Healing gently with homeopathy

As more information becomes available about the harmful effects of chemicals to which Americans are exposed — whether in food and medicines or in the atmosphere itself —  many people are turning to so-called natural substitutes. Some buy organic edibles; some look to herbs and minerals to treat common ailments.

One school of natural medicine, homeopathy, has been treating a wide range of illnesses since the late 18th century.

The philosophy of homeopathy is “like treats like.� Remedies are prepared from plant, mineral or animal substances that are known to cause a reaction similar to the client’s symptoms.

Someone suffering from watering eyes might be prescribed a remedy that includes onion, as onions are known to cause the eyes to water. The substances prescribed are diluted with water and “succused� (shaken). In classical homeopathy, only one remedy is administered at a time.

“I like to compare it to peeling an onion,� said Deborah Licurse, a homeopath with a practice in Millbrook, N.Y. “We work with your present situation and work on what’s needed now: We peel away a layer. In eight weeks, we check in, see how it’s going, and change or continue the treatment.�

At the initial consultation, the homeopath meets with a client for two hours, going over medical history and major life events, such as traumas or losses, to develop a picture of the client’s emotional, physical and mental state. The client explains the current symptoms that have led him to seek treatment and the homeopath prescribes a remedy.

This first visit costs around $175, which includes any remedies administered. Each remedy is tailored to the individual.

“It’s based on energy,� Licurse said. “Each of us has a different energetic vibration. It comes from what we’re feeling mentally and emotionally. Remedies are prescribed based on the different symptoms.�

In follow-up visits, the homeopath and the client assess the effectiveness of the treatment and make adjustments as needed. These one-hour visits, which occur every six to eight weeks, cost about $60.

Homeopathic treatment is not currently covered by medical insurance, but the New York State Legislature is considering a law that will change that.

Licurse said that while she has several years of training — she has been studying on her own for 10 years and for the last four has been working at the Renaissance Institute of Classical Homeopathy under the supervision of Dr. Luc DeSchepper — she is not a medical doctor and she prefers to work with a client who is under the supervision of a medical doctor.

“I try to get people off their medication,� she said. “I try to wean them off slowly, depending on how they respond to homeopathy. I like to work with their doctor.�

Licurse said she has treated everything from bee stings to blood disorders with homeopathic remedies. She said she sees immediate results in acute situations, such as reduced swelling in bee stings, but that chronic conditions take longer to resolve.

“With a chronic situation, when you get on homeopathy, it’s usually one month of homeopathy treatment for one year of healing,� she said. “So if you’ve had an illness for five years, it would take five months to treat it.�

According to Licurse, homeopathy treats not only physical symptoms, but also emotional and mental conditions. She has treated people for depression and for grief. She also said that those without any immediate concerns can use homeopathy to improve their quality of life.

“When you’re prescribed a remedy for who you are, everything in your life comes easier,� she said. “You start doing the things that make you happy. It makes you feel better, it makes you feel more balanced. It’s not just for sick people. It’s to make you the best you can be.�

Homeopathy is appealing to those who are concerned about ingesting chemicals, since all of its remedies are created from natural substances. Licurse claims that homeopathic remedies have no side effects and do not interact with medications (though any course of treatment should be discussed with a medical professional).

“It’s a gentle system of healing,� she said. “It works on the deepest level to help the body heal itself.�

Licurse can be reached at 845-656-0561. She has an office in Millbrook and works one day a week at the Hyde Park Wellness Center in Hyde Park, N.Y.