the Homeopath can then tell exactly what potency will be exactly right for maximum speed of healing without further distress.
    In summary, Homeopaths work gently and deeply to catalyze your body to heal. It does not do this ‘to you’ and as such the healing is led by your system. This takes time so patience is very important. If you are confused, or unsure of your progress, talk to your Homeopath and make sure you attend your second appointment.

Case Update

My patient did attend their important second appointment 10 days after she was wondering if she should return. In that intervening time she experienced some significant and encouraging shifts in her case and symptoms and was highly encouraged. From my perspective she has made a great start and I am very confident that her case will continue to progress and she will be totally symptom free in due course.

Happy Homeopathic healing to you all!


© Sam Adkins 2011
Would you like to include this article in your newsletter or website?
You can as long as you include the following blurb with it:
This article was brought to you by Sam Adkins The Homeopathic Coach who teaches families about healthy living and natural remedies using homeopathic medicine. An internationally renowned expert, her helpful articles are regularly syndicated online. She publishes the ezine Homeopathy @ Home to provide free Homeopathic tips, tools and resources to educate and inspire you to use Homeopathy at home. Get Sam’s BLOG.

What do YOU Hold Onto?

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Sometimes it’s appropriate to hold on!

Last week in my clinic I treated a diverse range of patients with very different health or emotional complaints. There are two cases that I particularly want to share with you today because they have something in common…….they are both to do with holding on to something. The first is Charlotte who was pregnant and the second was a chronically constipated little boy who we will call Jem.

Charlotte: The Power of Homeopathy and Placebo

Charlotte’s baby was overdue and her obstetrician was pushing for an induction. This is a familiar story except in Charlotte’s case her first birth had been extremely traumatic and she had experienced a spinal leak from an epidural which put her flat on her back in those first precious days after birth which started a whole host of breastfeeding issues. She called in a panic and came to see me to start labour with Homeopathic medicines.
It is my strong belief that a baby who is not ready to be born will not be coaxed out with homeopathy or acupuncture. However, if the mother has emotional reasons either consciously or subconsciously for fearing the birth (and therefore ‘holding on”) , then this can be shifted easily with Homeopathy if the medicines are well selected.
What is incredibly important for an overdue mother is the way in which a Homeopath speaks to the her. I never promise the medicines will definitely work; but usually after talking with an overdue mother and discussing various past experiences and fears and anxieties, it is pretty clear IF she will respond by letting go. The power of placebo in any clinical situation is not to be denied and in a case like this I use it to full effect. If a mother expects to respond to the prescribed homeopathic medicines with labour then she is likely to respond in that way. My role is to prescribe accurately to provide her with the best impetus for allowing birth to happen, and to give her the most positive expectations of an easy birth.
Charlotte gave birth within the next 36 hours from taking the second remedy dose and had a wonderfully easy birth. She was 8 centimetres dilated when she got to hospital and had a natural vaginal birth supported by acupuncture.

Jem: A Tale of Holding on

Jem came to me at 2 and a half years old with chronic constipation which had been an issue since 4 months old. He would get ‘frantic’ when passing a stool and was generally whingy and clingy and extremely demanding. He also threw major tantrums with screaming.
After spending an hour taking Jem’s case and discussing him with his mother, as well as playing with him, I prescribed Homeopathic medicines for his condition.
When he returned two weeks later his mother was delighted. He started doing regular stools immediately after taking the medicine. He was calmer, less demanding and is experiencing many less tantrums. He is also saying goodbye to his mother happily at daycare.
His gastroenterologist examined his abdomen and said he was ’empty’ which is a great sign.
Jem’s mother and I are extremely happy with this outcome so far. The next steps are for him to come slowly off his laxatives with the support of his GP and to maintain the regularity of the bowel movements. In addition we will work on developing his delayed speech.

Two Different Expression of “Holding on”

Two cases in the same day but both essentially around the same issue of retention. The body energetically cannot allow things to pass through if there is fear associated with letting go. Sometimes there are very good reasons why we “hold on” but often when this causes a corresponding pathological response, we need to be able to” Let Go.” Homeopathy is subtle and dynamic and make an amazing difference in these cases. This type of prescribing is called Constitutional prescribing and requires a qualified and experienced Homeopath.

Happy Homeopathic healing to you all!


© Sam Adkins 2011
Would you like to include this article in your newsletter or website?
You can as long as you include the following blurb with it:
This article was brought to you by Sam Adkins The Homeopathic Coach who teaches families about healthy living and natural remedies using homeopathic medicine. An internationally renowned expert, her helpful articles are regularly syndicated online. She publishes the ezine Homeopathy @ Home to provide free Homeopathic tips, tools and resources to educate and inspire you to use Homeopathy at home. Get Sam’s BLOG.

