What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy owes its origins to the German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann. In 1796 he discovered a completely different approach for curing the sick, and he named it homeopathy. The word is derived from the Greek language and literally means “similar suffering”. Homeopathy can best be described as a healing system which actually assists the body’s natural tendency to heal itself. Therefore, you could say, rather than specifically treating a disease, you are looking to treat an individual. Dr Hahnemann realised that there were two specific ways to treat ill health. The most commonly used method is to treat a condition is with an “opposite”. For example, if a person is suffering with insomnia they are typically given a drug that will bring on the effects of artificial sleep. However, this may involve taking large doses of drugs which may lead to addiction and certain side effects. Homeopathic remedies are based on treating a patient with something similar to their condition on a “like with like” basis.

Homeopathic treatments are aimed at giving a patient a minute dose of a substance, which is typically diluted down. An extremely simplified example of this would be that large doses of coffee may cause sleepiness in a healthy person, and therefore if they are suffering with insomnia they should be treated with an extremely small dose. All homeopathic remedies are completely safe when they are properly prescribed and can even be given to babies, children and pregnant women. Scientists are at a loss to fully explain the exact effects of homeopathy, but with that said there are numerous studies and forms of research that have proved it to be efficient.

Homeopathic remedies mainly work by stimulating the body’s very own healing abilities. It is believed that this stimulation will actually help your body’s internal system to clear itself of any unhealthy imbalances. However, curing an ailment will never be that easy and you will usually need to discuss your condition in detail with a homeopath. A homeopath will look to completely understand who you are, what complaints or conditions you are experiencing, and they will then need to fully assess your circumstances prior to prescribing a form of treatment. A homeopath will also wish to know about your past medical history and your general energy levels.

Once your homeopath is fully aware of your condition they can then prescribe a homeopathic remedy. This will typically be in tablet form, but may occasionally be given as a powder. Homeopathic remedies should easily dissolve in your mouth or you may need to consume it with water. Your homeopath will always give you full instructions on how and when to take remedy. If you are prescribed a specific homeopathic remedy that should be taken at a later date, ensure that it is stored in a cool and dark place. It is also critical that you never place a homeopathic remedy near your mobile phone, and when travelling abroad you should try and avoid putting the specific remedies through an x-ray scanner.

It is vitally important that you discuss with your homeopath any specific medications or supplements that you are taking regularly or that have been prescribed by your doctor. Should you of recently had any dental treatment, this should also be divulged. The majority of homeopathic remedies can be taken in conjunction with conventional medication, but you should always make your homeopath aware of this beforehand. Homeopathic remedies can have quite a startling effect on people. Initially you may experience feelings of extreme optimism and exceptional well-being. Occasionally your symptoms may even get worse, but this is usually just for a short period of time. This in actual fact is a pretty good sign that the remedy is actually working. As the homeopathic remedy is clearing out your internal system, old symptoms may suddenly reappear and you may even be affected by a cold, rash or a form of discharge. However, this should only last for a short period of time and, as mentioned, is usually a good sign.

There is no specific time period within which a homeopathic treatment can work. It obviously very much depends on your specific illness and any other individual characteristics you may be displaying. You should remember that homeopathic remedies generally work from the inside, which usually means that you may initially start feeling far more positive and have a lot more energy. It is the outer symptoms that may take longer to clear and therefore it is advisable that you should be patient. You will often find that a homeopath may even suggest changes in your diet and lifestyle, especially if they believe that this could be a contributing factor to your condition or illness. They will typically ask you to consume less sugars, fats, refined foods and alcohol and ensure that you are more aware of foods that are laced with artificial preservatives, colourings and flavourings.

Last updated on Feb 11th, 2011 and filed under Alternative Medicine. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

1 Response for “What is homeopathy?”

  1. Terapong says:

    I know a family where the father is a doctor in homeopathy and has been one for many years. They recently had their first child, a boy. He was born at home with the father assisting in the childbirth. For the first few weeks all was fine until the child developed a mild cold and simply did not get better. No amount of homeopathic remedies helped. The child developed an infection that raged on with no relief from homeopathy. The child’s breathing was very compromised, he wheezed and the skin sunk in between his ribs. Finally when the child passed out from lack of Oxygen did they take the child to the hospital where he was incubated and it was discovered the child had Cystic fibrosis. After a month in the hospital the child went home and the parents were instructed to go to a CF clinic so the child could begin the therapy that he would need for the rest of his life. But the Father refused and when the authorities intervened the father the parents took the baby out of the country (Canada) so they could freely treat him solely with homeopathy. Sadly the child developed another pulmonary infection and again almost died despite continued homeopathic treatment. At the hospital in Vancouver they discovered the child’s history and child protection services were called. Currently the child is much better undergoing court ordered mainstream science based Therapies for Cystic fibrosis. The father is still fruitlessly using homeopathy but not exclusively. Sadly the child’s lungs have lost some permanent function so it is unlikely he will live very long as other children born with CF.If the proof is in the eating Spare me. I’ve seen this first hand. It’s quackery.

Comments are closed