More information coming soon

Saturday 20th April 2013

Hormonal Haze

with key speaker Linda Gwillim RSHom

at University of Bristol, School of Chemistry, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1TS

Join colleagues this spring for an informative day at the Society spring
conference and AGM.

The day will begin at 10.00am with a two hour presentation by popular teacher Linda Gwillim.

After lunch, there is an opportunity for you to become involved in the vital
business of the Society and for registered members to elect new directors at the
AGM. In addition to the presentation of 2012′s activities, this is a chance to
discuss the issues of the day. The notice about who has been nominated and
those seeking re-election will be sent to you together with details of the Annual
Review in early April.

The day will draw to a close with a complimentary drinks reception, 35th anniversary cake and live jazz.

Don’t forget to book your travel early to make the most of the generous savings
offered by the various railway networks.

Only £40 to attend presentation. AGM free to Society members.

Student discount available.

For further information and booking form click here.

Kindly sponsored by Helios, Nelsons, Weleda and Kent Homeopathic Associates

An exciting and varied series of continuing professional development (CPD) workshops is in the pipeline over the coming months, following hot on the heels of a popular autumn programme.

The workshops, taking place at venues across the UK, including Edinburgh, Bristol, Cardiff, Northampton and London, include materia medica, marketing and research.

Acting CPD coordinator Marie McShea says: “In planning the programme for the spring and summer we have responded to requests from members bringing back some of the very popular speakers, as well as being able to introduce some new people.
We are so pleased to be able to put on this programme with such experienced and inspirational colleagues and look forward to some exciting days”

In Bristol Dr Elizabeth Thompson will be talking about how to expand our knowledge of tree remedies. She says: “There are some wonderful provings and cases that will bring us closer to understanding these ancient and loyal assistants in the healing arts.”
Dr Elizabeth Thompson is lead clinician for the thriving outpatient service from the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital with a team of six doctors. She is a fellow of the Faculty of Homeopathy and is the academic director for a five-year academic teaching programme, and comes back by popular request.

‘Embracing Trees’ will take place in Bristol on Friday May 10.

Later in May Jo Evans, a busy homeopath based in London, will be sharing insights about sea remedies, developing themes explored in her recently published book Sea Remedies: Evolution of the Senses.  Based on cases, provings and materia medica, Jo will give you the opportunity to explore your knowledge, working from well known remedies such as Calc carb to related shell remedies, and from Sepia to other cephalopods such octopus and squid, and going on to explore when to prescribe a jellyfish remedy, a coral, a seahorse, a starfish and many others.

‘Sea Remedies’ will take place in London on Friday May 17.

Meanwhile in Edinburgh, Jackie McTaggart will be presenting a day on the Lanthanides. She will be exploring how to use these newer remedies and clarifying their place in the periodic table using video cases. Jackie is known as an interesting and stimulating teacher who presents material in an accessible, down to earth way. As one participant from a previous course says “Studying the Lanthanides with Jackie has been like a light bulb going on”.

Jackie has a long running and busy homeopathic practice working in South Manchester and the city centre. She is a lecturer at the North West College of Homeopathy as well as running training courses for homeopaths.

‘The Lanthanides’ will take place in Edinburgh on Friday May 17.

Geoff Johnson is one of our most popular teachers and we are really pleased he has agreed to present a further workshop in Cardiff. Entitled ‘taking to the air’,  Geoff will look at the insect and bird families. As Geoff says: “The feature that defines these families is flight. There is a better world out there. However, how they attempt to achieve it, and what prevents them, guides us to the remedy. Come and experience the fierce spirituality of the birds, and attempt to escape from the violence and filth of the insects.”
Geoff qualified as a vet from Cambridge in 1987 and he now runs a homeopathy-only practice for both humans and animals in his home village in Somerset.

‘Taking to the Air’ will be in Cardiff on Friday July 12.

In June in Northampton, Tina Burchill will discuss how to turn homeopathy and your practice into the good news that local media and the community want to hear about. This session will be workshop based, and focus on communication and how to effectively spread the word to generate more patients. The day will include how to explain homeopathy quickly and effectively, finding the news in your own story, how to write effective marketing material and how to write a press release and get it published.

