This year's Homeopathy Awareness Week (June 14-21) highlights how these remedies not only tackle the symptoms of allergies but trigger the body's own system of healing to help stop them occurring in the first place.

Homeopathy is patient-centred, with remedies prescribed based on individuals' symptoms and how they experience them. Remedies are mostly drawn from natural substances, which are highly diluted and therefore non-toxic, making them suitable for all ages, including children and
pregnant women.

Homeopathy works on the principle of 'like cures like' – that is, a substance that would cause symptoms in a healthy person is used to help those same symptoms in illness.

Research evidence backs up the use of homeopathy for people who suffer with allergic conditions. Last year The Society Of Homeopaths was invited to give evidence at a House of Lords inquiry which concluded that allergies were reaching epidemic proportions.

Results from a six-year study at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital showed the most marked improvements in children, with 89 per cent of under 16s with asthma, and 68 per cent with eczema, reporting improvement.

A number of random controlled trials have also provided some positive results for the use of homeopathy in the treatment of hayfever and allergic rhinitis.

Symptoms of allergy are on the increase, affecting approximately one in four of the population in the UK at some time in their lives, with numbers increasing by five per cent each year and as many as half of all those affected being children (www.allergyuk.co.uk).

Allergic symptoms occur when the body's immune system overreacts, interpreting a usually harmless substance as a threat.

This year's awareness week is in collaboration with Nelsons, the UK's leading manufacturer of natural medicines.

Local registered homeopath Alison Jones will be at Pumpernickel health store in The Arcade, Bedford, on Saturday, June 21, between 11am and 3pm, to answer questions.

Alison is a member of The Society Of Homeopaths, the largest body of professional homeopaths in Europe. Established in 1978, it has 1,500 registered members who are fully insured and agree to practice in accordance with a strict code of ethics and practice. A copy of this and the register is available at www.homeopathy-soh.org.

For further details, call Alison on 01234 315022.
Call Donna at The Cottage Therapy Studio on 01234 838880 for allergy and intolerance analysis, wellness MOTs and menopause naturally consultations: www.scio-wellness.com