Frequently Asked Questions

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that uses natural remedies to stimulate the body's innate healing power. Based on the principle of 'like treats like,' a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person is used to treat someone suffering from similar symptoms when ill.

For more information on what homeopathy is and how it works, head over to the 'Why Homeopathy' page.

Absolutely. Unlike conventional medications or herbal supplements, homeopathic remedies don't interact with pharmaceuticals. They can however be used to minimise the side effects caused by some prescription drugs and medical treatments.

Note: Please inform Emily of any medications and supplements you're currently taking prior to treatment. Do not discontinue any prescribed medications without first consulting your doctor and/or mental health practitioner.

Absolutely. Homeopathic remedies are free of any unwanted side effects or nasty chemicals. They're safe for everyone to use, this includes:

• Babies and children

• Those trying or pregnant

• When breastfeeding

• Anyone on pharmaceutical medication

• Anyone undergoing surgery or other medical procedures

Homeopathy can be used for a myriad of conditions from hayfever to morning sickness, depression to addiction, even to speed up the healing process post-surgery.

For more information on the types of things homeopathy can be used for, click on 'Why Homeopathy' or contact Emily to ask about your specific issue.

The length of treatment depends on many factors:

• The type of condition

• How long a patient's had the condition

• The cause/s of the condition

• The conditions severity

• The patient's constitution

• The patient's lifestyle and diet

• Other medical complications

• Current medication

• Willingness to engage with treatment

Generally, the longer you've had something, the longer it takes to clear, so a single bought of tonsillitis would be quite quick to resolve in comparison to recurrent tonsillitis which might need several sessions.

The best way to get an indication of how long your specific treatment might take is to contact Emily for a free introductory call.

Of course! Prevention is the key to health.

In a session like this we would look over your medical history to identify any weak spots, strengthen them, and prescribe a constitutional remedy to fortify your general wellbeing.

Click on the 'Appointment' button at the top of the page and select the session that's right for you.

Alternatively get in touch with Emily via the contact form, email, or phone.

Email: emilybibbyhomeopathy@gmail.com

Phone: 07903 761309

Concessionary sessions aren't regularly offered, but if you're in great need of treatment and unable to cover the cost entirely, please get in touch.

Administering:

Emily will provide you with details instructions on when and how to take the remedies. It's important to handle the pills as little as possible as handling can affect their effectiveness.

• If you have been supplied pills in a paper envelope, use a clean spoon to collect and tip pills under your tongue until fully dissolved.

• If you've been given a bottle, tip one pill into the lid and tip under your tongue until fully dissolved.

• If you've been given liquid potencies, drop the allotted number of drops under your tongue.

Similarly it is vital to have a clean palate, meaning you haven't eaten or drunk anything other than water (ideally 20 minutes either side). The aim is to have a neutral mouth, free of any taste, so be mindful of brushing your teeth as homeopathic remedies are particular sensitive to strong flavours such as mint and coffee.

Administering to babies and small children:

• Pills can be crushed between two clean teaspoons and the powder tipped into the child's mouth.

• Alternatively, a pill can be dropped in water and dripped into the child's mouth once the pill has fully dissolved (about 5 minutes).

Storage:

Homeopathic remedies should be stored away from strong scents and direct sunlight. Some of the liquid potencies (LM's) may need refrigerating but Emily will inform you if this is so.

Some homeopaths ask their patients to abstain from drinking coffee and using menthol toothpaste, this is because strong scents and flavours can hinder the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies.

It's best to avoid taking remedies close to these, but Emily believes life's too short not to enjoy minty fresh breath and a cuppa in the morning. If you leave at least 20 minutes between these activities, you should be fine.

Don't panic! Take it as soon as you remember and return to the schedule outlined by Emily.

For example, if you were scheduled to take a pill twice a day, once in the morning, another at night, but you forgot to take your morning pill and only realised at lunch, take it at lunch, and resume by taking one in the evening.

Emily provides a surplus of pills in case you drop a few, but in the instance you've dropped them all, please dispose of them appropriately and get in touch. Emily will be happy to replace them for you.

Homeopathic remedies are incapable of causing damage so you can't be made worse by their use. You can however suffer an 'aggravation' which means a temporary worsening of symptoms before their resolution. This is normally very quick to pass and an excellent sign of healing.

However, if you're worried about your condition, please contact your GP or call the NHS free of charge on 111.

Prescriptions are normally sent the day after your appointment and take no longer than 3 working days to arrive via Royal Mail.

If, however, you haven't received your prescription within 5 working days, please contact Emily who will be happy to resolve the issue.

Information shared in session:

Simple answer, yes. Anything you share will be kept strictly confidential except when disclosure is required to prevent clear and imminent danger to yourself and/or others, or by law. In the very rare instance information needs to be shared for safeguarding, Emily will first talk to you about how and why additional support is required.