Tina Burchill RSHom worked for 18 years as a journalist in regional newspapers and as a freelance, writing articles for the Telegraph, the Times and national magazines. She has been the editor of the Society’s Newsletter since 2003.

‘Talk it up’ will be in Northampton -  Friday June 21.

The research committee has developed a workshop following on from the recent autumn local meetings.  It will be a practically orientated day to help you to collect and analyse data from your own practice. Philippa Fibert will demonstrate how she is using MYMOP in her research into the treatment of children with ADHD. Hugh Harrison will introduce the assessment tool he is developing, based on Hering’s law of cure (see the Winter 2012 issue of the Homeopath). Julie Smith will introduce audit skills to enable you to review and make improvements to a particular aspect of the service you offer.

‘The case for homeopathy – assessment in our own practice’ will be in London on Friday June 14.

For further information and to book visit www.homeopathy-soh.org/for-homeopaths/cpdev.aspx or call booking line 01604 817890

Free access to the Society’s intranet system First Class Mail (FCM) will kick off the 35^th year of promoting high standards of homeopathic practice, as this landmark year sees the Society continuing its drive to improve the second-to-none professional membership package.

The use of FCM has previously incurred a small fee, but following a change in service provider and the negotiation of greatly reduced costs of licenses and other requirements, it can now be offered as part of the extensive range of services for members.

FCM offers members a “Society” email address, and a secure environment to discuss and share information and ideas with other members in the form of a bulletin board and chat facility. Folder topics currently include news, genus epidemicus, practice management, difficult cases and materia medica.

Other support services will continue to provide members with the information they need for all aspects of practice, from professional conduct concerns to professional insurance all backed up by an expert team and free access to 24 hour confidential legal and counselling helplines.

Practical business support continues to be popular with members, made available via a range of services including the newly launched RSHom business clinic fact sheets, local press releases, free Homeopathy Awareness Week merchandise, reduced priced business coaching and a range of competitively priced patient merchandise from the Society’s shop TradCo.

A popular part of the Society membership package are the flagship publications – the Newsletter and the Journal – which offer members the opportunity to keep in touch with the latest developments in the field of homeopathy and the homeopathic community. Adding to this service during 2012 saw the introduction of three e-newsletters for general news and CPD, ensuring members were kept up to date with the latest information on a regular basis.

Looking back at 2012, it’s been a busy year for the Society and its membership who were successful with a well orchestrated lobbying campaign tackling the issues of the day with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

A pro-active communications team works hard to ensure a local and national PR presence and work on lobbying and campaign activity to represent members and their profession. Regular ebulletins ensure members are kept up to date with the latest information and news.

There is still much work to do in improving the provision for access of homeopathy to all of the UK population.  You can help!  Please click here to tell your story of how you consider homeopathy to have helped you.

As the country goes sporting mad this summer, homeopathy will be called on as a holistic way to sprint back to good health following minor injuries.

In the 2010 Winter Olympics, one in every ten athletes sustained an injury, said a report in the  British Journal of Sports Medicine, with the most common ailments being bruising, torn ligaments and muscular strain.

Well known sports personalities are among the six million users of homeopathy in the UK (1), including soccer star David Beckham, tennis stars Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova, and rugby player Will Greenwood.

Homeopathic medicines (known as remedies) have long been used to treat simple sports-related problems, the most well known being Arnica, traditionally used for bruising and muscular soreness. Ruta is commonly used in sprains and strains – either as a cream or in tablet form.

Research studies investigating the effects of Arnica have had mixed results; those which have shown a positive effect include a placebo-controlled trial which found that a cream containing 14 homeopathic medicines (including Arnica) was effective for treating sprained ankles (2). Other studies have also suggested that Arnica can have an anti-inflammatory effect (3) and reduce bruising (4), which may help to explain why so many people choose to use this homeopathic remedy for common injuries.

