Nestled in the heart of West Chester is the office of Dr. Elizabeth Webb, a Ph.D. who greatly embraces natural remedies for the many afflictions the human body, and mind, can undergo. Dr. Webb provides a variety of holistic health services ranging from ancient homeopathic remedies to intuitive counseling. She incorporates a key doctrine in her practice that people’s emotional, physical, and mental well beings are all interconnected. For those seeking alternatives to the traditional physician’s pharmaceutical solution, one can frequent her office to receive treatment of physical ailments or even for issues of the mind.
Despite her European ancestry, Dr. Webb was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1912 her grandfather brought homeopathic remedies from Austria to the small village of Gramado in the southern part of Brazil, a mostly German community. Young Webb took interest in these practices. She first came to the U.S. to study the language after high school in 1967. Thereafter, she received various scholarships to study language abroad in Kyoto, Japan and Madrid, Spain. Afterwards, she attended University of Rio de Janeiro, where she received her Ph.D. in preventative medicine.
Webb’s practice is a one person operation, the humblest of any practitioner’s in West Chester. Her office is located on S. Church St. among the quaint shops and law offices, just a few doors down from Halladay Florists. She meets with her patients in a modest conference room in the back of a brick faced historic borough building.
This doctor exercises a unique array of services that can be very beneficial to our community, providing care for a myriad of issues we all have experienced, or may encounter at some point in our lives. She wants residents of West Chester to know there are safe and effective alternatives to drug treatments right here in their own backyard. One fascinating segment of her holistic services is homeopathy.
Homeopathy is an ancient Greek and Egyptian method of healing. Homeopathic principles support the idea that “like cures like” on the grounds the specific substance that causes the symptoms of a disease may be the key to curing the people inflicted. This practice was revived in the late 19th century by Samuel Hahnemann, and is still executed to this very day by natural doctors such as Dr. Webb.
“Homeopathy is a whole different section of holistic medicine… It is not herbal, but rather made from different substances… Organic matter, minerals, organic tissue, plants and even herbs, their processing and highly defined principles of application are unique to homeopathic medicines. For example, Apis Melefica is the potentization of a bee sting. This homeopathic remedy is used for bee stings, sore throats with same characteristics as ‘bees stinging your throat.’ Additionally, you are never too old, young, strong, sickly or healthy to benefit from homeopathy,” Webb explains.
A pivotal role in Dr. Webb’s practice is education on how homeopathy works and what should be expected. There is a sharp difference in these methods from our Western medicinal practices. We are a society of instant gratification, as our medicinal expectations prove aside from the nation being laden with microwave chefs. Visiting your homeopath for what ails you may be an ongoing treatment, but it is safe and free of the long-term side effects drugs can cause.
“This is in stark contrast to medicine, whereby the body is forced into subjugation by constant drugs. Because most people are still in the mindset of medicine, they tend to keep repeating the remedy and then complain that nothing is happening… A serious acute, such as a recent injury, may take several visits close together, days apart. A slow chronic problem, such as arthritis, will do better on monthly visits for a few months,” Webb clarifies.
It is, however, perfectly fine, according to Dr. Webb, to use these alternative treatments in parallel with traditional medicine. “Homeopathy is safe to take with any other medication, like prescriptions, OTCs, supplements, etc. Homeopathy has no contraindications and because it works with the body’s own resources, it has no risk of habituation or ‘druggy’ side effects,” she adds.
Another interesting part of Dr. Webb’s operation is her herbal nutrition counseling. Webb has studied herbal medication extensively throughout her education. She recommends specific herbs and minerals to clients for an abundance of issues. A company she associates with is the Amazon Herb Co. which partners with the indigenous people of the Amazon Rainforest. These products are crafted from wild resources to combat an abundance of issues such as stress or weak immune systems, and can even be used to increase energy and performance.
Zeolites are a natural volcanic mineral Dr. Webb advocates for overall health of patients. These minerals contain a very unique crystalline design which draws the toxins from a person’s body at the cellular level to trap toxins and heavy metals. Powdered forms of these minerals have been utilized in Asian medicine for centuries.
Additionally, Dr. Webb advises nutritional protocols for the overall health of patients. This includes assistance with wheat or gluten free diets and dairy allergies. She stated this method of treatment can be effective with the detoxification of heavy metals as well.
As mentioned before, aside from these alternative medicine techniques Dr. Webb’s services branch out to intuitive counseling. One-on-one counseling, or even group counseling if necessary, can be made by appointment. Webb listens to her patients to pinpoint the causation of their issue. Once causation is determined, she can suggest possible solutions. In great contrast to the slow and costly talk therapy method, intuitive counseling is meant to equip patients with the resources for personal healing in a much quicker and more effective fashion.
Webb’s local practice holds a world to offer our charming community, especially with how many side effects there are to commonly used drug treatments. Her alternatives to traditional modern medicine are quite harmless and very safe methods of dealing with these issues. Such an alternative medical practice is not, of course, covered by health insurance. Therefore, her offer of these health services comes more from her dedication to the public’s general well-being. To say the least, her holistic health practice is a noble cause.
“Being a homeopath requires enormous commitment and patience on my part. As it is very difficult for many people to understand the concept of ‘non-suppression’ of physical, emotional and spiritual imbalances versus suppressive allopathic methods with drugs. Homeopathy treats ‘the whole person’ not only symptoms. I’m an educator, and I want to teach people how to achieve optimal health and how to feel well on a daily basis. To be healthy, happy and young, no matter if you are 90 plus, is one of the greatest treasures one can ever have,” Webb proudly declares.
Dr. Webb is a human being that wants to help other human beings reach their potential, and understand who they are. She further explains her wishes are to educate others on how to live happy, healthy lives.
“Balance and h
armony, happiness, laughter, and joy are all a great part of being healthy and having a strong immune system!” Webb stated profoundly.
Obviously this doctor’s dedication to the cause of overall well-being for others is accentuated by her enthusiasm. Dr. Webb utilizes a vast array of techniques to treating her patients with optimal results. If the person is willing to have an open mind, they can achieve their health goals with this very unique doctor of the mind, body, and spirit. This holistic health practice can be found at 19 S. Church St in the West Chester Borough. Readers can find more information about Dr. Webb’s services by visiting her website at www.drelizabethwebb.com.
Nicholas Devoe is a fifth-year student majoring in English with a minor in journalism. He can be reached at ND626335@wcupa.edu.