I first contacted Chris when my middle daughter, who was 4 years old at the time developed mild eczema on her legs. I didn’t want to apply the harsh creams usually prescribed for such conditions by the GP and found homeopathy was exactly what I’d been looking for. Chris invested time in understanding my daughter by talking about the pregnancy, birth, her first few weeks, her likes and dislikes as well as her skin. Getting to know what makes a child feel good as well as what upsets them is all part of the homeopathic approach.

Following that first appointment I have approached Chris over many issues. One which she has been particularly involved in has been my eldest daughter’s anxiety at secondary school. My daughter suffered from acid reflux, IBS, panic attacks and tummy cramps. Tests and treatments with a paediatric gastroenterologist had not yielded results and an upper endoscopy under general anaesthetic was being suggested. As a mother it was a huge relief to have an alternative source of help to go to. Chris took time to talk to my daughter, understand her fears and worries and work through those as well as being able to apply a suitable remedy. Her physical and emotional problems resolved without further intervention and as a result my daughter was able to complete her GCSE year.

It has been a huge relief knowing homeopathy is out there. Meeting Christine and using her services has helped my family and we will continue to do so as life’s challenges come our way.”

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

A full history uncovered Tim’s worsening health from childhood tonsilitis to adolescent bronchitis and repeated chest infections. He also suffered from bouts of sinusitis, which often didn’t respond to antibiotics and gave him ‘the worst hangover when you wake up.’ With pressure round his eyes and nose and a postnasal drip he constantly had to breathe through his mouth and snored as a consequence. ‘Sometimes my trachea feels full of gunge,’ he said.

Tim also reported an aversion to dairy products, particularly the ‘fatty horrible bits in cow’s milk’ and had been using rice milk as a substitute.

He was prescribed a daily dose of a homeopathic remedy in liquid form. The day after starting the remedy he reported that he had felt ‘something unblocking in his nose’ immediately. Over the following days the mucus increased and the feeling of heaviness around the eyes and nose reduced. Tim was worried about the mucus discharge and, in the knowledge he had a foreign holiday the following week, he made an appointment with his GP. The doctor could find no evidence of infection and prescribed a course of antibiotics.

I explained that the discharge was a sign that his body was ridding itself of the unwanted ‘gunge’ in response to the stimulus of the remedy. He wasn’t convinced and took the antibiotics.

4 weeks on we had a quick call. Tim said ‘I would say the remedy has helped me considerably and I have been generally well since we spoke.’

14 weeks after his first consultation, Tim reported that he had had only one further course of antibiotics, visiting his GP immediately as he suspected a chest infection and couldn’t afford any time off for illness.

Shortly after this a dry eczema like rash appeared on Tim’s face and chest, something he had had in the past. I explained that past symptoms recurring were common during homeopathic treatment and should disappear spontaneously and not need treatment. The rash lasted 10 days before resolving by itself.

Tim remained well the following winter, apart from one chest infection following a bout of flu that went round the office.

20 months after the initial consultation he had a review with the asthma nurse and halved his dosage of Seretide.

I last heard from Tim 10 years ago when he came back for advice on something else. He was feeling resilient and said, ‘I’m having a good winter and feeling strong. As such, I feel like I am embracing the season rather than longing for the summer – plenty of cycling pre sunrise on the way to work and spinning classes at the weekend followed by swimming in the outdoor pool; something I wouldn’t have dreamt of a few years ago for fear of promoting a response from the chest.’

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

It is interesting that homeopathy works at several levels within the body, not just the physical elements, and that it works on the underlying causes, not just the symptoms.

I cannot underestimate the impact that homeopaths have had on the health of my loved ones and myself over the years.

Working with Chris as your homeopath you can be sure of a very personalised and supportive service. She quickly puts you at ease, takes time to understand you and your issues before agreeing a way forward.”

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

They’ve prescribed cream and anti-inflammatories plus stomach liners which he only takes when it’s really bad. He’s not keen on this long term. Can you help?

