Homeopathy is based on the principle that substances that are poisonous in large doses can be very beneficial in small doses. Homeopathy is a form of medicine that treats the body as a whole and helps it to heal itself. It can be used for the short term (acute) illnesses and long term (chronic) illnesses. The objective is to prevent the patient from getting the illnesses again (prevention). The name homeopathy comes from the Greek word "homios" which means "like" and the word "pathos" meaning "suffering". Thus homeopathy simply means treating like with like.
In the fourth century B.C., Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, observed that large amount of certain natural substances can produce symptoms in healthy people resembling those caused by the disease, while smaller doses of these same substances can relieve those symptoms. in 1790's Samuel Hahnemann, a German doctor, amplified this concept and proposed the practice called homeopathy. He proposed that "Let like be cured by like". Homeopathy uses animal, vegetable and mineral preparations to cure a person's illness. Millions of people in Britain, Europe and America uses Homeopathy.
Homeopathy looks at each patient and develops a remedy or treatment plan strictly for him or her. It invokes the powers of healing inherent in individuals (our immune system) to develop a successful therapy. The more one knows about the patient, the symptoms, likes and dislikes, what makes them better or worse, it helps in developing a "symptom picture" of the patient that can lead to a successful treatment.
If we think about the principle of homeopathy, it has a lot in common with our present understanding of immunizations. To prevent us from catching small pox, a vaccine is prepared which is a mild form of the virus that causes the disease. The principle is that introduction of this small amount of the virus in our body system will set out our body's defenses so that when the actual virus shows up, our body will have enough barriers or fighting power to prevent the virus from entering our body. Homeopathy practitioners believe that when we introduce a very very small amount of the deadly material into the body, our body will unleash enough defenses to prevent the disease from recurring again. However, there are significant differences between the concepts used in Western medicine and those of homeopathy. Vaccines are not rendered more potent when they are diluted like homeopathic preparations. In conventional treatment, there is a minimum dosage that need to be given before the medication becomes effective in treating the underlying problem. For example, when taking antibiotics, we have to take the whole course at regular intervals to maintain a potency level in the bloodstream to kill the bacteria.
Homeopathic remedies, which are made from naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral substances, are recognized and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are manufactured by established pharmaceutical companies under strict guidelines. There are over 2000 homeopathic remedies that are usually referred to by their abbreviated name. (For example Arg nit. stands for Argentum nitricum). These are derived from such exotic sources as bee stings, snake venoms, arsenic, gold and silica, and even compounds from diseases tissue. Homeopaths also prescribes tissue salts. Tissue salts are prepared from mineral sources. Homeopathic remedies are diluted to such an extent that there can be no possible side effects from even the most toxic substances. The dilution process is known as 'potentation' Taken in this ultra diluted form, Homeopathic remedies have no side effects and are perfectly safe, non-toxic and non-addictive
In the fourth century B.C., Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, observed that large amount of certain natural substances can produce symptoms in healthy people resembling those caused by the disease, while smaller doses of these same substances can relieve those symptoms. in 1790's Samuel Hahnemann, a German doctor, amplified this concept and proposed the practice called homeopathy. He proposed that "Let like be cured by like". Homeopathy uses animal, vegetable and mineral preparations to cure a person's illness. Millions of people in Britain, Europe and America uses Homeopathy.
Homeopathy looks at each patient and develops a remedy or treatment plan strictly for him or her. It invokes the powers of healing inherent in individuals (our immune system) to develop a successful therapy. The more one knows about the patient, the symptoms, likes and dislikes, what makes them better or worse, it helps in developing a "symptom picture" of the patient that can lead to a successful treatment.
