A Homeopath on Steroids
Part 1
A Homeopath on Steroids - Part 1
Updated: May 25, 2024
I’m talking about me. Not “on steroids” like I’m extra good. “On steroids” like actual prednisone eye drops.
I have a pesky autoimmune condition that causes me to have flare-ups of iritis/uveitis. This is simply inflammation of the iris and can have many causes. Besides being a painful, unattractive, red, puffy mess, complications of inflammation and adhesions can lead to cataracts and blindness.
For me, this started 20 years ago, following my divorce and reconstructive jaw surgery. Fellow homeopaths would find this information very “interesting,” as we always look at what else was going on in a person’s life prior to their illness. These were big assaults to my vital force, but I had no idea that any of it could be connected.
My treatment included atropine, a pupil dilator to prevent adhesions between the iris and the lens, antibiotic eye ointment, and prednisone eye drops. This went on for 12 weeks. For most of that time, I couldn’t drive or work at a computer, and I was stuck in old and unfashionable glasses because contacts were not an option with this amount of pain and eye medication. I actually parted my hair differently to hide my wonky eye.
Fast forward 17 years. In the midst of discovering homeopathy and experimenting with unadvisable and aggressive remedy protocols, I seemed to have released the long-ago suppression—right back out through my eyeball! My newfound knowledge regarding the evils of suppression was “just enough to be dangerous,” and by attempting to self-prescribe, my inflammation became quite severe and my infection was unnecessarily prolonged. I ended up needing a very strong steroid eye drop that cost $270 for a tiny 15 ml bottle and spent 16 weeks in treatment.
Let’s pause at this lesson: if I had been working with a homeopath, it is far less likely my vital force, eager to be free of long-ago insults, would have pushed this back out through my eye. And if it had, I would have had a trained homeopath picking iritis remedies for me instead of me popping one remedy after another in a frenzy of trying to avoid the doctor. I didn’t want more suppressive medications. The toll of these decisions set me up with 16 weeks of steroids, blurred vision, no driving, etc. If you ever wondered what could go wrong with this very safe modality, this is your answer. You’re welcome.
Once this was resolved and I was weaned off steroids, you may have guessed that I found myself a homeopath.
Nope.
Nine months went by and it happened again, and I had no one to turn to. Back on steroids and a couple (many) ineffective remedies.
I eventually did find a homeopath, and with a good chronic remedy, I went four years before my next flare. During this time, I completed homeopathy school and started my own practice. Even though my eye thing seemed to be a homeopathic bust, I had seen its many miracles with friends and family and knew this was what I was called to do for my “encore” career.
When my iritis recently flared back up, I went on steroids immediately. This time, I used an appropriately chosen remedy alongside the steroid, and I believe this helped lessen the severity and duration of the infection.
To be honest, as a homeopath on steroids, I felt like a fraud. At the same time, I knew that this unfortunate suppression was saving my eyesight. And I had to set a good example for my clients that modern medical options are sometimes necessary while we continue to uproot illnesses. For me, making the choice to start steroids at the first sign meant I avoided atropine and a long duration on steroids. I had virtually no pain, zero loss of work, and could wear my contacts (even though I always have cute, up-to-date glasses now). I was weaning off steroids in two weeks instead of 12–16. This was a win.
For those of you who are disappointed that this wasn’t a total win for our esteemed homeopathy, there is a Part 2—and you’ll be happy to know that a well-known and celebrated remedy is front and center at the conclusion of this story.