"You are what you eat" - homeopaths give much credence to this old aphorism because they know from long experience that we are affected by all aspects of our environment, and especially by food.

Homeopathic prescribing is based on the principle of similarity, which holds that a substance which can cause symptoms in a healthy person will cure those same symptoms in a sick person. Remedies are tested on healthy volunteers in a procedure known as a "proving", and the resulting effects help us develop a picture of that remedy and what it may cure. We know from experience and from their proving pictures that many foods, taken in large and constant quantities, may produce very specific symptoms in susceptible individuals over a period of time. For example, it's common knowledge that too much coffee will stimulate the nervous system and keep one awake at night, so someone who can't sleep because they feel wired, with racing thoughts or because of an exciting experience, may benefit from a homeopathic dose of Coffea.

We know from provings that "chocolate" patients are a bit prickly and like children but don't like looking after them, thus Chocolatum, the remedy made from chocolate, may have application in a situation where a mother feels detached toward her child and encourages it to be very independent and leave too soon.

A case of severe bursitis in the left shoulder following heavy consumption of salted crisps was cured by Natrum muriaticum, a remedy made from salt, and known from provings to cause bursitis.

Children who are hyperactive, moving around, want to touch everything, and are capricious, may be prescribed Saccharum , or sugar, as their symptoms are similar to those produced by a surfeit of Halloween candy or too much pop.

Food cravings may help the homeopath in selecting a remedy, too, for example, craving for hard-boiled eggs may suggest Calcarea carbonica, while Belladonna has a desire for lemonade, and Phosphorus a love of ice cream, whereas Pulsatilla has a taste for whipped cream, and Natrum muriaticum dislikes slimy food.

Homeopathy recognises each individual as unique, and just as individuals have their own food likes and dislikes, they may also be made better or worse by foods which have no effect on others. We know, for example, that someone who requires the remedy Helleborus , often prescribed where there is mental dullness and apathy, is made much worse by eating raw vegetables, though someone benefiting from the remedy Bungaris krait , useful in cases of environmental allergies, may thrive on a high protein diet, while pasta and bread may exacerbate the Lycopodium patient's gas.

Food cravings, and issues around eating, such as anorexia, bulimia, or compulsive disorders, indicate deeper problems, and homeopathy may be helpful in restoring health and balance, however, its always advisable to consult your doctor or a nutrionist as well.

Take time to monitor your mental, emotional and physical responses to the foods you eat, and recognise that a popular or much-touted diet may not necessarily be the best for you. Sometimes shifting one's diet to small amounts of a food type, in season, will go a long way to restoring balance.