Depression and Your Thyroid

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There is a very strong chemical relationship between the levels of certain ‘happy hormones’ (neurotransmitters) in your brain, and your thyroid hormones. In carrying out some research recently this intrigued me and I wanted to share it with you.

The Seratonin Connection

You have probably heard of Seratonin? It’s one of the key neurotransmitters in the brain that help us to feel happy and content. Interestingly however it has been discovered that when the levels of Seratonin fall, the pituitary gland (the master gland in the body) reacts by ensuring more TSH Thyroid Stimulating hormone is produced to ensure the thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormones. This is important because thyroid hormones enhance the action of Seratonin in your brain cells. Although it’s not conclusive, it seems that without adequate thyroid hormones particularly T3, the brain cannot use the available Seratonin adequately and this can cause depression.

Scientific Study Links Underactive thyroid with Depression

In a study where severely depressed patients were screened for thyroid disease 15% had an under active thyroid but even more important than that was that in most cases the thyroid was only slightly under functioning. It seems that in susceptible people, just a slight under functioning of the thyroid can tip them into depression.
(M.S Gold, A L C Pottach and I. Extein “Symptomless autoimmune thyroiditis in Depression”. Psychiatry Research 6 142 1982 :262-269).
“It is now understood that thyroid hormones are one of the key aspects of brain chemistry disorders.” (p82 The Thyroid Solution: Ridha Arem M.D.Ballantine Books 2007)

What does T3 do in the Brain?

As more research is gathered it appears that the thyroid hormone known as T3 is an absolutely essential brain chemical. This means that if your levels are inadequate, your brain will not function correctly. T3 is found in the synapses (junctions) between nerve cells in the brain where nerves communicate with one another and as I have said, T3 regulates the action of Seratonin as well as noradrenlaine and GABA. All of these chemicals are significant players in depressive states.

Anxiety and Your Thyroid

In the USA 27% of adults suffer from an anxiety disorder in their lifetime; and 15 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder at any given moment. That’s a lot of anxiety!
It is postulated that noradrenaline imbalances in the brain may be responsible for anxiety disorders or panic attacks.
If your thyroid hormones are not available in sufficient quantities then imbalances in noradrenaline can occur.
It seems that a well balanced amount of available T3 in the brain is essential for maintaining mood stability.
If you are prone to anxiety and/or depression for no apparent reason then you should:
Get your thyroid function checked. Ask for TSH, T4, T3 and reverse T3 as well as thyroid antibodies.
Check your Iodine levels as inadequate iodine can cause the thyroid to under function.

The importance of Selenium

Selenium should be available in foods we eat from our soil but although some areas of the world have adequate Selenium levels , many do not. Selenium is a component of the enzyme that converts thyroid hormone T4 to active T3. Deficiencies of Selenium can definitely impair thyroid function and induce hypothyroidism. Low levels of Selenium can promote autoimmune attacks on the Thyroid. However research as shown that too much can also affect thyroid function adversely so it is advisable to take it under the guidance of a natural or nutritional practitioner.

If you are living in the UK and Europe then your dietary levels of Selenium have dropped by 50% in the last decade. Readers from the USA are more likely to have adequate Selenium levels as the soil has a better Selenium content.

The Importance of Iodine

Too much Iodine can cause autoimmune attacks on the Thyroid gland. Too little can cause under function. So it is vital to have your Iodine levels checked by your primary care physician.

The Vitamin A connection

Vitamin A is essential for the conversion of T4 to T3. Too much animal based vitamin A can be toxic so get your Vitamin A from plant based sources such as the potent antioxidants carotinoid beta-carotene.

Antioxidants and The Thyroid

Thyroid imbalance can cause you to become deficient in antioxidants, thereby promoting excessive free radical production. Overactive thyroid cause greater consumption of oxygen in the body which is toxic to cells. Supplementing with vitamins C and E helps clear damaging oxidants.

If you suffer from depression and have not had your thyroid function adequately checked then make an appointment to do so today.

Happy Homeopathic healing to you all!


© Sam Adkins 2011
Would you like to include this article in your newsletter or website?
You can as long as you include the following blurb with it:
This article was brought to you by Sam Adkins The Homeopathic Coach who teaches families about healthy living and natural remedies using homeopathic medicine. An internationally renowned expert, her helpful articles are regularly syndicated online. She publishes the ezine Homeopathy @ Home to provide free Homeopathic tips, tools and resources to educate and inspire you to use Homeopathy at home. Get Sam’s BLOG.

How Hormones Can Make You Fat?

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Do you carry excess weight and never seem to lose it no matter what you do? Would you like to know why this might be and how you can do things differently?

