Why you should stop taking a homeopathic remedy as soon as you feel better
One of the most common pieces of advice we give people when they are self-prescribing is to “stop when you start feeling better.”
This can sometimes surprise people who are new to homeopathy. They may be used to taking a daily tablet and finishing a full course of medicine such as anti-biotics.
This is where homeopathy differs from conventional medicine. It gently stimulates the body to feel better, in fact less is often more.
What happens if you keep taking a remedy when you feel better?
Let’s say you’ve been dealing with headaches, and you take a remedy which helps you to feel better. Your head pain has lifted your mind feels clearer, maybe you’re even sleeping better.
To be on the “safe side” you decide to continue taking the remedy because the last thing you want is for your headache to return. Then something strange happens. You may notice your headache has returned even though you are taking the remedies. Or maybe a different symptom might appear.
What’s going on? This is because you might be what is known as “proving” the remedy.
What is a "proving"?
In homeopathy, a “proving” is how we discover new remedies and what a remedy can do. New remedies are tested on healthy people (no animal testing with homeopathy).
Healthy people take repeated doses of the new remedy. They keep a detailed journal of any changes they notice—physically, mentally and emotionally. These can include anything from strange dreams to new aches or shifts in mood.
These symptoms that are produced in a healthy person helps build a picture of the remedy’s effects—what kinds of symptoms it can cause in a healthy person. That information is then used to match remedies to people who are unwell with similar symptoms. They are all meticulously recorded in a Materia Medica and a Repertory.
This is all based one of the homeopathic principle of “like cures like.” A substance that can cause symptoms in a healthy person can relieve those same symptoms in someone who is suffering with them.
So how does that relate to me?
Therefore, if you take a remedy that matches your symptoms it will usually stimulate your body’s natural healing response and your symptoms should ease. If however you keep taking it beyond the point of improvement, it can start to act like a “proving”. In other words, you may begin to recreate symptoms the remedy is known to cause.
This doesn’t mean any harm is done to the body but it is a very clear sign to stop.
A simple rule is to stop when you feel better
A good analogy is it is like watering a plant. If your plant is dry, it needs water but once the soil is moist and the plant is thriving, more and more water doesn’t help. In fact, it can cause problems to the plant. The same goes for homeopathy and once your system has responded, the job is done.
What if I took too many pillules?
If you accidentally take a remedy too often, or keep going after you’ve improved there is no need to worry. Any effects of a proving are temporary. These will usually fade once you stop taking the remedy but it’s a good reminder to be mindful of how often you are taking the remedies.
If you’re unsure whether to continue or stop, that’s the perfect time to check in with your homeopath. This is why when you are under the care of a professional homeopath they want to see you for regular follow up appointments. During the follow up we assess how your body has responded to the remedies and what needs to be done next.
In a nutshell
- Homeopathic remedies are gentle but powerful.
- Take only as much as you need.
- Stop once you see a clear improvement.
- If symptoms return or change, don’t self-dose seek professional help and advice from your homeopath.
You can learn more about remedies and homeopathy's principles to help you to self prescribe on my Home Prescribing Course.