There are many problems with the current conventional treatment of arthritis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (known as NSAIDs) are commonly used. None of them halt the disease process. Acidic in nature, they have powerful effects on the gastrointestinal tract and used long-term may lead to kidney damage. This is the reason Ryan was prescribed a stomach lining drug. In his late forties he did not want to embark on such a regime.

‘At my worst, I feel like I’ve been hit by a sledgehammer,’ he said. ‘I’m struggling to walk. You can imagine what it’s done to me mentally.’

In treating someone diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis with homeopathy, just as with any other condition, I look at the person as a whole. In practice, this means identifying what exactly the problem is: pain, stiffness, limitation of activities, sleep loss, or something else. It is important to trace changes in the condition over time. For example, a tenderness in the left sole was the first hint of something going awry for Ryan. Initially he struggled walking, and, over the ensuing months, the disease progressed rapidly to his small joints.

In homeopathic prescribing the modalities of the condition are important pointers to the correct remedy. Any factor which makes the problem better or worse is considered. This may cover such things as weather, pressure, touch or hot or cold applications. For example, Ryan told me that he was at his worst first thing in the morning and the first steps were agony but once he got moving, things gradually improved. ‘I’m like a rusty gate’. He’d also cut out cow’s milk (which he loved) and thought this made a difference.

It is very useful to understand what was going on in the person’s life around the time the problem started and what has happened since. Ryan had moved to France in the preceding years and worked hard to construct his home and garden with his own hands. He had had to learn how to fit windows and cut stone blocks and navigate French bureaucracy. Like any transition, the move had had its challenges.

Normally energetic and upbeat, he had been laid low by the diagnosis and felt quite helpless anxious and despondent, not at all his usual self.

After just one week I was delighted to receive a text saying he was much improved! He checked in again two weeks later symptom free. Not every case of arthritis will be turned round so quickly. We were fortunate that Ryan had clear symptoms and had only been taking conventional drugs for a short while.

In a large-scale study in France, where national health insurance covers homeopathic as well as conventional primary-care doctors, the former prescribed half as many nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]) for musculoskeletal disorders while providing better results in terms of pain reduction and quality of life.

Seven months on Ryan says, ‘I was at my wit’s end when I spoke to you. I don’t know why I didn’t call earlier. The results from the remedy have been truly fantastic. It’s like I’ve got a new body. I was expecting the pain and swelling to return when I stopped taking the medicine, but my skin is intact, and I haven’t had any pain.

I went back for my check-up with the doctors. Here they are more open minded than in the UK about homeopathy as are pharmacists. I can’t recommend it enough.’

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

Within 2 months of starting her homeopathic treatment with me, she reported she was able to stop taking her antihistamine on a regular basis and her symptoms were abating. A month later she gave it up altogether. Her gardener fiancé was very pleased as she was able to help him pot up the hanging baskets he sold!

She had always wanted to ride horses but had been unable to do this as a child because of her allergic reaction to them. Two years after her initial consultation she contacted me to say that she had taken up horse riding and was suffering again. On this occasion her symptoms pointed to a different homeopathic medicine, one that addressed her inherited allergic predisposition. She continues to ride horses and the family has even been able to have a cat.

Natalie is not alone in seeking a natural and safe solution to her hay fever. And a number of clinical trial findings have been positive for homeopathy and are listed below. ^1-2

Natalie says ‘homeopathy changed my life. I am finally able to do all the things I love doing, gardening and horse riding without worrying about them making me feel so unwell. I can’t recommend it enough’.

¹ Taylor MA, Reilly D, Llewelyn-Jones RH, et al. Randomised controlled trials of homeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series. British Medical Journal 2000; 321: 471-6

² KIm LS, Rieflinger JE, Baldwin CM, Hilli L, Khalsa SV, Messer SA, Waters RF. Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis using homeopathic preparation of common allergens in the southwest region of the US: a randomised, controlled clinical trial. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2005; 39 (4): 617-24

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

Such a patient, Mandy, came to me suffering with chronic sleep loss brought about by night sweats and work worries. It had been going on for three years and this most experienced and capable of women had been ground down. ‘On Monday I cried all morning. I just can’t do what I did before. My brain is in a complete fog.’