Data shared and stored electronically:

Emily stores your information on a secure digital filing system which is regularly backed-up. This is kept for up to 5 years after your last homeopathic session as a requirement of her insurance. For children under 18 years of age, this is extended to 7 years.

In accordance with GDPR 2018 Emily stores information pertaining to your contact details and medical history on her database in order to make bookings, referrals, or contact you to discuss booking and enquires. It is never shared with anyone else unless for safeguarding reasons, or as a request by law.

Your rights:

Under data protection law, you have...

• ​A right of access - The right to ask for copies of your personal information.

• A right to rectification - The right to ask Emily to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask her to complete information you think is incomplete.

• A right to erasure - The right to ask Emily to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.

• A right to restriction of processing - The right to ask Emily to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

• A right to data portability - The right to ask Emily transfer the personal information you gave her to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.

You are not required to pay any charge for exercising any of these rights. And in the instance you make a request, Emily has up to one month to respond. Please email her on emilyhealyhealth@gmail.com

Before you come for your first session I politely ask for 25% of the initial fee upfront. This ensures your spot is secured, as appointments made without a deposit cannot be held for more than 24 hours.

Holding deposits are fully refundable up to a week before the appointment date, cancellations after this period are unfortunately nonrefundable, but can be rescheduled free of charge if notice is given at least 24 hours prior to the consultation.

If you need to rearrange or cancel your appointment please give Emily as much notice as possible. Notice must be given at least 24 hours before your appointment. Failure to do so will result in full payment of the missed session.

First Session:

The first session is slightly longer than subsequent appointments as it lays the foundation for treatment. Questions about your conditions characteristic symptoms, possible cause/s, what makes it better or worse, and how having it effects you emotionally, will be asked. Questions about you and your family's medical history in addition to questions exploring your personality, likes and dislikes, susceptibilities, and lifestyle will be asked. You are never obligated to answer, but openness is encouraged.

Follow-ups:

Follow-ups are then used to assess your progress and prescribe on any emerging 'layers.' Much like peeling an onion, the process of homeopathic treatment peels away layers of dis-ease, each removal bringing us closer to optimal health and homeostasis.

Online sessions are held via Zoom or telephone and can be booked from anywhere in the UK or abroad.

A link to the appointment will be emailed prior to the session, so please make sure you have the latest version of Zoom downloaded and are logged into the waiting room prior to your consultations.

Technical difficulties:

If there are any technical difficulties, a maximum of ten minutes will be allotted to try and resolve them, after which Emily will take the remainder of the consultation over the phone.

Missed appointments:

Like regular appointments, failure to give notice of cancellation before the 24 hour grace period will result in full payment of the missed session.

Postage and packing:

All remedies will be posted free of charge to those in the UK. If they do not arrive within 3 working days please contact Emily who will resolve the issue. (Please note additional fees and postage time might apply to those living outside the UK).

Getting there:

Face-to-face sessions are held at Emily's practice in Totnes. Details of how to get there are where to park will be given upon booking.

Waiting room:

There is currently no waiting room, so if you arrive early please wait outside whilst Emily finishes with the current patient.

Getting the remedies:

After your session, time will be spent assessing your case and forming a treatment plan. Detailed instructions of how to take your remedies will be emailed or attached to your prescription which can be collected from the practice or sent via post.

Chaperones:

If you would like someone to accompany you during your session, or would like to accompany a child, please speak with Emily prior to your session. She'll be happy to accommodate.

Monday 9:00am - 6:00pm

Wednesday 9:00am - 8:00pm

Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm

Out-of-hours Appointments:

Out-of-hours appointments are held at Emily's discretion for an additional fee of £30. If she is unable to see you, please contact the Homeopathic Help line on 09065 343 404 (please note all calls are charged at £1.55 a minute, plus your network's connection charge).

Absolutely. It's healthy to be skeptical of things we don't understand or haven't experienced yet. The amazing thing about homeopathy is that you don't need to believe in it for it to work.

As my Grandma use to say, 'the proof is in the pudding!'

Sceptics frequently claim there is no scientific evidence for homeopathy although this is untrue. Leading Swedish medical researcher Robert G Hahn has remarked that, 'to conclude that homeopathy lacks clinical effect, more than 90% of available clinical trials ha[ve] to be dis­regarded, [as] flawed statistical methods had to be applied.'

He goes on to say that when high quality trials with low risk of bias study the affects of individualised homeopathy in randomised clinical trials, they yield 'positive results.' Hahn RG. Homeopathy: meta-analyses of pooled clinical data. Forsch Komplementmed. 2013;20(5):376-81. doi: 10.1159/000355916. Epub 2013 Oct 17. PMID: 24200828.

Examples of thorough clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of homeopathy for a number of conditions can be found below:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267767309_Homeopathy_emerging_as_nanomedicine