If we think about the principle of homeopathy, it has a lot in common with our present understanding of immunizations. To prevent us from catching small pox, a vaccine is prepared which is a mild form of the virus that causes the disease. The principle is that introduction of this small amount of the virus in our body system will set out our body's defenses so that when the actual virus shows up, our body will have enough barriers or fighting power to prevent the virus from entering our body. Homeopathy practitioners believe that when we introduce a very very small amount of the deadly material into the body, our body will unleash enough defenses to prevent the disease from recurring again. However, there are significant differences between the concepts used in Western medicine and those of homeopathy. Vaccines are not rendered more potent when they are diluted like homeopathic preparations. In conventional treatment, there is a minimum dosage that need to be given before the medication becomes effective in treating the underlying problem. For example, when taking antibiotics, we have to take the whole course at regular intervals to maintain a potency level in the bloodstream to kill the bacteria.
Homeopathic remedies, which are made from naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral substances, are recognized and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are manufactured by established pharmaceutical companies under strict guidelines. There are over 2000 homeopathic remedies that are usually referred to by their abbreviated name. (For example Arg nit. stands for Argentum nitricum). These are derived from such exotic sources as bee stings, snake venoms, arsenic, gold and silica, and even compounds from diseases tissue. Homeopaths also prescribes tissue salts. Tissue salts are prepared from mineral sources. Homeopathic remedies are diluted to such an extent that there can be no possible side effects from even the most toxic substances. The dilution process is known as 'potentation' Taken in this ultra diluted form, Homeopathic remedies have no side effects and are perfectly safe, non-toxic and non-addictive
Homeopathic Medicine
Abbreviations Used By Homeopaths and How Homeopathic Medicines are Prepared
Two abbreviations are used to describe a medicine's strength or potency. In the United States, the decimal, or x, system is more popular. In Europe, homeopaths use the centisimal, or c, system.
In both systems, potency is expressed as a number followed by an x or c, such as 3x or 6c. A potency of 1 x means a 1: 10 dilution of the original substance, or one- tenth strength (mix 1 drop of the substance with 9 drops of the dilutant, commonly water or alcohol); 2x means 1: 100, 3x is 1: 1000 and so on. In other words, the number before the x in the decimal system equals the number of zeros in the dilution, so 6x indicates a dilution of 1 part in 1,000,000. A potency of 1c means a 1: 100 dilution. The number before the c means that there are 2 times the number of zeroes in the dilution. For example, 3c means a dilution of 1 part in 1,000,000. (whereas 3x means 1 part in 1,000).
A third scale called millesimal (M) scale is also used by homeopaths. This is denoted by a number followed by the letter M, such as 1M, 2M, etc. A potency of 1M means a dilution of 1 part in 1000. The number before M means that the dilution is 3 times this number. A potency of 2M means a dilution of 1 part in 1,000,000.
Homeopathic medicines are not simply diluted. They are also shaken vigorously, or "potentized." To make a 12x dilution, one drop of the mother tincture is added to 99 drops of the alcohol or water mix and the mixture is shaken vigorously. Then one drop from this mixture is mixed with 99 drops of the dilutant and the mixture is shaken vigorously. The resultant mixture has a dilution of 1 in 10,000 (or 4x). The process is repeated a total of 6 times to get a potency of 12x. Finally, these drops are added to tiny lactose (milk sugar tablets, pillules, granules, or powder and stored in dark colored bottle.
Homeopaths believe that shaking transfers the medicine's essence to the water used to dilute it. This concept is important because solutions diluted beyond 24x (or 12c) may not contain even a single molecule of the original solution. Homeopaths believe that medicines become stronger as they become more dilute and that even when enormously diluted, the medicine's "essence" or "energy" remains.
In conventional medicine, the symptoms are considered to be a manifestation of the disease. The drugs are given to kill the bacteria causing it or to dampen the symptom of the condition. Homeopaths, on the other hand, see the symptoms as the body's attempt to heal itself. They see the symptom as a positive sign that the body's defense mechanism is trying to fight the underlying cause and by this reasoning, they insist that the symptoms should not be suppressed as we are working against the body's attempt to cure it.
