GEORGIA Leach can’t remember the last time she was ill.

In her entire life she hasn’t met her GP, has never taken an antiobiotic and has never stepped in a hospital.

While most of us are well-versed in avoiding spluttering patients in doctors’ waiting rooms, for the 19-year-old it’s quite the opposite.

She cites her most serious illness as chicken pox when she was six.

According to the teenager her good health is down to her mum Sue who has brought her up using the alternative medicine homeopathy.

She has suffered from colds and minor scrapes and bruises but nothing the plants and mineral remedies cannot fix.

Georgia, who is currently teaching English in China ahead of starting a degree in Mandarin Chinese, said: “I was a homeopathic baby, born at home with the help of a midwife, and have fortunately never had to visit a hospital (fingers crossed!) “My most serious illness to date is chicken pox when I was six which passed pretty uneventfully without the use of various drugs, just homeopathic remedies.

“I’ve never taken antibiotics or any other prescription medicine – I don’t even know who my doctor is.

“I get coughs and colds just like everyone else but instead of taking a cocktail of pills that only serve to mask the symptoms I use homeopathic remedies, which strengthen the immune system and help the body fight off the illness by itself.”

While Georgia thanks her mum, without Georgia Sue wouldn’t have founded the benefits of homeopathy.

Suewas introduced to the remedies after suffering from mastitis when Georgia was a newborn.

She was then spurred on to reinvent herself following her marriage breakdown and she took the bold step of leaving her career as a journalist in the city to retrain as a homeopath.

Sue, who runs Boldre Homeopathic Practice from her New Forest home and specialises in helping women, children and babies with an emphasis on emotional health, explained she wanted a natural life for her baby.

It’s estimated that around 30 million people in Europe visit homeopaths and here in the UK the therapy has had many high-profile supporters including the Queen, Sir Paul McCartney, Jude Law and David Beckham.

Homeopathic remedies differ from conventional drug-related treatments by using raw extracts from plants or animals, or powders of minerals and salts made into a ‘tincture’ and mixed with alcohol.

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They treat a variety of conditions from sore throats and chronic illnesses such as arthritis through to asthma, anxiety and chronic fatigue.

Patients are given tiny diluted doses of something that causes symptoms similar to those they are already experiencing. So coffee, which uses sleep disturbance, can be used as a homeopathic treatment to prevent insomnia.

The theory is that a minute quantity will stimulate the body's own healing powers without side effects.

Georgia, who loves skiing and sailing, said she used the alternative form of medicine through school and college to combat peer pressure and exam stress- as an alternative to anti-depressants many of her friends were prescribed.

She has only visited her GP surgery for routine inoculations from the nurse and holiday injections.

The mother and daughter duo accept the cynicism surrounding homeopathy and say it is not a substitute for modern medicine.

Georgia, said: “I do think homeopathy should get more credit and respect than it currently does. The research behind it is debateable at best so I can see how people are sceptical. But for those who dismiss homeopathy as merely the placebo effect, it’s a placebo that’s been working pretty well for me for the last 19 years.”

Now Georgia knows the basics of homeopathy and chooses to use it independent of her mum.

Mum Sue, said: “I find it shocking people are so surprised someone can get to 19 without having antibiotics. But it is possible. The two best things I’ve done in my life are to become a mother and to become a homeopath.

“And I have absolutely no doubt when Georgia has her own family, the phone will be ringing!”

WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF HOMEOPATHY?

It is based on the principle that‘like cures like’-in otherwords, a substance taken in small amountswill cure the same symptoms it causes if itwas taken in large amounts.

WHAT ARE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINES MADE FROM?

Mainly from plants and minerals which are highly diluted and then added to lactose tablets or pills.

WHAT CONDITIONS CAN IT TREAT?

Homeopathic doctors often see patients with long-term, chronic problems,many of which have failed to respond to conventionalmedicine, such as eczema, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, migraine,irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis and depression.

However, as a system of medicine homeopathy is designed to treat the whole person and can therefore be considered in almost any situation where a person's health is depleted. It can also be very useful in the treatment of minor ailments, from cuts and bruises to coughs and colds.A medical doctor trained in homeopathy will know when it is most effective to use homeopathic medicine, conventional medicine or a combination of both.

IS HOMEOPATHY SAFE?

Homeopathy is safe because they are made from a very small amount of the active ingredient.