:: World Homeopathy Awareness Week ::

General Guidelines from Dr. Gabrielle Traub, Founder
World Homeopathy Awareness Organization

We need each other, so let's work together!

•	Ensure that you are punctual for events and start on time.
•	Deliver to the audience that which you advertised to deliver.
•	Visit the venue before the event to get an idea of the space and not notice any potential problems which may arise, such as noise, accessibility, parking, lighting, etc.
•	Dress should be professional, neat and appropriate. Be respectful of other people's points of view.
•	If you have literature to hand out, please make sure the content is appropriate and looks professional.
•	Each homeopath is responsible for finding out what their insurance and regulations permit them to do, according to their region and credentials.
•	Please ensure that you do not make undue claims, for example that "Homeopathy can cure everything" etc.
•	Contact your Society for guidelines to writing articles and how to approach media interviews.
•	Please be careful not to bad mouth any other homeopaths, styles of homeopathy or other professions, it merely reflects poorly on our profession if we don't appear intergrated as a profession, or if we appear to be unable to work together with other practitioners.
•	Remember that you will be representing homeopathy as a whole. If you are making a television appearance, please look and act in a professional manner. Many societies have media packs with guidelines which are helpful.
•	As we are promoting homeopathy, please refrain from including any other modality, other than that which is truly homeopathic in your promotion. As some of you may utilize modalities such as dowsing, pendulum, kinesiology, color therapy, herbalism, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, etc into your practice and may find these modalities useful, this is an opportunity to promote Homeopathy and the "Law of Similars" as stated in the Organon. It is an opportunity to clear up any misconceptions as to what homeopathy is.
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When giving a lecture:

•	Ensure that you have all the correct audiovisual equipment and test it out for compatability ahead of time.
•	Prepare for any equipment malfunction.
•	Make sure you have a microphone in a large or noisy venue.
•	Back up any data needed onto a CD.
•	Repeat questions asked so that everyone can hear.
•	Ensure you leave sufficient time at the end for questions.
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When talking about homeopathy to the medical profession:

When dealing with the medical world, homeopaths tend to have one or more of the following emotions:
- Anger
- Frustration
- Respect
- Feeling of inferiority
- Wanting them to like us
- Wanting them to agree with our views/philosophies
- Wanting to feel accepted by them as a professional

•	In the past homeopathy has been shunned, banned, outcast by the medical profession, thus these feelings are justified and normal.
•	Many of us have had negative experiences in dealings with the medical world.
•	As homeopaths we hear about negative experiences our patients and friends have had with the medical world.
•	We are aware of the short comings of medicine and we often have homeopathic solutions.
•	Believe it or not, many members of the medical profession ARE interested in hearing what we have to say, for a number of reasons:
	- They realize the shortcomings of medicine. - Holistic health and homeopathy is very much in vogue & growing at a rapid rate. - Their patients are asking about homeopathy. - They don’t like NOT knowing about things. - They especially don’t like knowing less then their patients do & they want to be up to date.
•	Many of them are more open-minded than you think.
•	Whenever dealing with medical professionals, bear in mind, that there are not many of us homeopaths, and their impression of YOU, will form the basis of their impression of homeopathy in general.
•	Each and everyone of us is an ambassador, a representative of the profession.
•	Everything you say and do will have a lasting impression.
•	Bear in mind, that just like us, most doctors and healthcare professionals really believe that what they are doing is best for their patient.
•	Most of the time they really want to help their patients & have their patients very best interests in mind.
•	By telling them what they are doing is otherwise, is just going to get their backs up the wall and prevent anything you say from getting through.
•	Bear in mind, that if you are receiving a lecture, giving a lecture, or merely engaging in conversation with a medical professional, the chances are that they REALLY ARE INTERESTED in what you have to say.
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Useful tips when arguing your point:

•	Keep your emotions out of it.
•	Do not talk above the other person.
•	Try to listen to what he/she has to say and give them an opportunity to respond.
•	Do not be aggressive.
•	Don’t self-depreciate (you will lose credibility).
•	Don’t be intimidated. Trust that you CAN hold your ground. As little as you think you know about medicine, the chances are, that they know even less about homeopathy.
•	Use correct medical terminology, without becoming verbose/long-winded, I try to keep it simple and succinct.
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When listening to a lecture/when in a debate:

•	If you are not exactly sure what you want to say, write down your question/argument first, until it makes sense to you.
•	Then wait for the right cues, before posing your question.
•	This way you will be able to execute your question with authority and conviction. You will know exactly what you want to say.
•	Try not to interrupt their line of thought or sentence as it can be frustrating for them.
•	If in a debate, construct your argument in your head first, before airing your views.
•	Even when engaged, try not to get into a monologue conversation with the lecturer as it alienates the rest of the group.
•	Try to show interest in their argument/what they have to say and agree with them when you do.
•	Try to keep to the topic, and not bring up ALL the downfalls in medicine when arguing a topic. i.e if talking about cancer/hepatitis, stick to cancer/hepatitis, or at least to liver disease.
•	Do not criticize medical professionals for things they have no or little control over, for example criticizing MD’s for the corruption of pharmaceutical companies or criticizing dermatologists for the over-prescription on antidepressants.
•	Remember the medical field is very specialized and practitioners in one field have no or limited knowledge about other fields.
•	Memorize at least one research study to refer to where homeopathy has been proven to work. (see website for research articles). And refer to the source that information comes from.
•	Present concepts that they will be able to relate to. For example, by referring to the vital force as the immune system, you will still be able to get your point across, however, will be better understood and received.
•	Most allopaths are NOT familiar with terms like allopathic medicine, suppression, etc. Feel free to explain these terms to them, however do not bombard them with homeopathic/holistic jargon without an explanation. You will lose them and they will switch off.
•	Homeopathy is a science, founded on the basis of rigid German experimentation.
•	Try not to use words that are considered esoteric, or out-there. The allopath with take you far more seriously if he isn’t imagining you at a hippie convention.
•	Be careful not to make claims that homeopathy is a cure-all and superior over any other modality. Or better than what they do. This elicits a negative reaction, and nothing is gained.
•	Use the phrases: “In my experience, this is what I have see” or “The literature shows that”.
•	Convey the message that you appreciate the benefits of orthodox medicine, and would like Homeopathy to be able to work hand-in-hand with the medical world, for the common good of the sick.
•	This kind of attitude is very well embraced by the medical world. Believe me, they want you on their side just as much as we want them on ours.
•	Let them know that you will not be taking away from them, they have no need to feel threatened.
•	That working together as a team both worlds are much stronger and far more complete.
•	Go to conferences (not just homeopathic) medical, health, psychology, social workers.
•	Join their boards and committees.
•	Infiltrate.
•	Make changes from the INSIDE.
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We need to:

•	Stand together.
•	Build ties with your fellow homeopaths.
•	Support one another.
•	There will always be different styles and trends in homeopathy.
•	Homeopathy is an ever changing ever growing science.
•	We are all healers & can help one another.
•	You will share common difficulties, put your heads together, greater problem solving.
•	Respect each other.

Badmouthing other practitioners:

•	Is unprofessional.
•	Reflects badly on you.
•	Illegal in most professions.
•	Patients see right through it.
•	Patients want to feel like their healthcare providers are working as a team; they feel a greater level of support and are not left confused “everyone is telling me different things”.
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