What’s in a Name?

With sincere apologies to William Shakespeare, “a rose by any other name” might just be a chrysanthemum!

Now before you think I’ve lost my mind, let me explain what I’m talking about.

Have you noticed the letters behind my name — the “credentials” that supposedly give assurance that I’m qualified to practice and teach homeopathy? What do they mean? Does a chorus of angels sing as the letters are read? Not exactly.

Credentials might mean someone is a good homeopath. Credentials might also mean someone is good at taking exams. But credentials can also mean someone forked over a few bucks to Udemy.

Do you think I’m being facetious? I’m not. Over the holidays, a colleague pointed out to me that there was a course on Udemy advertising itself as granting a “Fully Accredited Certificate in Homeopathy” for $15!

You read that right. For $15, someone could throw some letters behind their name and claim to be an accredited homeopath. I doubt you could even buy a meal at McDonald’s for $15, and we all know what that’s worth.

My friends, we have to be careful. We shouldn’t allow homeopathic expertise to be reduced to a five-and-dime store novelty. In my opinion, irrefutable harm could be done to the reputation of homeopathy if “certification” is granted after dabbling in a course of only three videos and a few articles.

So, how does a person in need choose a qualified homeopath? How do you separate the roses from the chrysanthemums?

I recommend using the same method that has been used for years — word of mouth! Get a recommendation from someone you know and trust. That’s how many of us find dentists or chiropractors or naturopaths. Word of mouth — success stories from people you know — are invaluable.

Or perhaps you have taken courses from a particular homeopath. You know their methodology, their professionalism, their level of commitment. You know something about them in some way — not simply that they have some alphabet soup spilled behind their name. That familiarity might provide a level of trust.

But remember this: At the end of the day, it’s all about foundation, education and experience!

For instance, to earn credentials from The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® (PHom), one must immerse oneself in a year-long, demanding educational endeavor. My students take an intense dive with full emersion into the history of homeopathy, human disease and pathophysiology, a thorough and deep dive into Hahnemann’s “Organon,” use of the repertory, feverish study of materia medica, keynotes of our medicines, the manufacture of medicines, symptoms, protocols, and cases! (And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.)

The amount of effort required to complete this intense year was often alluded to by my students as a “firehose” of intensity. One of my clever students actually gifted me with an antique firehose nozzle that weights down the papers on my desk. It's a happy reminder of her as well as a year of immense effort and commitment.

The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® is comparable to more than a year in college — not for the faint of heart. So, if you see PHom behind someone’s name, you know they have engrossed themselves in the study of Practical Homeopathy® for an entire year and passed rigorous testing — not simply watched a few videos on Udemy.

In fact, should you be interested in contacting a practitioner who is a graduate of The Academy of Practical Homeopathy®, you may do so here: aphalumni.com. After reading the introduction on that page, click on “Find a Homeopath” in the top menu bar.

As I always say, “Pass on the good news of homeopathy!” Your word of mouth may go beyond helping a sufferer find a homeopath they can trust. You may nudge them just enough that they join you on this path of learning homeopathy to become the healer in their own family!

And let’s face it, self-reliance is the greatest goal of all. I mean, who cares about your family more than you do? No one — not even the most qualified homeopath in the world. YOU are the keeper of your family’s kingdom, so I encourage you to learn as much as you possibly can and envelop yourself with like-minded folks.

For instance, consider joining my Mighty Members. Join our private discussion groups, much like the Facebook forums but without external censorship. You’ll also receive my weekly Memo to Mighty Members. It’s essentially an extra blog post on certain topics I don’t feel comfortable sharing on my public blog. There are extra videos from me to my Mighties, occasional additional “private” content added on to the Monday Night Live events, and so many more extras. (For instance, all my Mighties qualify for a 10% discount on course purchases.) Join us and become MIGHTY!

Warmly,

P.S. Lest you think I forgot to give you this week’s “must have” homeopathic medicine for your kit, here it is: Arnica montana.

No homeopathic kit should be without Arnica, as it is the premier first-aid medicine for trauma. Many of my students wisely own it in 3, 6, 30 and 200 potencies. Even many forward-thinking conventional M.D.s utilize Arnica for their patients. Click here for a few blog posts that will educate you on some of its uses.