Acute diseases are self-limiting diseases. They tend to come on quickly, but they typically last for a relatively short period of time. There are only two outcomes with an acute disease, they resolve, or you die. Hopefully they resolve! Homeopathy can help an acute illness/disease by stimulating the body’s self-healing mechanism. It is like turning the key in the ignition of your car – it kick starts the engine.

Acute illnesses are for the most part fairly easy to treat at home. The common cold, ear, chest or throat infection, influenza, burn, insect bite, puncture wound, minor injury, strain, scrape and bruise are all ideal for home prescribing. The rule of thumb (depending on the condition) is that when an acute lasts beyond a 6-week period, it moves into a chronic state. Chronic cases are best treated by a professional homeopath as the symptom picture has become more complex and it can be difficult to see the true seat of the disease. Professional homeopaths will also have access to a wider range of remedies, in a wider range of potencies, and will have vast clinical experience to best determine the appropriate, safe course of action to help speed up the healing process in a safe, effective manner.

 When treating an acute it is important to follow the below guidelines.

• Decide upon a remedy. Often the best remedy, is the one you have on hand.
• Decide on a potency. Typically, a 30C or a 200C will do the trick. Start with the lower potency and work upward. Any potency could be the optimal potency for the patient. A lower potency (6c, 9c, 12c) may need to be repeated more often than a higher potency.
• 2 pellets is the typical dose. You can also put 2 pellets in a cup of water, stir twice and take a tsp. This is also considered a dose. 
• Stop giving the remedy when the symptoms have gone or changed
• Repeat the same remedy if the SAME symptoms return
• New symptoms may require a different remedy. Reassess to see if there is a better remedy that matches.
• If a remedy helps, but seems to wear off quickly, repeat the remedy. You can repeat the remedy every 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes etc. as the intensity of the symptoms require. In the case of a high fever or a panic or asthma attack the remedy may need to be repeated very frequently. If the remedy is working in a lower dose such as a 30C but the action subsides quickly you can also consider moving up to a 200C. Stop with improvement.
• If there has been no change to symptoms after 3-4 doses, it is likely that a different remedy is needed.

This is for information only and is not medical advice. For any life threatening condition please see a doctor.