Homeopathy is a complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). This means
that homeopathy is different in important ways from treatments that are part of
conventional Western medicine.
It is based on a series of ideas developed in
the 1790s by a German doctor called Samuel Hahnemann.
A central principle of the
"treatment" is that "like cures like" – that a substance
that causes certain symptoms can also help to remove those symptoms. A second
central principle is based around a process of dilution and shaking,
called succussion.
Practitioners believe that the more a
substance is diluted in this way, the greater its power to treat symptoms. Many
homeopathic remedies consist of substances that have been diluted many times in
water until there is none or almost none of the original substance left.
Homeopathy is used to "treat" an
extremely wide range of conditions, including physical conditions such as
asthma and psychological conditions such as depression.
Does it work?
There has been extensive
investigation of the effectiveness of homeopathy. There is no good-quality
evidence that homeopathy is effective as a treatment for any health condition.
What to expect when taking it?
The Law of Cure,
also known as Hering’s Law observes that true healing takes place:
1. from the inside out
2. from the center to the periphery
3. from the most important organs to the
least important organs
4. from the top down and
5. in reverse order of occurrence.
The first four (4)
mean the same thing, namely that when your body receives a remedy, the most
serious, most limiting symptoms will be dealt with first; consequently, you
will see pain, physical distress, insomnia, and mental distress resolve
first. The immune system knows what it’s
doing! Last to go will be something superficial, like acne or a rash with no
pain and no itching. The point is, your
“favorite” symptom might not leave first.
It is also
possible that while you’re in this improved mental state, an old symptom might
come back (“reverse order”). This is
because a case will often go back the way it came! We call this “return of old symptoms”. We also think of this as a good sign.
It is also
possible that while you’re in this improved initial state, a new minor symptom
may pop up out of nowhere, or another symptom in the case might become
amplified! We call this “exteriorization”,
or as Hering said above, “From the center to the periphery”.
It demonstrates
what happens after a remedy: the case
moves from the “center to the periphery” as in when you drop a pebble into a
pond. A ripple-effect ensues. As your complaint moves out of one sphere, it
moves into another on its way out! For
example, I just gave someone a remedy for the flu. He felt better immediately, and then
developed a backache out of nowhere! It
stayed for a while and then went away. I
always say, as long as you’re improved at a deeper level, don’t worry about a
new or worsening symptom, it’s just Hering’s Law!
Conditions to administer homeopathic medicine
for?
Homeopathy is used for a wide variety of conditions. Some
common conditions said to benefit from homeopathic remedies are pain related to
teething, bumps and bruises due to injury, and minor skin irritations.
Self-limiting conditions like sprains, coughs, colds and flu can benefit from
homeopathy (though critics contend that the body's natural healing mechanisms
are responsible for cures, not homeopathy). Chronic, non-life threatening
conditions such as bed-wetting and chronic otitis media are often treated with
homeopathic remedies. There are other uses of homeopathy for various illnesses
and diseases; however, if the condition is not self-limiting, one should seek
medical advice from a physician.
What should one expect on a visit to a homeopath?
As stated earlier, a comprehensive interview is needed to
determine all the symptoms the client is having, in order to determine the
medication that produces those same symptoms. This can take up to an hour or
even more. This detailed interview covers the client’s mental, physical and
emotional well-being. Expect to be asked about all aspects of life including
eating and sleeping habits, fears, sexuality, even patterns of elimination.
Then, a homeopathic medication is prescribed, and the client reports the
effects in follow up visits. Dosages are then adjusted and if symptoms change,
so will the homeopathic prescription.