Homeopathic Medicine vs. Conventional Medicine
Homeopathic Medicine
Conventional Medicine
Illness
Is an individual expression of imbalance and has important meaning
Occurs in well-defined groups based on pathology, and meaning of illness is irrelevant
Symptoms
Are evidence of disharmony and the person's attempt to restore order
Are analyzed to follow progress of treatment
Are bad
Successful treatment makes them go away
Diagnosis
The understanding of the phenomenon of the illness
The whole person is taken into account
The search for the structural cause
Treatment
Individualized and based on the entire expression of symptoms
Self-care (what the client does) is emphasized
Based on like cures like and potentized microdoses of medicines
Based on the pathologic diagnosis
What the doctor does is emphasized
Based on opposing and suppressing symptoms, and high doses of medicine
For a further discussion on the difference in the philosophy of holistic medicine vs. conventional medicine.
The laws of homeopathy are the law of similars, the principle of minimum dose and prescription for the individual.
The Law of Similars
The principle that like shall be cured by like, or Similia similibus curantur. This principle, recognized by physicians and philosophers since ancient times, became the basis of Hahnemann's formulation of the homeopathic doctrine: the proper remedy for a patient's disease is that substance that is capable of producing, in a healthy person, symptoms similar to those from which the patient suffers.
In other words, a substance produces symptoms of illness in a well person when administered in large doses; if we administer the same substance in minute quantities, it will cure the disease in a sick person. Hahnemann suggested that this is because nature will not allow two similar diseases to exist in the body at the same time. Thus homeopaths will introduce a similar artificial disease into the body which will push the original one out. The dose is small so that there is no danger of any long term side effects.
The Principle of Minimum Dose
This principle states that extreme dilution enhances the curative properties of a substance, while eliminating any possible side effects. This is just the reverse of conventional drug philosophy where a minimum dose is required for effect. Starting from the conventional dose, as we decrease the concentration (or increase the dilution), the medicine become less and less efficient. But below a threshold, the medicine start getting potent again. Homeopaths uses this region of potency.
Whole Person Prescribing
A homeopath studies the whole person. Characteristics such as their temperament, personality, emotional and physical responses when prescribing a remedy, etc. are studied. So, a homeopath may treat different persons exhibiting the same symptom differently. (For example, two persons exhibiting flu like symptoms may get two different medication from the homeopath based on the appraisal of the mind body constitution.)
Laws of Cure
There are three laws of cure, They are:
A remedy starts at the top of the body and works downward
A remedy works from within the body outward, and from major to minor organs
Symptoms clear in reverse order of appearance.
Application of the three principles of cure means that you will feel better emotionally before you will feel better physically.
The Law of Similars
The principle that like shall be cured by like, or Similia similibus curantur. This principle, recognized by physicians and philosophers since ancient times, became the basis of Hahnemann's formulation of the homeopathic doctrine: the proper remedy for a patient's disease is that substance that is capable of producing, in a healthy person, symptoms similar to those from which the patient suffers.
In other words, a substance produces symptoms of illness in a well person when administered in large doses; if we administer the same substance in minute quantities, it will cure the disease in a sick person. Hahnemann suggested that this is because nature will not allow two similar diseases to exist in the body at the same time. Thus homeopaths will introduce a similar artificial disease into the body which will push the original one out. The dose is small so that there is no danger of any long term side effects.
The Principle of Minimum Dose
This principle states that extreme dilution enhances the curative properties of a substance, while eliminating any possible side effects. This is just the reverse of conventional drug philosophy where a minimum dose is required for effect. Starting from the conventional dose, as we decrease the concentration (or increase the dilution), the medicine become less and less efficient. But below a threshold, the medicine start getting potent again. Homeopaths uses this region of potency.
Whole Person Prescribing
A homeopath studies the whole person. Characteristics such as their temperament, personality, emotional and physical responses when prescribing a remedy, etc. are studied. So, a homeopath may treat different persons exhibiting the same symptom differently. (For example, two persons exhibiting flu like symptoms may get two different medication from the homeopath based on the appraisal of the mind body constitution.)
Laws of Cure
There are three laws of cure, They are:
A remedy starts at the top of the body and works downward
A remedy works from within the body outward, and from major to minor organs
Symptoms clear in reverse order of appearance.
Application of the three principles of cure means that you will feel better emotionally before you will feel better physically.
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