Antidoting remedies

My experience of antidotes is that some remedies, in some people, some of the time can be antidoted by some substances.

Because there is no hard and fast rule the easiest way to deal with this is to say no to certain foods certainly coffee and mint but you may like to look at the list below as well.
Dental work can also have a very definite effect on remedies, both the anaesthetic and also the drilling, so invasive dental work unless it is urgent is best avoided for 4 weeks after you have taken your remedy. So that your homeopath can clearly assess the effect of the remedy.

No one knows exactly why certain substances interrupt the curative effect of homeopathic medicines, but the phenomena has been observed over and over again by homeopaths around the world. The vital force, which is responsible for all healing, appears to be detrimentally affected by these substances. When antidoting occurs, symptoms which have been healed by homeopathy will return. Sometimes the interference is total, causing a sudden, complete relapse. At other times, the relapse is partial or temporary. For any given antidoting factor, about 60% of patients may be affected by a given exposure. Sometimes it takes a number of exposures before a relapse occurs. In other cases, one sip of coffee, for example, is enough to interfere with process of homeopathic treatment. to read this article in more depth please go to

What to Avoid While Under Homeopathic Treatment:

Shock: This by its very nature is unavoidable but it is likely to antidote or affect your remedy. Consult your homeopath.

Coffee: This is the one substance which is most often responsible for homeopathic antidote. Even one sip of coffee or a small amount of coffee ice cream, or coffee bean sweets may antidote a homeopathic remedy. It appears to be the oils in coffee rather than the caffeine alone which is the culprit. Although caffeinated tea is not a problem with homeopathy, strongly caffeinated substances should also be avoided.
Other homeopathic remedies: Do not use any other homeopathic remedies or Bach Flower remedies, cell salts, without discussing them with your homeopath first. Simply becasue we don’t know which is having an effect or if the combination might bring about unwated symptoms.
Electric blankets: They affect remedies by altering your body’s electromagnetic field.
Aromatic substances: Avoid camphor, eucalyptus, menthol, and any products which contain them including Vick’s, Tiger Balm, Calamine lotion, and cough drops and lozenges containing these substances. This includes menthol and other aromatic mouthwashes.
Citronella oil, pennyroyal, and other aromatic herbal mosquito repellants, all thuja and tea tree (melaleuca) products, peppermint oil, and lavender oil may antidote remedies due to their aromaticity. Chapstick, and other aromatic lip balms should also be avoided. Strong fumes from oil-based paint, turpentine, paint thinner and certain household cleaning agents such as Pine and strong-smelling industrial chemicals may also interfere with remedies.
Medications: Homeopathic medicines will not prevent prescription drugs from working, If you experience severe pain, ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol do not usually interfere with homeopathic remedies.
Dental work: Homeopathic remedies are often anti- doted by dental drilling and the use of novocaine. It is preferable, if possible, to wait at least three or four months after taking a remedy to have dental work done. In the case of emergency dental work, have it done and call your practitioner afterwards. In many cases, homeopathic remedies will relieve dental pain until you have a chance to visit your dentist.
Drugs: Avoid all recreational drugs including marijuana, cocaine, LSD, barbituates, amphetamines and prescription pain medications. Alcohol in moderation will not interfere with homeopathic remedies.
Herbs: Check with your homeopath before using herbs for specific medicinal purposes while you are under homeopathic treatment. Herb teas for beverage use, when varied from day, to day are fine as are culinary herbs. Chinese herbs and moxa may antidote remedies. If you’ve been given Natrum muriaticum, you will be advised to avoid peppermint in all forms, including tea. The remedy Sulphur may be antidoted by chamomile tea and Sepia by vinegar.
Vitamins: Let your homeopath know which vitamins you are taking. Taking a particular vitamin to eliminate a particular symptom may make it difficult for your homeopath to evaluate your symptoms. Multivitamins and minerals do not disturb homeopathic treatment.
Beauty treatments: Perms often antidote remedies because of the harsh and aromatic chemicals. Some skin products and facial treatments will antidote remedies if they contain aromatic substances.
Other therapies: Acupuncture, reflexology and therapeutic ultrasound have been found to often antidote homeopathic treatment. Some homeopaths have found certain forms of bodywork, including shiatsu and rolfing, to antidote their patients’ remedies in some cases.

Other factors which you may query:

Immunisations: They do stand alone. Whether you take them or not is your personal choice.
If you have any concerns please discuss this with your medical practitioner.

Factors which Do Not Antidote Homeopathic Remedies:

Medications: Aspirin, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, when used infrequently, will usually not interfere with homeopathic treatment.
Heating pads and water bed heaters.
Medical tests: Blood tests, X-rays, mammograms, Pap smears.
Dental examination and cleaning (except when ultrasound is used).
Cleaning products: Ammonia and bleach. ( Wear rubber gloves and dilute.)
Personal care products: Deodorants that are not strongly aromatic, aftershaves without menthol. Soaps, perfumes, and colognes which do not contain the substances listed in the antidote section are fine.
Therapies: Massage, (using non-aromatic oils), chiropractic adjustments and many other forms of bodywork are generally compatible with homeopathy. If your complaints are primarily musculoskeletal, it is best to discuss the frequency of these treatments with your homeopath.

If you think you have antidoted (interfered with the action of) your remedy, your homeopath will usually wait one to two weeks before re-evaluating your case and deciding whether to repeat your remedy. This waiting period is necessary in order to evaluate whether your previous symptoms return and to give you a chance to bounce back without the need for repeating the remedy.

You may feel that the list of potential antidotes places too many restrictions on your life and makes you feel rebellious. The idea is not to make you walk on eggs and fear any potential influence, just for you to be reasonably prudent about avoidable exposures. Most homeopathic patients find that it becomes relatively easy to avoid these factors.

Note: the above factors although they do not antidote your remedies are not necessarily beneficial to your body – so please consider carefully before taking them.