There are highly complex interactions chemically and hormonally that can affect our weight. Although it is very complex overall, there are five key players that I will concentrate on in this post, because when you  have an understanding about these players, it will really help you to be as healthy as you can and lose weight.
We are talking about:
  • Leptin
  • Insulin
  • Ghrelin
  • Thyroid Hormones (T3 and T4)
  • Cortisol

Leptin

Coming from the Greek ‘leptos’ meaning thin, Leptin reduces appetite and increases your metabolic rate. Leptin is produced by fat cells so it stands to reason that people who are overweight have high Leptin levels. However, After a few days on a restricted calorie diet Leptin levels naturally fall in response to the fall in total calorie intake. Our metabolic rate also falls subsequently and this means it’s not only harder to lose the weight but also easier to put it back on. You see only after a week of dieting, your Leptin levels can fall by 50%!!
The trouble is that not only does Leptin fall but this drop affects other important hormones that I will talk about later in the post….Thyroid hormones (hormones extremely important to metabolism) respond by falling, and the abdominal fat-storing stress hormone cortisol shoots up!

Insulin

Produced by the pancreas in response to abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood (such as when we eat a chocolate bar or anything containing simple sugars), Insulin gives the body a very powerful message:
“Get these sugar levels down as fast as you can by storing them as fat”!
So ANYTIME you have eaten simple sugars and your blood sugar levels are raised above the acceptably healthy range, you are asking your body to deposit fat.

What is Ghrelin?

Ghrelin is a hormone released by your digestive tract that regulates your levels of satiety. When you miss meals Ghrelin levels increase and make you want to eat more. This is why eating small and frequent meals is a very effective adjunct to a weight loss and healthy eating plan because this helps keep your Ghrelin levels steady and therefore keep you feeling satisfied. Excess Ghrelin has the effect of slowing your metabolism so the saying that excess weight causes excess hunger is absolutely true in this case!

Thyroid Hormones

If your thyroid gland is under functioning this means you have lower levels of the thyroid hormones T4/T3. These hormones regulate your metabolic rate and as such a lack of them means a slow down in metabolic rate. This is turn means fewer calories are required and weight gain is almost inevitable. Thyroid hormones interact with Ghrelin and other chemicals that tell us when we are full, so if your thyroid hormones are inadequate your Ghrelin levels will be out of balance and you will want to eat more. In addition, thyroid hormones are important for Leptin levels, because when T4/T3 is present in insufficient levels the effectiveness of Leptin is reduced.
In addition, it is understood that Thyroid hormones help chemical transmitters in the brain function effectively. Some of these chemicals are involved in regulation of satiety, taste and food choice. If your thyroid hormones are out of wack, the levels of these brain chemicals change and so does your food behaviour. As Ridha Arem says in his informative book “The Thyroid Solution” to which I am indebted for information, ” thyroid hormones also have direct effects on the appetite centres in the brain” (p123).
If you have unexplained weight gain as well as fatigue, it may be wise to see your doctor to get your thyroid levels checked. In this case ask for your TSH, T4, T3, reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies.

Cortisol

Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands. See more info on these important glands here. Stress can cause high levels of Cortisol to be present and when this happens more visceral abdominal fat is stored. Some people have a greater Cortisol response than others to the same stressors and may be more sensitive to the effects of their own Cortisol. So relaxation is key for weight loss!
So what are the Key steps for a healthy eating plan for weight loss? The mainstay of any effective weight loss is that it is slow and part of a permanent healthy eating plan.

Here are my top 10 healthy weight loss tips:

  1. Relax: Make sure you have a regular activity that promotes relaxation in your day/week. This may be exercise, meditation, yoga or Tai Chi.
  2. Exercise 4-5 days a week
  3. Eat frequent and small meals with a protein source in each one.
  4. Choose complex carbohydrates instead of simple carbs to keep insulin levels low
  5. Never ever eat hydrogenated fats
  6. Avoid saturated fats from animal sources and get your good fats from sources such as avocado and flax seeds.
  7. Add an Omega 3 supplement into your diet
  8. Drink 8 glasses of water a day and eliminate all other calorie laden drinks
  9. Get sufficient sleep to help maintain your Leptin levels
  10. One day a week have a cheat day and eat some foods containing high carbs and fat to trick your body into raising your Leptin levels again.

Happy Homeopathic healing to you all!


© Sam Adkins 2011
Would you like to include this article in your newsletter or website?
You can as long as you include the following blurb with it:
This article was brought to you by Sam Adkins The Homeopathic Coach who teaches families about healthy living and natural remedies using homeopathic medicine. An internationally renowned expert, her helpful articles are regularly syndicated online. She publishes the ezine Homeopathy @ Home to provide free Homeopathic tips, tools and resources to educate and inspire you to use Homeopathy at home. Get Sam’s BLOG.