The exhaustion and emotional instability were compounded by a demanding work situation and her own over conscientiousness. When things at the office became overwhelming, she would experience headaches with sudden stabbing pains in the eye and increased hot flashes. The unpredictability of physical and emotional symptoms was disconcerting.

The ups and downs of teenage girls at puberty are echoed in menopausal women but 50-year-olds usually don’t have the luxury of being able to scream and shout or flounce out of the room, slamming the door. Instead, most women will either be constrained by looking after a family or working, which adds a further tension. ‘The more I fight it, the more relief I get but then when it does break, it’s a tsunami. It’s ridiculous!’ said Mandy. ‘I want some stability. I don’t want to be this crying wreck of a woman.’

When Mandy came back six weeks later for her follow-up appointment, she looked brighter and lighter than the first time we met. She had experienced only one headache in that time and no stabbing eye pains. Best of all her nightly hot flashes had reduced to the point where she was sleeping well again. As a result, she felt back to her old self – the competent, energetic woman she had been.

And Mandy isn’t alone. In an NHS community clinic study, 81.4% women reported improvement of menopausal symptoms after homeopathic treatment. ¹

Mandy says, ‘Seven months on and life is much more stable, I am grateful to have found so much help from Chris and homeopathy. I can cope with my symptoms far better now.’

¹ Journal of the British Menopause Society Vol 11, 2 June 2005

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

Most people with post-herpetic neuralgia make a full recovery within a year. But symptoms occasionally last for several years or may be permanent.

At our first appointment Lindsey explained her shingles outbreak had happened 18 months previously. Unfortunately, she had been experiencing several unwanted and unpleasant symptoms since then. These included a burnt sensation on the left side of the tongue, mouth ulcers, a loss of appetite and weight, a low grade swollen/sore throat and darkening of urine.

Three months previously she had been bitten by a dog and had a course of intravenous antibiotics. This triggered daily diarrhoea and contributed to further weight loss.

In considering what homeopathic medicine might best suit her, I asked about the time leading up to the outbreak of shingles. Lindsey told me about the concerns she had for her family’s health and happiness and the limitations on her because of her husband’s need for reassurance following a mental breakdown.

Her prescription was based on the ongoing stresses and strains and the uncomfortable symptoms she was suffering. The aim of a good homeopathic remedy is not only to relieve symptoms but to prevent recurrence.

At her follow up appointment seven weeks later she reported splendid progress. The facial neuralgia was not there. ‘There’s a residual soreness if I think about it. But I don’t think about it much and rarely take ibuprofen or paracetamol.’

She rated the burnt tongue sensation as 3/5 whereas it had been 5/5. She had not had any mouth ulcers. Her appetite had improved, and she’d gained 2 pounds. Her urine was a normal colour and her diarrhoea was resolving. Over the following weeks her symptoms improved further, and she reduced her dosage of the remedy.

She next contacted me after a viral infection 3 months later. The burnt tongue sensation had reappeared although rated at 2/5 and she was experiencing post viral aches and pains and feeling generally sluggish. We reintroduced the same remedy at a higher potency. This resolved things over the ensuing six weeks at which point Lindsey asked for help with other issues which had started to surface, and we changed our treatment plan.

Lindsey says, ‘‘Having been diagnosed with shingles and subsequently facial palsy from the virus, I had been prescribed high doses of gabapentin by my GP who never recalled me to reduce or stop the drug. I felt constantly sluggish. I decided to wean myself off all the prescribed drugs before contacting Chris although kept up with paracetamol for the pain.

My first consultation with her felt more like chatting with an old acquaintance. She put me at ease and discussed every aspect of my life, including the ‘burnt, painful’ feeling I was still experiencing on my tongue. I felt a weight had been lifted after having spoken to Chris and hopefulness for my life going forward.

