Good question because most practitioners will ask you to avoid using certain substances while taking homeopathic remedies.
The following are known to partially or completely interrupt or antidote the positive effects of a remedy. So here is a list of things to avoid while in homeopathic care:
- Recreational drugs (excess alcohol consumption, marijuana, tobacco, cocaine, and other toxic drugs)
- Coffee. It is advisable to eliminate coffee while undergoing homeopathic treatment. Not always will coffee interfere with the effects of a remedy, and you never know if it does. So why take a risk?
- Mint and chamomile. Its regular use should be suspended during treatment. Mint can be consumed as mint tea, in tooth paste, over-the-counter medication, essential oils. There are mint-free toothpastes available such as Weleda.
- Camphor, menthol and eucalyptus is known to antidote many remedies. So it should also be omitted while in homeopathic treatment. Camphor is found in ointments, tiger balm, over-the-counter meds for relief of colds, cough drops, etc.
What About Medical Drugs?
Strong suppressive drugs like steroids and immune suppressants are one of the things that can interfere with the effectiveness of a homeopathic remedy, also birth control pills as they suppress the natural cycle.
Other medical drugs may make remedies work less effective. Many times though, remedies will still work. Remedies on the other hand will not disturb the effects of medical drugs.
There are disadvantages with the combined use of medical drugs and homeopathic remedies. It is more difficult to assess the effects of the remedy. Also, there may be side effects of the drugs which have to be dealt with.
When your life depends on the continued use of a prescribed drug, it is possible to stick with it while in homeopathic treatment. As you are getting better through homeopathy, you may need to reduce or even no longer need the drug. It is up to your medical doctor to decide when to change the doses of the prescribed drugs. Your homeopath will advise you how to proceed.
Natural Therapies
Many practitioners feel that homeopathics should be used alone as there is no way of knowing the effects of the administered remedy and the progress of treatment if other therapies such as acupuncture, spinal manipulation etc. are used simultaneously.
Some practitioners find other natural therapies compatible with homeopathy. For instance, if you catch an acute cold when in treatment of a chronic condition, it may be advisable to treat the acute condition with herbal remedies. If you would treat the acute condition with homeopathics, you would be interrupting the action of the well working chronic remedy.