The Nature of Homeopathy

Homeopathy derives from the Greek homos for similar and pathos for suffering. The principle 'like can cure like' is the basis of Homeopathy and dates back to the Greek Physician Hippocrates in the 5th century BC. He believed that the patients own powers of healing.

The Nature and Principles of Homeopathy

Homeopathy is the fastest growing system of medicine, and, after conventional medicine, the most widely used. Homeopathic remedies are derived from plant, animal, and mineral extracts which are diluted in order to avoid unpleasant side effects.

The Preventative Role of Homeopathy

Human nature is such that it is easier to take a pill than to change a way of life because most people want quick solutions with a minimum of fuss and effort. Yet we face many environmental factors that may be hazardous to our health.

Homeopathy is a system of healing based on minute doses of plant, animal and mineral substances. It is an extremely effective method. When the correct remedy is taken, results can be rapid, complete and permanent. If the incorrect remedy is taken, all that will happen is nothing.

Homeopathy is completely safe.

Homeopathy is without the risk of side effects and homeopathic remedies can be taken alongside other medication without producing unwanted side effects. Homeopathy is natural because homeopathic remedies are normally based on natural ingredients. Homeopathy works in harmony with your immune system, unlike some conventional medicines which suppress the immune system.

Homeopathy is holistic.

Homeopathy treats all the symptoms as one which means that it addresses the cause, not the symptoms. This often means that symptoms tackled with Homeopathy do not recur.

We are often asked if any animals have been used to test Homeopathic remedies or substances.

The answer is "no" . Homeopathy has been written about for centuries, in fact the first written information dates back to the very ancient Greeks - Homeopathy is Greek for "Like cures Like". Modern homeopathy was studied by S. Hahnemann in the mid to late 18 Century, who laid down the laws governing homeopathic treatments - the manufacture of potencies and the way we prove a remedy - and these laws are still valid.

Provings are made on a large number of humans. These provers have to note all feelings- mental and physical over a number of months - which are collected and collated by the Homeopath conducting the proving --- it is only then, when the Homeopath has a clear picture of the provings of the substances under investigation that it is acceptable for other homeopaths to use it - when and if it is deemed useful to a particular patient with corresponding symptoms.

We are often asked - How does a Homeopathic substance work in comparison to Allopathic Drugs - All allopathic drugs are used to suppress an illness or aggravation of the body - and most chronic illness is only kept under control by lifelong application of a drug.

All drugs have a degenerating effect upon the body or its organs - A Homeopathic remedy enlivens the bodies own defence -the immune system - to throw off the illness - this will often be seen as the symptoms worsen for a short time resulting in a cure which will not require the patient to continually be taking remedies - whilst the body is not being invaded by toxic substances, i.e. Drugs & synthetic substances.

All living creatures do benefit from this natural form of medication providing the Homeopath is sufficiently experienced and knowledgeable in his subject.

Questions and Answer on Homeopathy.

Question: What is the Classical System of Homeopathy?

Answer: The Classical System is the use of homeopathic remedies as it was laid down by the founder, Samuel Hahnemann about two hundred years ago, and practiced by the great homeopaths of the early part of this century before the American Medical Association interfered and severed the ties to this system.

It means that every person needs to be looked at as an individual, whose totality of symptoms will lead to a single remedy that will relieve all the symptoms. If five people have the flu and are suffering from the same virus, a conventional doctor would give them all the same medicine. A homeopathic combination for the flu would contain all the remedies that describe all the symptoms of all five suffers. However, the use of a homeopathic combination creates a false sense of security by creating an unstable platform that must fall apart with the first sign of stress. The symptoms may be relieved for a while, but the underlying cause for the manifestation of the illness is not addressed.

A single remedy practitioner would take the symptoms of each person or animal, match it to one remedy that would not only relieve the symptoms, but also the underlying weakness that allowed the individual to get sick. We all know that when a flu bug hits, there are always a few people who never catch it. The goal is to make all of us those strong, healthy people and our animals. Since case taking for each individual is time consuming, and choosing remedies can be arduous and difficult, some people have tried to devise ways to bypass the difficult parts by creating combinations of remedies or combinations of potencies. These approaches never work for very long. It's like a building made of sticks, it looks okay for a while, but it must and will fall apart at the first sign of stress from natural occurrences.