Homeopathic medicine is based on treating the individual with specially prepared, highly diluted substances given mainly in tablet form, with the aim of triggering the body’s natural system of healing. Based on their specific symptoms, a homeopath will match the most appropriate remedy to each patient.

Remedy selection is based on the principle of “like treats like” – that is, a substance which causes symptoms when taken in large doses, can be used in small amounts to treat those same symptoms. This principle is sometimes used in conventional medicine e.g. small doses of allergens such as pollen being used to de-sensitise allergic patients.

One major advantage of homeopathic medicines is that they are non-toxic due to their method of preparation which involves a process of serial dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking).

While underlying chronic symptoms are best seen by a qualified professional homeopath registered with the Society of Homeopaths, minor injuries and ailments can be treated at home using over the counter remedies.

Scientific research evidence for homeopathic medicine is growing. For example, a comprehensive and academically authoritative report commissioned by the Swiss government to assess the potential value of homeopathy, has concluded that homeopathy is clinically effective, cost-effective and safe. These findings have lead to inclusion of homeopathy in the Swiss national health insurance scheme. (5)

Homeopathy Awareness Week  June 14th – 21st

Great health starts with a great homeopath
RSHom your guarantee of a trained, registered, insured healthcare professional.

REFERENCES

1. Professor Woods of the MHRA, response to Q211, House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy (London: The Stationery Office Limited, 2010), p. Ev 70

2. Zell J, Connert WD, Mau J, Feuerstake G. Treatment of acute sprains of the ankle. Controlled double-blind trial to test the effectiveness of a homeopathic ointment. Fortschr Med, 1988; 106: 96-1003.

3. Karow J-H,, et. al. Efficacy of Arnica montana D4 for Healing of Wounds After Hallux Valgus Surgery Compared to Diclofenac. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2008; 14(1): 17-25

4.  Brook M, et al, Effect of homeopathic Arnica Montana on bruising in face-lifts – results of a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, 2006; 8(1)

5.  ‘Homeopathy in Healthcare: Effectiveness, Appropriateness, Safety, Costs’ by Gudrun Bornhöft and Peter F. Matthiessen (Editors). 2011. ISBN 978-3-642-20637-5

This could mean that many patients would be unable to obtain their homeopathic remedies.

Write to your Member of Parliament now to voice your concern on this important topic before this draft becomes legislation.

To download current information on this important topic, click here (1st June 2012)

MHRA Update (24th May 2012) click here

Thank you for your support.

A comprehensive and authoritative research study by Swiss scientists has offered an unambiguous endorsement of the evidence base for homeopathy as a clinically effective system of medicine.

Their report, part of a Swiss government evaluation of complementary and alternative medicines, gives a massive boost to the growing body of research underpinning the therapeutic effects of homeopathic medicine.

The Society’s research consultant Rachel Roberts said the report also dismissed the claims of the only research study ever to conclude that homeopathy’s effects are due to placebo, the controversial Shang meta-analysis, published in the Lancet in 2005 and heralded as “the end of homeopathy”.

Even though that study attracted criticism from international researchers due to its poor quality, both in terms of the methodology used and how the study was reported, it has been widely quoted by anti homeopathy campaigners as “proof’ that homeopathy is placebo.

Rachel, who is also the chief executive of the Homeopathy Research Institute, said: “This is great news for scientists who are committed to objective and accurate reporting of homeopathy research, as well as for the six million people in the UK who choose to use homeopathy as part of their healthcare.

“For too long anti-homeopathy campaigners have got away with using this flawed paper to unjustly damage the credibility of homeopathy and put pressure on decision-makers to cut homeopathy services. Being able to draw a line under the issue of the Shang paper will allow us to return to a more open, rational debate about homeopathy and its evidence base.”

The authors of the 234-page report, known as the Swiss Health Technology Assessment (HTA), exhaustively reviewed the clinical research in homeopathy (both systematic reviews and the original clinical studies). It includes a summary of 22 systematic reviews of clinical trials in specific medical conditions, 20 of which show a positive direction of evidence for homeopathy (with five of those 20 showing clear evidence of effectiveness).

