Homeopathy

Out of a feeling of disgust regarding how fellow colleagues in the field of medicine were beginning to treat illnesses, not treating the whole person, but using strong drugs instead, and realizing that these drugs did more harm than good to patients, German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843) is said to have began making homeopathic preparations in the year of 1796. This alternative medicine to treat patients was heavily diluted and thought to cause effects similar to the symptoms of the patient. Further, this dilution often continued until none of the original substance remained. Apart from the symptoms of the disease, homeopaths use aspects of the patient's physical and psychological state in recommending remedies. In the repertories, the homeopathic reference books are used to select a remedy that is based on the index of symptoms.

Before experimenting/treating patients, Hahnemann performed experiments on himself. The first substance he used was Peruvian bark, which contains quinine, which is a remedy for malaria. He concluded that in a healthy person, this quinine creates the same symptoms as malaria, including fevers and chills, which is the exact reason it is effective as a remedy. Later Hahnemann began to analyze the remedies available in nature by what he called provings. Provings of homeopathic remedies are still compiled to this day. This is done by giving doses of a remedy to healthy adults with a variety of substances and documenting the results, this way the homeopathic doctor knows the exact amount of the dose needed to produce the symptoms as well as the length of the dose's effectiveness.

The word homeopathy is comes from two Greek words that mean "like disease," and is based upon three laws.

Hahnemann's Law of Similars was based on thinking that dated back to Hippocrates in the fourth century B.C. It is the same thinking that provided the basis for vaccinations that was later created by Edward Jenner and Louis Pasteur. These vaccines provoke a reaction in the individual that protects against the actual disease. Allergy treatments work the same way. The belief of allergy specialists is that by exposing a person to small amount of a potential allergen, the person's tolerance levels would be elevated. For example, if a person was allergic to wheat, by allowing this such person to smell/taste small amounts of wheat, that eventually over time this person would be able to eat wheat without experiencing the allergic symptoms previously experienced, and God knows best.

The second aforementioned law, The Law of the Infinitesimal Dose has always caused controversy among those outside the field of homeopathy. Dr. Hahnemann contended that as he diluted his remedies with either water or grain alcohol and succussed, or shook the remedies actually worked more effectively. In fact, diluted homeopathic remedies have no chemical trace of the original substance. Other homeopathic practitioners believe that it is the electromagnetic energy of the original substance is retained in the dilution, but toxic side effects of the remedy are not, that it is this electrochemical "message" that stimulates the body to heal itself.

The last of the aforementioned laws, is the belief of Homeopathic practitioners that illness is specific to an individual. In giving you another example, if two people with severe cramps came to see a homeopathic doctor may not receive the same remedies, as the practitioner will ask the patient questions about lifestyle, dietary habits, and personality traits, as well as specific questions about the nature of the cramps and when the cramps occur, as well as how often. This process of collecting information is called profiling or case-taking, so a visit to a homeopath can be a completely different experience than a visit to a regular doctor. Interestingly, surveys have shown that homeopathic doctors spend much more time during initial consultation than conventional doctors spend. The reason for this is because a homeopath practitioner does a complete case-taking to get a complete picture of a person's general health and lifestyle, as well as particular symptoms, on the physical, mental and emotional levels. Often times one’s symptoms can be so subtle that the patient is not always completely aware of them, and so for this reason, the doctor must spend time getting to know the patient.

Should you visit a homeopathic practitioner, be prepared to fill out a long questionnaire, or for the practitioner to ask not only about your medical and family history, but you may also have a long interview with the doctor, prompted with many questions. You can also expect that lab test may be performed, so as to establish your general level of health. All of this should take about one to two hours!

As we discussed previously in the case of Candida, the purpose of nutrition, whole food nutrition is to restore the body to homeostasis, or a healthy balance, which is its natural state, so too is the practice of homeopathy. Further, it is believed in the field of homeopathy that the symptoms of a disease are regarded as the body's own defense mechanism in trying to correct its imbalance, not as enemy to be defeated. In homeopathy symptoms are viewed as positive evidence of the body's inner intelligence, that the proper remedy will be prescribed and that it is or will be designed to stimulate this internal curative process, rather than suppressing the symptoms of the illness.

The curative process extends beyond the relief of immediate symptoms of illness. It is believed that healing may come in many stages, as the practitioner treats layers of symptoms that are remnants of traumas or chronic illness/disease in the patient's past. According to the father of homeopathy in America (Constantine Hering), or the Hering's Laws of Cure, believed that healing starts from the deepest parts of the body to the extremities, and from the upper parts of the body to the lower parts. Again, we must mention that one may feel worse before feeling better, and that it is Hering's Laws that state that homeopaths should treat disease symptoms in reverse chronological order, from the most recent to the oldest, restoring health in stages, hence the healing crisis.

