What is the difference between "acute" and "chronic" health?
I am writing here "What is acute?" and "What is chronic?" I also describe how to prescribe these different terms in homeopathy.
Keywords: acute condition, chronic condition, acute consultation, how to choose remedies, acute prescription in homeopathy, chronic prescription in homeopathy
I receive many various questions at the pharmacy, mostly acute conditions like coughs and colds or injury.
Sometimes I often come across "I have been in this condition for a long time, can you recommend any remedies for me?" However, it is not so easy to choose chronic conditions over the counter.
Because Homeopathic remedy is not prescribed by "diagnosis", and it is prescribed by presenting conditions. If someone has the same diagnosis, each one would be prescribed different remedies because each one presents different symptoms.
I will describe the difference between acute and chronic, and different homeopathic prescriptions in these different terms.
#1 - Acute conditions
Acute conditions are "sudden onset" of symptoms and they mostly present for a short period.
For example, a cold or injury happens suddenly.
#2 - Chronic conditions
Chronic conditions are piling up the underlying problems for a long time, and then symptoms appear on the surface.
The condition may be related to maintaining causes such as genetic, ancestral, stress patterns and lifestyle.
When you temporarily get better at the acute conditions, you may repeat the same conditions again and again.
In this case, you need to consider you may have susceptibility to these symptoms and they could be "chronic" conditions. It is important to investigate key issues.
#3 - How to choose a remedy for acute conditions
Nature of Illness: Focuses on short-term, sudden, and self-limiting conditions, such as the flu, colds, fevers, injuries, or headaches.
Goal: Provides relief from immediate symptoms and supports the body’s natural healing process during a temporary health crisis.
Duration of Treatment: Generally short-term, lasting only as long as the acute condition persists.
Selection of Remedies: Remedies are chosen based on the specific symptoms of the acute condition, often addressing the immediate complaint without a deep analysis of the patient's constitutional state.
Example: Arnica Montana for injuries or Belladonna for sudden high fever.
Dosage: Frequently repeated doses may be needed over a short period, depending on the severity and progression of the condition.
When you choose a remedy for acute conditions, you observe the symptoms and find matched keynotes in a remedy. It requires the skills to collect symptoms from various angles.
For information on gathering symptoms for acute conditions, please click the button below.
#4 - How to choose a remedy for chronic conditions
Nature of Illness: Focuses on long-standing, recurrent, or deep-seated health issues, such as asthma, eczema, migraines, or depression.
Goal: Addresses the root cause of the illness and promotes long-term healing by balancing the individual’s vital force and constitution.
Duration of Treatment: Long-term treatment that may extend over weeks, months, or even years, depending on the complexity of the condition.
Selection of Remedies: Remedies are chosen after a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s physical, emotional, mental, and lifestyle characteristics, reflecting their unique constitutional type.
Example: Sulphur for a person with a chronic skin condition that fits their constitutional profile.
Dosage: Remedies are typically given less frequently, with time allowed between doses to observe the effects and adjust treatment as needed.
When you choose a remedy for chronic conditions, it is a different process of selection from the medication from your GP like being prescribed by "diagnoses".
Because your conditions are individual and present different pain, location, or sensation from the others who are identified with the same terms.
It is a different prescription method for between acute conditions and chronic conditions.
For acute conditions or self-prescribing at home, the prescription method is more focused on presenting complaints and associated conditions. However, there are various prescribing methods for chronic conditions.
When you have a consultation with a homeopath, you will be asked various questions.
Of course, a homeopath will ask you for the details of your main complaints, too.
Chronic symptoms are believed to develop gradually before appearing as an illness. This is attributed to a range of factors, such as our perception of trauma and events, our reactions, our emotional responses to our actions, and our environmental conditions.
A homoeopath collects your background information and searches the relation to your complaints, digs into the deeper level (including mental/ emotional condition) of what is going on in your whole body, so your homoeopath is looking at not only your complaints but also a whole person.
Then you will be prescribed a bespoke remedy.
When you have a consultation with a homeopath, you will be asked various questions.
Of course, a homeopath will ask you for the details of your main complaints, too.
To learn more about being questioned regarding chronic conditions, please click the button below.
#5 - Conclusion
Key differences are,
Aspect | Acute Prescribing | Chronic Prescribing |
Duration of Illness | Short-term and temporary | Long-term or recurring |
Focus | Immediate symptoms | Root causes and constitution |
Evaluation | Based on current symptoms | Holistic and individualized |
Duration of Treatment | Brief (days or weeks) | Extended (months or years) |
Dosage Frequency | Frequent in short term | Infrequent, allowing observation |
Sometimes a patient may require acute prescribing for immediate relief alongside chronic prescribing for their underlying condition. For example, a person with chronic asthma might use an acute remedy during an attack (Aconite or Ipecacuanha) while continuing chronic treatment with their constitutional remedy.
I hope you understand the difference between "acute" and "chronic" conditions, and the difference in how to choose remedies for each condition.
When you have acute conditions like a cold, and you are keen to try homeoapthic remedies by yourself, you can try them as self-care.
However, if you suffer from chronic symptoms for a long time, you can try it by yourself, but a homeopath can observe your whole condition from a different perspective.
I offer "acute consultation" and "Initial/ subsequent consultations" for chronic conditions.
If you would like to chat with me, please click the button below for a15 15-minute free discovery chat.
If you would like to read more about homeopathy, you can read the blogs.
Happy using homeopathy!