There are different reasons why people would choose to become a homeopath. For one, homeopathy is all about restoring body balance, improving the immune system and improving overall health by using natural medications. Those who have experienced the benefits of homeopathy, intend to learn homeopathic therapies so that they would be able to share the medical system that changed their lives.
A homeopathic practitioner is the person who would prescribe and administer homeopathic remedies to the patient. Homeopathic practitioners are not only knowledgeable in homeopathy, but they are also required by the national government to possess doctors license and practice conventional or traditional medicine. Practitioners are not only prescribing medications, they are also involved in raising patient awareness, teaching patients about proper lifestyle, education patients about proper diet and being an advisor.
It is important to identify if the homeopathic practitioner is a qualified and professional homeopathic practitioner. There are trainings and education that a practitioner must be able to finish. Aside from the medical degree, there are also Diploma and Certificate Courses for Homeopathic therapy.
If you are doubtful about the background of the homeopathic practitioner you are going to, you could check the professional licenses with the National Center of Homeopathy, the Council for Certification and the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians, and the American Institute of Homeopathy.
Some myths about homeopathy would say that the doctors and practitioners are like witch doctors. They would be mixing different natural herbs as remedy and some myths would even say that they would be chanting while mixing the remedies. This would be the case with some practitioners who are self-proclaimed and are not professionals.
In real homeopathic therapy, practitioners would indeed be mixing, diluting and forceful shaking of substances. This process called potentization is said to be capable of changing the energy in the substance. This change would eventually help in self-healing. Self-healing is another important factor in homeopathic therapies, which is why practitioners would always involve patient education.
Training and education would take a lot of time and can be costly. There are licensing programs and courses which are available for those interested. There are also homeopathic schools located in different states, you could check the National Center of Homeopathy for the offices of these schools.
Learning does not end after the training or the certification program, apprenticeship is encouraged. Working with an established practitioner would surely help you have hands-on experience and learn from the mentor. Aside from that it is also important to work closely with the dietician and chiropractors. You could even treat this as a hospital internship.
When building relationship or attending trainings and seminars of other homeopathic practitioners, make sure that you are building relationships with qualified professionals. As mentioned earlier, there are self-proclaimed homeopaths out there. Make sure that you would be checking their credentials or at least get references.
Before you start practicing, inquire about state regulations. Aside from being a licensed doctor and practicing another medical field, there are other regulations which may be different on each state. You could learn this from the local chapter of the homeopath organization or you could directly consult the national organization for help.