Worried parents seek holistic help for back-to-school bugs: Worried parents in Leicestershire are turning to homeopathy to help their children through back-to-school illnesses. Sue Miles explained that children were commonly seen in her clinic and parents were often concerned about the over-use of conventional medicines. Sue said: “Parents particularly are looking for alternatives to conventional drugs - in the last few years several over-the-counter medications have become off limits for children, and recently research has suggested a link between antibiotic use in children and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and between paracetamol and asthma.” There is high quality scientific evidence that homeopathic medicine is effective over and above that of placebo, and research which specifically supports its use in upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, ear infections, sinusitis and flu.
Homeopathy is a therapeutic system of medicine that is based on the hypothesis of like cures like, which means that a substance that can cause certain symptoms in a healthy person can cure similar symptoms in an unhealthy person.
Sue Miles trained as a pharmacist in 1976 and was excited both by the new synthetic medicines being developed at that time and by pharmacognosy, the study of plants as drug sources. Her post-qualification experience both in hospital and retail pharmacy led her to identify the many gaps in conventional medicine areas for which there was no treatment and qualify as a homeopath. Homeopathy is a therapeutic system of medicine that is based on the hypothesis of like cures like, which means that a substance that can cause certain symptoms in a healthy person can cure similar symptoms in an unhealthy person.
‘Originally qualifying and practicing as a pharmacist, I became interested in homeopathy after five years of working among a strong local and rural community where I had began to observe at close hand how many patients were being prescribed drugs for conditions for which they had few or no symptoms.
Most patients are coming to me now either because they have failed to find a solution to their problems with conventional medicine or they've previously had a positive experience with homeopathy and have chosen to come back for treatment, often for another condition.'
People may feel frightened that they have to make a choice between conventional medicine and 'alternative' medicine, but homeopathy is often complementary to conventional medicine. Being a pharmacist enables Sue to understand what drugs are doing to the patient which saves time during the consultation. Sometimes people aren't sure whether homeopathy is right for them, but a simple, short telephone consultation may help patients decide. As homeopathy is both safe and gentle it can be used throughout life, from birth to death - age is not a discriminating factor.
'Continuous professional development is an important part of homeopathy; I am supervised on a monthly basis by a colleague and take advantage of a peer support group for myself and my case work. In turn, I support students as part of the supervision for the Society of Homeopaths, enabling them to sit in with me at my practice as I consider this an essential part of the clinical component necessary to becoming an effective homeopath.'
Sue Miles is experienced in The Bombay Method or The Sensation method which is a a further evolution of her practice as a classical homeopath. Homeopathic remedy suppliers Weleda have a very useful A-Z reference to homeopathic remedies on their website, click this link http://www.weleda.co.uk/page/atozhomeo Download a confidential patient registration form here. 
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