I was wondering what the consensus was on the treatment of acutes?

I do not always seek help for my acutes, except when they could cause havoc. For intance, I don't seek treatment for colds, flus, minor skin irritations, bowel troubles, etc. I figure it is just my body dumping whatever it doesn't want and the conditions usually don't last very long. I take the rest my body tells me it needs and then move on.

I have regular constitutional treatment and, it seems to me, that when I do seek help for my acutes, the constitutional remedy, re-taken, seems to clear them. Either that, or it is an old symptom (which fits in with my constitutional remedy) popping its head up for a short time before disappearing never to be seen again.

It is very rarely that I need to take an acute remedy.

I was curious as to the thoughts of others on how to handle their own acute disruptions, and those of their patients.

Replies gratefully received.

I agree it isn't good to pop a remedy for every acute that comes up!! It can be suppressive in the long run.

Ricky posted a good point tho, about some acutes that point to the acute remedy of the constitutional remedy a patient is on. This aids and hastens cure from my understanding.

Personally, I don't want to take anything for an acute unless it is glaringly obvious that something is needed (life-threatening or unbearably painful ).
Lisa

Crikey! You guys must have some very patient patients. And our materia medicas full of provings on acute states and nobody wants to use them!
My experience is that if I administer an acute remedy at the start of an acute flare-up I can shorten the 'bell-shape curve' time span of the episode. Then return to the fundamental or constitutional layer, (hooray for lower potencies and LMs where this is possible). If the acute state is well under way then it will be a different remedy picture to the beginning stage but some relief can still be given.
To me, not treating an acute is like saying to a patient, "Too bad, come back when you feel better". If the acute physical symptoms are the result of an emotional release then the counselling aspect of homeopathic treatment comes to the fore. My responsibility towards my patients is not to desert them when the going gets tough. Healing is not always about just giving a pill, but hey remember, even Hahnemann gave placebos sometimes.

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Chris Gillen
Member AHA (Australia)

chrisg, that's not what I meant, and I don't think the others meant that either. It's more the case that many people find this bb and have no experience of consulting a homoeopath, no knowledge of what is going on constitutionally for them, and they post an acute. With just the acute picture, and little or no knowledge of the case it is often difficult to find a remedy that will help the acute - which is why between us we often come up with so many different remedy ideas. If we had the patient in our office during times of peace, then when the war came along we could help much more effectively - either with a repeat of the constitutional remedy or a follower of it or a complement of it, as noted above by Ricky, Lisa and of course Simone.

Agree. Acute prescribing is not the best that homoeopathy can do. It is also often very difficult when a full case has not been taken and the constitutional state is not known.

Simone - what you do is correct. Your constitutional will often be found to be the best remedy for you in an acute. However with some constitutional remedies they have a specific acute which goes with it e.g.the acur of Calc. is usually Bell.

I often treat a patients acute presentations if I get the chance, it is in fact EASIER than constitutional prescribing. I have laboured long and hard to get them to call me when they are sick rather than popping an asprin or going to the doctor. I have had some of my best breakthroughs during so called "acute" stages - sometimes I have been unable to solve the case until they come in with the flu or whatever. Acutes are often merely flare ups of their miasms, and you can really improve their health a step by prudent prescribing at this point.

Acutes are an opportunity not to be missed!! They seem scary, but are actually the clearest cases you will see.

And it does your reputation wonders.

But most of all I don't want those careless Allopaths mucking up my cases. Some of my patients have caused me sleepless nights trying to get the answer to their problems, and I'll be damned if I let some doctor ruin it in 5 thoughtless minutes.


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David Kempson
Dip.Homoeopathic Medicine
Member A.H.A(Australia)

David, I totally agree with you! Well put!!Bravo!!

I say that because when I posted earlier - I had in mind what Anna alluded to with patients coming to the BB and I didn't and don't want people to get the impression if they are under a Homeopath's care that they should just treat the acutes themselves for the very reasons to you beautifully stated above.

Okay, there ARE situations where an acute is not necessarily "a flair up of their miasm"..e.g. in accidents or injuries.

I thought your last sentence was so candidly funny - it made me laugh. Too right!! But would you want your patients getting crazy with a home kit of 30c's - treating their 'acute' colds at home? (that was kinda my point )...

So, the beat goes on....
Lisa

My first thought when I first read your initial post Simone, was you are getting good constitutional treatment!!

I think acute flare ups are more bearable when having good costitutional treatment. I have experienced this too in the past, I found it very interesting!!

The other side as expressed by ChrisG is that flare ups or acutes can be very frightening for patients especially if they are new to homeopathy. It can be very reassuring to be prescribed a remedy which eases the situation. Yes, it's good for the homeopaths reputation, good for the patient's confidence in their healer. Possibly good for the reputation of homeopathy in the long run? If that patient then sticks with the homeopath, sees their treatment through and sees good results, that has got to be good. hopefully they will 'spread the word'!!

And we wouldn't want David to be losing sleep would we

I thought Chris' post was excellent, and I couldn't have said it better myself. You don't know what a particular acute is going to turn into! I remember many years ago, I had the beginning signs of a bladder infection, but I just went on my merry way, figuring it wasn't that bad. In roughly 2 or 3 hours, I was so sick I thought I was going to die!

You can prevent chronic disease by treating acutes as they come up. Ignatia will never become nat-m., kali bich. won't move into thuja, and so on.

Never Well Since a flu.... I had that too. Luckly I stumbled across a homeopathic remedy; I was fortunate, because in those days, only combination remedies in dropper bottles were sold in health food stores. But I tried one and it worked!

Thanks Chris, I hope to read a lot more from you!

Snoopy