The Happy and Prosperous Blog

A little while ago I wrote a post about teaching homeopathy in Serbia, which described a little about the London International College of Homeopathy and my involvement in that organisation. I also wrote about my trip to work in Beirut too. Rather than repeat the details of this work, please do read my post about Serbia if you haven’t already done so.

Homeopathy in Croatia

I just want to say a few words about a recent trip I made to Zagreb in Croatia. Again I had the privilege to work with a group of students new to homeopathy. There were just over 20 people from all walks of life who were keen to learn more about homeopathy with a view, potentially, to practising sometime in the future.

I did 2 days of teaching followed by 2 days running a teaching clinic. Over the 2 days of the clinic we had 6 new clients. I find this uses up a good deal of my energy and it is immensely enjoyable. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to see people full of enthusiasm and commitment embarking on a 4 year course of study leading to a professional qualification.

Homeopathy in Serbia

I have also been back to Serbia again to teach the students I worked with last November. Back then it was the first session of their course. I went back for session number 6. More students had joined the course and it was great to see how the students’ knowledge and confidence had improved over those 6 months.

Seeing people grow in their knowledge and understanding and knowing that I have played a part in that makes me feel good. I look forward to doing more teaching in the future.

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Last week I mentioned that I was going to the Middle East to teach for a few days. I flew to Beirut as part of my work as a teacher for the London International College of Homeopathy.I had planned to go there last November but security concerns at the time prevented that happening.

The view down Hamra Street
from the balcony of my hotel room
photo credit: Roger Knight

Impressions Before I Arrived

I have to say that I was a little concerned about going to Beirut. Not hugely anxious, but definitely concerned. The reason being that my perception of Beirut was a place associated with violence, risk, political unrest and a potential war zone. So I was concerned for my own security and whether the students would be able to get together in one place for teaching.

I don’t read the news much and I guess my impression had formed from what I had read in newspapers and seen on the TV.

Arrival

My flight arrived at 2245 local time and I had been concerned about whether it was safe to be travelling in the city at that time of night, however I was assured that it was OK. When I arrived I was met by 2 of the students and taken to my hotel. I saw a few soldiers/police around on the streets of the city - they looked bored and everything seemed peaceful and calm.

We drove in past signs for KFC and actually passed Starbucks and Costa Coffee - so plenty of familiar brands to make me feel at home !

The Reality

I had a very enjoyable time in Beirut. I really enjoyed the teaching. All the people I met (with the possible exception of a couple of airport staff) were friendly, pleasant and welcoming. The food was wonderful. I never once felt unsafe or in the slightest danger. I had expected to see bombed out buildings and evidence of violence. There was very little of this.

The students were full of enthusiasm and I have the greatest respect for them in studying homeopathy which doesn’t seem very well established there. They have been studying for over 2 years and they’re doing well.

False Fears

Before I went to Beirut, Lebanon, to me, was a place on the map - a place with a reputation of violence to my mind. Having been there and seen the reality, I know that my impression was false and was based on a distorted (possible historical) perception. I was ignorant of the current facts.

I wondered how many other fears and limiting beliefs in life are also based on a false perception of reality. I suspect I don’t question or challenge the basis of my fears. Could we do that ? Have you had an experience which made you re-evaluate a fear or limiting belief that you had ? Maybe you hold on to a belief about yourself that you picked up in childhood which limits you in some way ? Is it based on a false perception of reality or out-of-date information like my fear was ? Do drop me a line in the comments and let me know.

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Negative Publicity

As a working homeopath here in the UK, I can’t help but notice the negative publicity about homeopathy that appears in the press on a fairly frequent basis. One could be forgiven for thinking that there is a concerted campaign to discredit homeopathy !

The negative publicity tends to be in the form of poorly researched articles which express the author’s prejudice rather than any well argued case against homeopathy. One of the main accusations levelled at homeopathy is that it simply doesn’t work - this, despite evidence from properly managed outcome studies that shows it is effective. If there were good solid arguments against homeopathy, why aren’t they aired in the media ? Perhaps that’s because there aren’t any such arguments ??

Patient Choice Reduced

It seems that this negative publicity is having an effect and access to homeopathy services within the NHS is being restricted. Patient choice is being reduced and this is not, in my opinion, the way we should be going with healthcare.

Debunking The Myths

To address the misconceptions, clear up misunderstandings and debunk the myths about homeopathy, a new web site, called Homeopathy Worked For Me, has been set up. It has been produced by a group called H:MC21 (Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21^st Century). Its purpose is to promote homeopathy and defend the right of people in the UK to choose homoeopathy within the NHS. There’s a quick and easy form on the site you can use to show your support for homeopathy. Please sign up.
The web site has a lot of other information. I particularly like the page which lays out the myths commonly broadcast about homeopathy and it refutes each one in a detailed, dispassionate and well-argued manner. Please do have a look at the Homeopathy Worked For Me web site and, if you feel that people should have access to homeopathy on the NHS in the UK, please take 30 seconds to sign the declaration and show your support. You can do this whether you are a UK resident or not.

They also have a Facebook group which you can join to keep up with developments.

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