The report also concluded that there was sufficient supporting evidence for the pre-clinical (experimental) effects of homeopathy and that, when compared to conventional therapies, it offers a safe and cost-effective treatment.

The report was commissioned by the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO and the methodology adopted by the authors is a cornerstone of the UK’s NIHR (National Institute of Health Research) strategy for assessing real-world effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of therapeutic interventions for the NHS. It is widely used internationally by other governmental agencies and is monitored by the non-profit umbrella organisation INAHTA (International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment).

The authors, Dr Gudrun Bornhöft and Prof Peter Matthiessen, say in their conclusion: “In summary, it can be said that there is sufficient evidence for the preclinical effectiveness and the clinical efficacy of homeopathy and for its safety and economy compared with conventional treatment.”

Alex Tournier, executive director of the Homeopathy Research Institute, said: “With the publication of the English translation of the HTA report, we hope that the debate will finally move from the question, ‘does homeopathy work?’ to the more pressing questions of ‘how does homeopathy work?’ and ‘what conditions can homeopathy treat effectively and cost-efficiently?”

For more information click here

New teaching innovation award goes to Salisbury

The winner of the Society’s first ever Teaching Innovation Awards was Salisbury Homeopathy College, whose entry was based on groups of students pitching a homeopathy business plan to a local charity.

The inspirational project was devised by teachers Susie Nichol and Sue Stotter, who were presented with the award at the Society’s annual conference.

All entries had to describe a specific lesson or learning experience which students had undertaken over 2010/11, and the main criterion was to show how the students were engaged actively in their learning.

Presenting the awards, senior education advisor Linda Wicks said: “Every homeopath is here today because they have been inspired and motivated by teachers. Whatever experience or interest initially led you to study homeopathy, it grew as you were encouraged to learn and explore. Teaching is a creative art – the most inventive programmes and activities lead people to reach their own understanding and find answers for themselves.

“All entries, from courses and individual teachers, demonstrated a very high standard of work and, above all, the sheer enjoyment of teaching and learning.”

Salisbury’s vice principal and co-director Lulu Badger said: “We are delighted to be the  proud winners of the Teaching Innovation Award. It is from this firm foundation that Annie and her team are delighted to be celebrating their tenth year as a course provider in this field of medicine.”

Second place in the awards went to the British School of Homeopathy in Exeter, run by Mo and Ali Morrish. Their submission described a student-run hayfever clinic, which brought in new patients from the busy shopping centre.

In third place was Elaine Watson, known for her pioneering work on medical science courses which are used by a number of homeopathy colleges here and abroad.  She submitted an entertaining take on the wonders of the human digestive system.

Linda said: “We intend this to be an annual award which will celebrate the continuing achievements of teachers in our recognised courses.”

The Society of Homeopaths is supporting an epetition lodged with the Department of Health, calling for complementary therapies, including homeopathy, to be more widely available on the NHS.

The petition follows a nationwide campaign by so-called “sceptics” who have been lobbying against complementary medicine being funded by the NHS.

Homeopathy has been a part of the NHS since its inception in 1948 and there are three homeopathic hospitals, in London, Glasgow and Bristol, as well as NHS homeopathic clinics and over 400 GPs who use homeopathic remedies in their daily practice.

The overall NHS spend on homeopathy is only £4 million out of a £110 billion budget, compared with £466 million spent treating hospital in-patients with adverse reactions to conventional drugs.

The Society’s research consultant Rachel Roberts said: “Preliminary research suggests that homeopathy is a cost effective option for the NHS, with a relatively small amount of money generating high patient satisfaction levels.”

An independent report by economist Christopher Smallwood into complementary therapies in 2005 concluded that if four per cent of GPs offered homeopathy as a frontline approach to treatment, it would result in an annual saving of £190 million. For more on this and other studies see Cost benefit studies

The epetition can be signed here http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/11068

For more on the campaign to keep homeopathy on the NHS see http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/what_you_can_do/campaign_for_homeopathy