Here is the story of a day in my homeopathy clinic last week.  It is a typical day in many ways.  I saw roughly half of these clients at my clinic and talked to half by remote video call.  It was a good mixture of children and adults and of first appointments and follow up appointments.  It included children with special needs and people with thyroid imbalances.  These are areas in which I have a particular interest.  However, there were also plenty of other reasons for people booking in too.  The variety is part of what I love about my job.

(I have consent for this blog post from all those discussed.)

Appointment 1: Pre- & post-op advice

My day starts at 8.30 with a lady whom I have treated in the past but whose last appointment was 5 years ago.  She is returning because she is having an operation soon and wants pre- and post-op advice.  We talk about remedies to ease anxiety beforehand and to support healing afterwards.  I suggest a selection of remedies for her to have available.  I also write out some notes for her on which remedy to use in which circumstances.  She tells me she feels much better for having some options available if needed.

Appointment 2: Autism, CFS / POTS & Thyroid imbalance

Next is a follow up for a girl diagnosed with autism (ASD) who also suffers with chronic fatigue (CFS) and a thyroid imbalance.  It is a complex situation and I have talked to her mother about the need to take things gently in this case.  Today we focus on addressing the fact that she is light-headed and dizzy frequently.   A diagnosis of Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) has been proposed on the basis of this.  She doesn’t drink enough and is especially drained after her periods.  I prescribe the remedy china for support with these issues. We discuss some lifestyle measures to help too and book a review in a few weeks.

Appointment 3: Autism, Sensory processing difficulties, Language Delay

I go straight on to a video call about a new autistic 5 year old.  I talk to both his parents and observe him too.  It is a first appointment and they are looking for homeopathic help focusing particularly on his sensory processing sensitivities and language delay.   I learn that he has made progress with a biomedical doctor and occupational therapist but they are hoping for more, particularly as he is not talking yet.  He has a significant history of conventional medications including antibiotics and anaesthetics and we discuss the possible benefits of some remedies to help rebalance his system after these.  We agree to start with a remedy matched to him overall to stimulate healing, alongside remedies to address his severe constipation.  I am hoping to see an improvement in this so that he is in a better position to get benefit from future remedies.

Appointment 4: Lingering Virus

I now see a lady in her 70s who has been struggling to bounce back after a lingering virus.  I prescribe a remedy that I feel covers the total picture well, taking into account physical and emotional symptoms, with a view to supporting her all round.

Appointment 5: Fibroids, Thyroid, Abdominal pain, Fatigue

My morning ends with another 1st appointment.  This lady has booked in for help with fatigue, abdominal pain linked to fibroids and a possible thyroid imbalance.  She has a history of several gynaecological problems.  We talk about her life more generally and what she is like as a person.  As a homeopath I focus on treating the individual person rather than their medical diagnosis and so these aspects are always important in selecting the most appropriate homeopathic remedies.  After reflecting on the case later, I send her a starting prescription and look forward to seeing how she is after a few weeks.

After some lunch and a bit of fresh air, I am back ready for an afternoon at my clinic.

Appointment 6: Eczema, Behavioural difficulties

Now I meet for the first time a 7 year old with some eczema patches and who is presenting difficult behaviour at home.  I have already taken some details of the behavioural challenges from her mother and we are careful not to discuss these negatively while she is listening.  I have a good chat with the young girl and after some initial nervousness she settles in to the process well and tells me what she likes to eat, how she sleeps, what she enjoys doing and how school is.  We talk around what she finds scary and what makes her angry and I collect the information I need for a homeopathic prescription.  I also suggest some homeopathically prepared herbs in liquid form to help calm her and which can be used regularly but also as and when she is feeling emotionally overwhelmed.

Appointment 7: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Next is a follow up appointment for a teenager with chronic fatigue (CFS).  She has just managed to sit some GCSEs (with an invigilator coming to her home).  It has been tiring but she is pleased with how she has managed this.  She has found it helpful having both the overall remedy I had prescribed for her fatigue and a more specific remedy for exam nerves.  Now she can relax a bit over the summer and hopes to be able to get out a little to see friends.  I prescribe the same remedy again to continue the work on building her energy levels.

Appointment 8: Tuberous Sclerosis

I now see a young girl with moderate learning difficulties and behavioural issues linked to Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), a genetic condition.  She is always a delight in clinic so I combine my observations of her there with information from her mother about challenges at home.  She has previously done well when I prescribed proteus, a type of homeopathic remedy known as a bowel nosode.  I decide the time has come to repeat this, followed by another related remedy that covers the difficulties she has with memory and learning.  I shall be interested to see how she gets on when we review progress in a few weeks.

Appointment 9: Molluscum

Time for my last appointment of the day.  It is a second consultation for an 8 year old with a skin condition called molluscum contagiosum.  I see a good number of children with this as there is little conventional treatment for it.  Although it will eventually go by itself, it can be unsightly meanwhile.  There has been some progress – no new spots (it was spreading last time), some spots have cleared and others are less inflamed and obvious.  She tells me she is no longer self-conscious about taking her cardigan off at school – good news given the recent hot weather!  I give her a second prescription and agree with her mother that she will just drop me an email to let me know if further treatment is required.

It’s now 6pm and time to head home.  I shall do a bit more work on some of these cases this evening.  That way, I can send prescriptions out to everyone as soon as possible.  Then I’ll make sure I manage a bit of an unwind so I am fresh for clinic again tomorrow.