Four things I learned from my homoeopathy consultation
Me, a Pulsatilla patient? surely not!
World Homoeopathy Day is observed every year on April 10 to commemorate the birthday of Dr Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy. In a three-week series, Berea Mail journalist, Danica Hansen has been finding out how homoeopathy works. Fascinated by what she learned, Danica decided to book a consultation and experience homoeopathy for herself- this is what she learned.
I WAS not sure what to expect as I arrived to meet Ingrid Couchman, a lecturer at Durban University of Technology (DUT), who holds a MTech in homoeopathy. When I made my appointment I asked for help with insomnia- a struggle I’ve faced on and off throughout my life.
With insomnia, each day feels like a marathon, simple tasks can become overwhelming – it affects your mental, physical and emotional well-being. Needless to say, I have tried every home remedy, fad and supplement I could find over the years- from boiling banana peels to sleep Apps and swimming laps. I have seen allopathic doctors and even tried counselling, in a bid to pinpoint whether my insomnia was caused by a physical issue like a vitamin deficiency or a mental problem like anxiety – I really didn’t think I could learn anything new from homoeopathy, but Couchman proved me wrong- here are four things I noticed:
1. Homoeopaths take their time
My appointment lasted more than an hour as Couchman asked me questions about my upbringing, my favorite foods, my bedtime routine, and what makes me tick. As she took the time to listen, Couchman painted a picture of who I am.
ALSO READ: World Homoeopathy Day: Taking homoeopathy to the people
2. It’s all connected
I learnt that diagnosing my problem was not a matter of differentiating between physical and mental issues, but understanding how they connect. Couchman even delved into aspects of my personality, distinguishing between nature and nurture. I identified myself as a perfectionist early in the appointment, and by the end, Couchman had me questioning if perfectionism is really part of my personality or just learned behavior. More importantly, she explained how it affects my ability to catch those Z’s.
3. Questions lead to answers
At times I struggled to answer Coucman’s questions – it proved challenging to look within, to remember what topics tend to crop up in my dreams and decipher my own unique quirks. By answering her questions, I learned more about myself.
ALSO READ: How holistic is homoeopathy?
4. Homoeopaths are super observant
At the end of our chat, Couchman had a remedy to prescribe and she didn’t miss a beat! She prescribed Pulsatilla. Derived from a flower, Pulsatilla is sometimes referred to as the ‘queen of homeopathic remedies’. It is used to treat a wide range of ailments, especially those of an emotional nature. But, what made this more interesting is that this plant is prescribed to people who fit a particular profile. I asked Couchman to explain her diagnosis and she read from her homoeopathy book that Pulsatilla patients are usually weepy, sensitive, shy, introspective, and anxious. I wondered about the ‘weepy’ part, pointing out that I didn’t cry during the session. But nothing got past Couchman- she said she noticed when tears came to my eyes, even though they didn’t fall. I’m not sure I identify with everything on the list, but the remedy did send me into a sound slumber, so call me Pulsatilla and print me a T-shirt! If the shoe fits, why not put it on?
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