In the practice of homeopathy, when prescribing a remedy, homeopaths will match a patient's symptoms with the proper remedy in a repertory that has been compiled throughout the history of homeopathy. The homeopath that adheres to the Classical aspect of the practice prescribe only one remedy at a time, though in Europe it is becoming more and more common that a combination formulas of several remedies for the treatment of some combinations of symptoms.

Examining everything we have discussed thus far, we can conclude that all living organisms have energy, which is how we live. Without the flow of blood, oxygen, and/or water we would all be dead. Dr. Hahnemann referred to this as the ”Vital Force” The true Indians from India refer to energy as prana, and the Chinese refer to it as chi.

A disturbance in the energy of an organism is dis-ease (without ease). Fevers, inflammations, blocked vessels and growths are usually associated with disease, but in reality, it is the result of a disturbed flow of energy.

There is no cure to disease. Only preventative measures. The energy flow must be restored, only by means of giving the body an energy medicine to correct it.

The cost of homeopathic care varies. The cost of visits will be comparable to conventional medicine, with initial visits ranging from $50 to $300, whereas non-M.D. homeopaths can charge from $50 to $250. Follow-up visits are less, at about ranging from $35 to $100. You will find that homeopathic medicine is much cheaper than pharmaceuticals, and most remedies cost between $2 and $10. This may come as a surprise, but there are some doctors who provide remedies without charge! Homeopaths rarely use lab tests, which reduces the cost of treatment further. In general, homeopathy is much more economical than conventional medicine. Another pleasant surprise--when homeopaths are licensed professionals, most insurance companies will pay for their fees. With this in mind, it would be wise to consult your insurance policies to determine individual regulations. Of the insurance companies that will pay the fees of your homeopathic care, it is important that you know this will not include the costs of the medicine/s, since it is sold over-the-counter.

Although homeopathic remedies sometimes use substances that are toxic, they are diluted and prescribed in non toxic doses.

Homeopathic practitioners have extensive knowledge/training. Therefore it is best that one consults with a practitioner and not attempt to experiment homeopathic medicines on their own, as the consultation tends to be very thorough. Those preparing to take homeopathic remedies should also avoid taking antidotes, which are substances that homeopathic doctors believe cancel the effects of their remedies. Examples of such substances are alcohol, coffee, prescription drugs, peppermint (as this may be in your toothpaste and/mouthwash), camphor which appears in some salves and lotions, and/or very spicy foods. Homeopathic medicine should also be handled with care, and should not unnecessarily be touched with the hands or fingers, as this may contaminate it.

It is possible that you may experience the healing crisis almost immediately, whereby your symptoms will/may appear worse than the actual illness, but you must remember, don’t stop! Homeopaths see this process and the remedy they prescribed as a positive sign that the remedy is a good match for your symptoms. The feeling of emotional disturbances like weeping or depression may also be prevalent in the healing crisis as well. If this occurs, this should tell you that this is something you may have been suppressing!

Most consider homeopathic remedies to be safe with rare exceptions. Homeopathy is however considered a controversial practice by the physicians who practice conventional medicine since the early 1900s when the American Medical Association and pharmacists waged a battle against the practice of homeopathy, and has been neglected and sometimes ridiculed by mainstream medicine., as in most countries it does not adhere to the same set of laws that govern the regulation and testing of conventional drugs, and because certain aspects of homeopathy cannot be explained scientifically, this is the reason for the hostility toward this practice. Studies have shown the paradox of the more a remedy is diluted and succussed, the greater effect it has on the body, yet can't explain it. In fact some homeopathic remedies are so diluted that not even a single molecule of the active agent remains in a solution, yet it still works. Secondly, homeopathy emphasizes analyzing symptoms and then applying remedies to these symptoms, rather than working by classifying diseases. Furthermore, conventional medicine strives to find out how medicines work in the body before they use them; whereas homeopathy is less concerned with the intricate biochemistry involved than with whether a remedy ultimately works and heals holistically. It is for all these reasons, that those who practice conventional medicine claim that homeopathy is not scientific, but yet homeopaths are quick to reply that homeopathy has been scientifically developed and studied for centuries, with much documentation and success.

Among the most celebrated studies affirming the effectiveness of homeopathic treatments is the British Medical Journal, where in 1991 published a large analysis of homeopathic treatments that were given over the course of 25 years. This particular project involved more than 100 studies of patients with problems ranging from vascular diseases, respiratory problems, infections, stomach problems, allergies, recovery from surgeries, arthritis, trauma, psychological problems, diabetes, ect. The study found improvement with homeopathic treatment in most categories of problems, and concluded that the evidence was "sufficient for establishing homeopathy as a regular treatment for certain indications."

The latest study in early 2002 was reported on in a pediatric journal that showed symptom improvement for children with uncomplicated acute ear infections who received individualized homeopathic remedies. Although the authors concluded that more research was needed, results were positive enough to justify a larger study.

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