Homeopathy is a medicine with many virtues. It can be very useful if you have trouble sleeping. We spoke to Dr Léa Guibentif, a general practitioner and homeopath in Geneva. She tells us how homeopathy can help improve the quality of our sleep.
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy refers to the ‘law of similars’. Imagine: a patient presents with symptoms (whether physical, psychological or emotional). The idea is to prescribe a remedy that is capable of reproducing these same symptoms in healthy volunteers during the experimental phase. This is what is commonly known as ‘treating evil with evil’ to cure the person: it is observed that a remedy similar in its action to the patient’s symptoms will help to cure these same symptoms. Homeopathy has many advantages: it is rarely contraindicated, has few side effects and does not interact with most medicines. It should be noted, however, that homeopathy in no way replaces conventional medicine, but rather complements it.
Our expert
Dr. Léa Guibentif
‘Depending on the case, I prefer to prescribe my patients homeopathy for sleep disorders rather than benzodiazepines. Even if it doesn’t replace medication, it’s a good alternative to consider depending on the situation.’
How homeopathy can help with sleep disorders
Homeopathy is a good ally when it comes to treating sleep disorders. However, it is important to find the right remedy, as each patient will have different needs. Dr Léa Guibentif tells us that treatment really does have to be individualised if it is to work. This is because each person’s underlying causes, behaviours and mechanisms are different.
What homeopathic treatment should I take for sleep disorders?
You are a unique person, and so will your homeopathic treatment. The aim is to find a remedy that covers all the symptoms. So finding the ideal treatment on your own can be a bit tricky. That’s where a professional can help. However, there’s nothing to lose by trying before you consult a professional. There are, of course, ‘classic’ remedies to help sleep disorders. Here are a few examples:
- If you’re overworked, your emotional state is in turmoil and you’re anxious. It’s also a classic remedy for burnout.
- Coffee if you’re a very stimulated, very active person who consumes a lot of caffeine at work, and your brain is always buzzing and you can’t fall asleep.
- Aconite if you’ve had a violent shock, bad news, you’re afraid of death or you’re afraid of a disaster happening to you
- Arsenicum album if you’re anxious, restless, afraid of catching a serious illness and loneliness aggravates your symptoms, or if you’re cold. It’s also the first remedy to try for restless legs syndrome.
If none of the above solutions seem to work, we advise you not to continue with the treatment. In fact, Dr Léa Guibentif warns us to avoid repeating a remedy too often when it is not indicated or does not work. The risk is that it may cause you to develop symptoms that are not your own. If you still want to explore the field, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with a homeopath.
The homeopath will prescribe the remedy you need and tell you how to take it. Dr. Léa Guibentif works as follows for sleep disorders: she tells you to take the remedy no more than 2 or 3 times a week. This will allow you to observe the results (if any) and adjust the dosage. If your sleep improves, you can take a break from the treatment. If your problems return after a few days, you can start again, and so on. To work, the treatment must obviously be accompanied by a healthy lifestyle and good habits.
When can you benefit from homeopathy for sleep disorders?
As you may have guessed by now, homeopathy can be a real asset if you have trouble sleeping. If you are interested in this treatment, however, we advise you not to wait too long before trying it. Recent problems are easier to treat than those that have been around for longer. Of course, it is possible to treat chronic problems, but this requires patience.
Dr Léa Guibentif points out, however, that it is important to consult a doctor to rule out the presence of illnesses that could be the cause of sleep disorders, such as
- sleep apnoea syndrome
- heart failure
- restless legs syndrome
- use of certain medicines or drugs.
She also tells us that it is important to see a change in the health of her patients. If there is no underlying disease causing the sleep problems and no homeopathic treatment seems to be working, she will turn instead to phytotherapy or other solutions in conventional medicine.