Within a few days of taking my homeopath medication I noticed a change in my symptoms and began to feel more on top of things. Once I felt more in control, I reduced the homeopathic medicine gradually although I did reuse it a few times if I experienced the odd twinge.

I would thoroughly recommend this alternative approach with Chris, healing the body from within with a very caring but professional approach.”

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

An ambitious young woman with high standards, extremely anxious but determined not to show it, she was a prime candidate for developing IBS symptoms.

She explains, “I visited Chris to resolve the physical problems I was struggling with – IBS, insomnia, and an irritated bladder. With a high-pressured job and big changes in my life, the problem seemed to stem from extreme anxiety. I had not been sleeping well for months, possibly even years, and it was affecting every aspect of my life.

Chris provided a holistic outlook, taking into account everything about me, not just the physical symptoms. After starting treatment, I began to notice a difference in my habits and symptoms. I’m pleased to say that I have had six months of sleeping well!

I can’t thank Chris enough for her work, her understanding and her genuine interest in helping me get better.”

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

The chances are you will understand Lorna’s annoyance. Up to 75 out of 100 women have a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their life ¹.  It’s a condition which is both intensely physically uncomfortable and emotionally distressing.

Like Lorna, many of the women I see in my practice have been taking lengthy prescriptions for months on end.  Once the antifungal medication is stopped, symptoms return, often more violently, and the cycle is repeated.  ‘It’s the relentlessness of it. I’m exhausted,’ she said.

When considering which homeopathic remedy best suited Lorna, we looked at all her symptoms. She was surprised that most could be explained by the candida overgrowth itself which alters the balance of digestive flora.

You too may be surprised at the diverse range of symptoms suggestive of the condition. They include:

• Severe bloating after meals – even after avoiding likely culprits such as dairy or wheat
• Excessive wind
• Food cravings – especially sugar, alcohol and carbohydrates
• Food allergies and food intolerances
• Fungal infections of the skin or nails, athlete’s foot
• Mental symptoms such as mood swings, lethargy, fatigue and brain fog
• Itching – skin, ear, rectum, vagina
• Hormonal issues such as irregular periods, painful menstruation, PMS and low sex drive
• Weight imbalances
• Immune depletion leading to hay fever, sinusitis and cystitis.

Lorna’s treatment plan included a personalised remedy incorporating her overall physical and emotional health as well as her specific thrush symptoms. She also adjusted her diet which, by her own admission, included too much sugar.

The aim of homeopathic treatment is to remove uncomfortable symptoms and prevent reoccurrence.

Six weeks after starting homeopathic treatment, Lorna reported a reduction of all her symptoms and the complete disappearance of the odour of the discharge.  The bloating which had made her so uncomfortable within half an hour of eating, had reduced to the point where she wasn’t aware of it in the same way as before.

Five months on, she was getting sore skin from time to time ‘but nowhere near as bad as before. It’s definitely improved.’

Lorna says, ‘Chris had treated me previously for other ailments using homeopathy, so I asked her whether homeopathy might be able to help with the recurrent thrush too. She takes the time to listen to exactly what the problem is, while also providing some very helpful, practical advice to consider alongside the homeopathy treatment. The remedy Chris used, together with the dietary changes, really made a difference to the symptoms and have definitely improved things for me.’

¹ Ref https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK543220

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

Chris has such a wonderful way with the children, really understands them and uses her incredible communication skills to get to the heart of what’s causing their distress or illness. That understanding means she can prescribe the best individual homeopathic remedy for the way they’re experiencing things.

Chris has met with my children in parks and made home visits to keep things informal and make the most of the appointment. Homeopathy has always worked for us as a family and has been a welcome complement to conventional medicine for a variety of conditions in my children such as anxiety, hay fever and musculoskeletal problems.

Chris’s genuine, caring, and empathetic nature has made homeopathy a big part of our family’s life.  It will be something I always turn to in my family’s times of need.”

These are the success stories of some of my clients. They appear with the consent and approval from the individuals concerned.

Always check with your GP or other health professional if you have any concerns about your health.