Homeopathic Hospice?

doodlemom · Jun 2, 2006

Pt is less symptomatic with CHF. Still is restless with dementia in evening/night. I took list of herbs that pt was taking and was able to find most on the internet. There is an herb for this an herb for that. I wonder what Naturopathic doctors do for terminal comfort care. I am not advocating a totally "natural" appraoch but if you think about it isn't there a "natural" alternative to childbirth? Years ago when I first worked hospice a read a book by a Ram Doss (?). I believe he may have addressed this. What to u think?

While there is a natural approach to childbirth, it is painful for a very limited time. Even many women who opt for natural childbirth will ask for pain meds at some point during their experience. It's still considered "natural" childbirht because they have not had epidurals. I've asked a friend who works as a Homeopathic physician what she recommends to her patients when their life is limited. She gives them many different remedies depending on the symptoms but she also recommends that the pt be seen by an allopathic physician. She says that while some of the remedies give some relief, she believes that this is the one time that allopathic medicine is more useful and that she has nothing available to her that can alleviate some of the intense, serious symptoms that often come at the end of life. She has worked with many hospice patients and most of the remedies that she says are helpful are homeopathic in nature with the intent of helping with emotional states. She is a person who will never even take an aspirin, eats everything organic, and relies exclusively on natural medicines. I asked her what she would want done for her if she was having pain or other symptoms if she has a terminal illness. She said she would want "morphine or whatever else you need to give me to keep me comfortable."

BeExcellent · Jun 3, 2006

What's an allopathic physician?

indigo girl · Jun 3, 2006

What's an allopathic physician?

An allopath is an MD as opposed to a DO, osteopath. Some MD's can also be trained as homeopaths if they are interested in that field. I think you can google allopathic and get a better definition of what that encompasses, but it's probably going to be the type of medical practice most people are used to.

doodlemom · Jun 3, 2006

An allopath is an MD as opposed to a DO, osteopath. Some MD's can also be trained as homeopaths if they are interested in that field. I think you can google allopathic and get a better definition of what that encompasses, but it's probably going to be the type of medical practice most people are used to.

DO's pretty much practice allopathic medicine - or "conventional" medicine. They also receive training in physical manipulation which makes them different - but they do everything an MD does - surgery, write prescriptions, etc...

mpingo · Mar 29, 2007

I realize that this is an old thread, but I'm wondering if anyone knows of a homeopathic hospice service anywhere in the Chicago area. I am a nurse who is interested in working for such a service, if it exists.

And for those who are unfamiliar with homeopathy, in reference to some of the previous posts in this thread, using homeopathy is different than using herbs. Homeopathy involves the use of various substances--herbs, minerals, animal substances--that have been distilled down to minute amounts and instilled into small pellets that are dissolved under the tongue. Their use stimulates the body to work on itself, in whatever way is desired, rather than doing something for the body from the outside. So while they may sometimes be made from herbs, the dose of those herbal substances is miniscule by comparison to using the straight herbs.

The effects of the use of homeopathy are usually much more effective when they are prescribed by a qualified homeopathic doctor (many of whom are also MDs--allopathic doctors), rather than when people self-treat according to the labels on the remedy containers. They also usually have no side-effects, and the healing is usually more thorough and long-term than that achieved with allopathic medicine (prescription drugs).

For example, I have recovered from strep throat and a form of rheumatoid arthritis with the use of homeopathy and no prescription drugs.

I recently had a pretty negative experience working alongside a conventional hospice group that seemed to overmedicate the patients I was working for, often adding new medications to respond to the side effects of the previous medications, rather than evaluating the possible decrease or elimination of those medications causing the troublesome side effects. So I'm looking for a more holistic group that I might be able to work for.

BeExcellent · Mar 30, 2007

I am not sure that homeopathic hospice exists. But, it isn't uncommon to have a few pts on the hospice caseload that prefers less conventional care and treatment. I think I would contact the homeopathic MD's in area and ask if they see a need. I don't think any hospice you choose would object to you coordinating the 'homeopathic pts" with agreement from the hospice med director and the referring homeopathic doctor. Just because most of the case managers may be managing pts in one way, we are all artists painting the tree in different ways. We have legal, moral and ethical codes, of course, but we have the wiggle room within our own practice to address those pts with cultural/values not in the majority. Let us know how it works out.