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What is Homœopathy? Homœopathy is a system of medicine that was devised and developed by Samuel Hahnemann in the late 18th Century. Its roots, however, go back much further, through Medical Science, Alchemy, Herbalism to the indigenous healing and divination systems that we call Shamanism. Homœopathic medicine is not always easy to practice but its principles are very simple:The first principle is the law of similars, or "like cures like." This is based on the concept that the organism is always attempting to heal itself. Homœopathy seeks to harness this self healing tendency by stimulating and supporting the "defence mechanism" rather than taking over from it. Secondly, in order to achieve this self healing process, we simply administer a substance that produces similar symptoms in a healthy person, for example a patient suffering from hay fever with sneezing and burning in the nose may be given a remedy made from onions. In other words, by amplifying the essential symptoms of the complaint, we stimulate the defence system to wake up and fight back. Lastly Hahnemann discovered that you don’t need toxic doses of a substance to achieve this effect. Indeed, by diluting and vigorously shaking a solution of any given remedy we can still alert the body’s defence system without any danger of side effects or poisoning. Although some may find these ideas far fetched, the fact is that Homœopathy continues to thrive after more than 200 years, and furthermore it is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the second most widely used therapeutic system in the world. What are the advantages of Homœopathy? Patients are treated as unique individuals Rather than labelling you as suffering from ‘such and such’ a disease, a Homœopath will listen to your story and respond in a relaxed and non-judgmental way. Homœopathic remedies work without side effects, in harmony with the body’s own healing powers. Homœopaths take all aspects of a person into account when making a diagnosis, therefore physical symptoms, emotions, sleep patterns and even family dynamics are considered before a prescription is made. Homœopathic medicines are prepared in a way that doesn’t deplete natural resources or harm the environment. What does the Welsh School Offer? We offer an education in Homœopathic Medicine to practitioner level and beyond into the realms of continued supervision and peer support. To educate means literally to lead out, and this is the prime objective of the course; namely to lead out the healer within. Whilst we are aware of the academic standards necessary for good Homœopathic training, we are also aware that each student brings with them a storehouse of valuable life experience. Together we will work towards bringing that experience to fruition, enabling it to mature and thus become of real value in the community. With this in mind we limit the number of participants to 20 per year. By working in a small group we can maximise personal involvement and facilitate close working relationships between the students themselves and their tutors and teachers "The Physician’s highest and only calling is to restore the sick to health, to cure, as it is called." Thus spoke Samuel Hahnemann in the opening paragraph of "The Organon of Medicine," in which he describes the principles and practice of Homœopathy. It is these principles that are the guiding light of our teaching and practice. Using Hahnemann’s work as our foundation we draw upon his inspiration and the developments of his successors, from the early 19th Century to the present day, to provide a sound philosophical basis for the practice of Homœopathy. Vocation The idea of "calling" suggests that we are already in possession of that body of knowledge and skill that makes us effective in our life’s purpose. Vocation is not so much to do with what is learned – rather it is developed and followed. The system of Education that we follow is directly appropriate to adults in pursuit of their vocation. Our aim is to work together to continually develop the raw material, i.e. the students’ thoughts, feelings and inspirations, which are based upon a developed imagination and an already considerable volume of meaningful life experience. Our system has been described as a "Spiral Curriculum." This involves covering the principles and philosophy of Homœopathy in a broad sweep and then returning and deepening as time goes on, with new experiences and insights to illuminate the material. In other words, the focus is on an organic and creative system, firmly structured and boundaried by the principles of Homœopathic philosophy, rather than the type of modular system more appropriate to secondary education in schools. Through this deepening process over the four years, our students develop a greater understanding of the art of Homœopathy and its medicines, rather than simply acquiring vast amounts of information. In other words, we’re interested in the process of education – its fluid nature, unexpectedness and diversity rather than fulfilling criteria. This, we believe, must be the most effective way to approach issues of health and healing which are, in themselves, fluid and unpredictable. Goethe, a contemporary of Hahnemann’s, wrote on the subject of calling. "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." |
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