A different approach: Mara Zanfagnana and her children, Harrison and Liliana Selkirk (Photo provided)
Mara Zanfagna knows the benefits of homeopathy firsthand. Years ago, she witnessed the positive effects it had on her beloved pets. More recently, she has been inspired by how homeopathy has improved the health of family members when traditional medicine had not worked. Here’s a story she told audiences at talks: Introduction to HomeopathyThe film was screened at Specialty Cinema on June 3rd.
The film was made by Mel Dupré, Bermuda’s “only qualified homeopathic physician,” as part of his work to help people achieve optimal health.
Zanfagna first got in touch with her “many years ago” seeking help for “serious skin issues” her daughter was suffering from.
“I was stuck with Western medicine and wanted to try something different, a different approach. It was an amazing experience. I told the story at movie nights as a testimony of my experience,” she said.
“That’s how we got to know Mel. During our first in-depth consultation, she took a detailed medical history and came back with an initial treatment to try.”
She tried several treatments, but eventually, her “skin problems really started to subside and resolve.”
After about 5 months it disappeared completely and hasn’t returned since.
“We had this amazing experience, and homeopathy for me became the first thing I try, rather than the last thing I turn to when things go wrong,” Zanfagnana said.
More than a last resort: homeopathic remedies (Photo provided)
Her success story is the type that Dupré has long argued: There’s no scientific evidence that homeopathic remedies actually work.
In the Q&A session after the event, Introduction to Homeopathy The lack of insurance coverage became a hot topic.
“CG insurance used to cover homeopathy, I don’t know if that still happens, but insurers today are not keen to cover homeopathy. My point is that if customers start demanding it, that may change,” Dupré said.
“Most people didn’t really understand that homeopathy was a system of medicine. They just saw it as an umbrella term for natural medicine or natural remedies. So this film helped people understand that homeopathy is actually its own legitimate system of medicine that can have a profound effect on people’s health, well-being and lives.”
The film looked at the history of “homeopathy and medicine in general,” the science behind it, and the research that has been done.
“And then there was this really long testimonial section. It had like six different people sharing their experiences, everything from autism to mental health issues to HIV/AIDS and a man in recovery.
“I think the most fascinating thing for most people was hearing about people’s journeys: where they came from and where they got to. [and] These were not just stories of “I cut my finger, took some homeopathy and it healed,” but stories with deeper meanings.
Zanfagna said he “knew about and was leaning in the direction” of homeopathy before meeting Dupré.
“I’ve used homeopathy a little bit as a child to treat allergies and things like that. My parents introduced me to homeopathic treatments, and I also experienced homeopathy through one of our dogs before I had kids.
“I was working with a homeopathic vet, so I was kind of rediscovering homeopathy as a tool for maintaining health and treating health.”
She began turning to homeopathy instead of Tylenol and other medications whenever her children complained of earaches, colds or fevers.
“We talked to Mel: What do you think? Here are the symptoms. And she said: ‘Why don’t you try this?'”
Calm and collected: Harrison Selkirk says he had an easy time removing his supernumerary tooth thanks to the treatment provided by homeopath Mel Dupré (Photo provided)
Three years ago, Dupre came to the rescue again when an extra tooth had to be removed from her son, Harrison Selkirk’s mouth.
“Of course we went to the dentist. [explained that Harrison] “About one in every 500 people has an extra tooth that’s missing. There’s really no point in that,” Zanfagnana said.
“It was on the roof of your mouth so your tongue wouldn’t fit. It was like a sharp tube. We called it a shark. It was really weird.”
Bermuda was in the midst of the pandemic at the time, so she felt it would be safer for Harrison to have the tooth extracted at a dental clinic rather than at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
“[The dentist] He said the hardest part would probably be a Novocaine injection to numb the skin on the roof of his mouth, because the skin there is very thin and it’s impossible for a six-year-old to sit still in a chair. But I said I’d love to try it.”
She and her husband “got through it and were psychologically prepared” for it, she told Harrison. [a] “You can soften a difficult experience by focusing on the relief you’ll feel when it’s removed.”
Special keepsake: Harrison Selkirk says he had an easy time removing his extra tooth thanks to a treatment provided by homeopath Mel Dupré (Photo provided)
Meanwhile, Dupre explained “10 treatments before and after tooth extraction.”
“The post [for] “If you’re in pain and you feel like you need more, I honestly don’t think you would have made it through the initial phase after treatment because the experience was so amazing and smooth,” Zanfagnana said.
The tooth has since been transformed into a talisman, which Harrison wears on a chain.
“We alternated between treatments over the days and hours leading up to the procedure. As we walked into the dentist’s office, we popped the last pallet into my son’s mouth and it was just amazing. He was calm and collected. He took some Novocaine, the dentist gave him two gentle tugs and the tooth was out. It was an amazing experience.”
Harrison added: “I already [homeopathy] It helped me. Based on my experience, I was like, “Yeah, I’ll take it.” But I was really nervous because I didn’t know they were going to stick that big needle in my mouth. [The remedies] It really helped calm me down and relax me.”
Zanfagna has used homeopathy many times with success and believes it is beneficial for his health.
“It’s all beneficial and it’s all harmless. If it’s right for your body and your situation, it will work to help you get through it, and if it’s not right, it won’t work, but it won’t have any harmful effects. Why not try it?” she said.
“The countermeasure is something like Tylenol, if you can avoid ingredients like corn syrup and colorings that are not healthy for anyone to ingest, it may mitigate the immediate effects, but it’s actually suppressing what your body is trying to express.
“So you’re actually pushing it deeper into your body. And if you do that over and over again for years, it could potentially cause bigger problems to appear. So, for me, it’s a no-brainer.”
Scientists and medical experts, including from the UK’s National Health Service, claim that there is no high-quality evidence that homeopathy works. Like his mother, Harrison doesn’t believe it.
“Modern medicine kind of throws you in a loop,” the 9-year-old said. “You take a pill, you get side effects, you’re prescribed that pill for the rest of your life, and you’re basically stuck paying for it until you die.”
“With homeopathy, you can buy a kit and it will last for three to four years. There are no side effects. You don’t have to take it for the rest of your life. It doesn’t involve the patient like modern doctors do.”
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