Dear Lisa,

it is not wrong to give a remedy just prior to some ordeal, and if we as Homoeopaths prescribe it to a patient we have some influence over, then that is ok. But I don't like to send people off taking a remedy for a few days before anything has even happened yet, as there is the possibility of a proving, and if they have no homoeopath to advise or back them up, that can make an operation even more complicated.

The idea of prophelaxis in homoeopathy is a tricky one - we never know how any patient will respond when the trauma happens - we can only assume, and you know the saying.....

I have seen patients given Arnica develop flu-like symptoms( aching, restless, bed seems hard) or even bruising before operations, and the doctors treat it like some new state or postpone the operation.

So I am very cautious prescribing on a state that does not yet exist but I predict will exist. I prefer to treat the feelings the patient exhibits prior to the op (Calc, Gels, Acon, Ars etc) and use the trauma remedies after. Using the remedy on the same day of the op is ok, I think. Less chance of a proving.