Question: How do you know the single remedy works best?

Answer: In my twelve years of clinical experience, I have seen amazing things happen with people getting rid of their problems permanently. If one goes back to the literature created by the great American Homeopaths of this century, James T. Kent, William Boericke, and J.H. Clark, the references to cures are endless. I have never seen this kind of cure rate using combinations or multiple potencies.

Question: Why aren't there more studies to back up the results of single remedies?

Answer: Since everyone in a single remedy study would have to receive a different remedy, it would be very difficult to create a scientifically based study. Of the last five people I have treated for migraine headaches, one got Ignatia because her headaches were emotionally based. Two got Magnesium Phos. because their headaches were hormonal based. One man had amazing results from Cyclamen, and the final one was relieved by Sulphur. No one to my knowledge has ever tried to set up a study where each person would be treated as an individual. It more or less defies the traditional scientific method.

Question: I am often confused by all the different techniques different homeopaths use to choose remedies. Some use extensive interviews, some intuition, computer programs, dowsing tools, kinesiology, radionics, acupuncture instruments, simple formulas, and some even transfer the homeopathic remedy to audio tape so you can listen to the tape rather than take the remedy(????). Are there any outcome studies which tell homeopaths or patients which techniques are valid and which are not?

Answer: Because of the difficulty in choosing a single or combination remedy, some practitioners have devised methods to choose the remedies according to their own talents and areas of awareness. As long as the homeopath is getting results, and therefore have no problem with the different methods used to choose remedies. Everyone's mental energy and brain waves work differently than anyone else's, which makes any method to achieve the desired goal valid. I'm not sure about the taped remedy though, I don't know about this one, but once again if it works well, then good work.

The only studies on outcome would be with the record and reputation of the individual practitioners. This is true because homeopathy is more an art than a science. If I were teaching ten people to paint the same still life, each would approach the project in his own way, and paint with his own technique. It is the same for the students I teach homeopathy to. Each takes it on and makes it workable in his own way.

Question: Some homeopaths recommend that patients suspend other treatments for a time, sometimes months, while different remedies are tried, even though these other treatments are helpful. This seems counter to the growing tendency for integrated, holistic approaches among various modalities and professions. Do you recommend this exclusive homeopathic approach?

Answer: Because many of the combination and multiple potency techniques are being used, the Classical homeopaths have become strict about their rules, which makes it easy to blame some outside force when their remedy doesn't work. In my experience, there is no need to restrict use of other forms of treatment, that includes pharmaceutical, over the counter supplements. . I have never found that use of any of these substances influences whether a remedy works or not. A well chosen remedy will work in spite of these things. Remedies work on such a different level, only energy, that the gross material level of these medicines does not interfere.

I have no problem with clients using other alternative or conventional modalities and professional techniques. Homeopathy can compliment any sort of treatment.

It is my belief that no system, alternative or conventional, has all the answers. I am very leery of any practitioner who says his approach--product--technique is the only one that works. With cooperation and working together to give our clients a truly holistic approach, bringing in many professions, we may be able the up the odds on the cure success rate. As it stands now, there is one third of the people who seek help from health care professionals who do not find relief. It may be possible to work together to reach this final third.

Question: I have always had a problem with homeopath's dependence on waiting for symptoms before anything can be done. Do homeopathic patients get in the mindset of not taking good preventive care of their health and subsequently depend on the homeopathic quick fix just as people do who are accustomed to allopathic medical approaches?

Answer: Unfortunately, our society and mind set is geared toward this quick fix idea because of our overwhelming dependence on allopathic care. Of course the best approach in homeopathy is prevention. There are very simple techniques to help enhance the state of health when there are no symptoms. Peeling away layers of biochemical blocks and inherited mal-absorbtion of minerals to maintain health,so the more serious things don't develop, is the basis of Classical Homeopathy. I do not expect homeopathy to bring someone back from the brink of death to a miraculous remission of cancer-- or whatever, but rather to help get the organism functioning at peak performance, to maintain quality of life.

Question: Is there a list of conditions that have been proven to respond to homeopathy better than other procedures so that patients who have already received a solid diagnosis from a physician would have some level of assurance that homeopathy is the best approach for them?

Answer: Homeopathy works best on conditions that conventional physicians don't have help for. Biochemical imbalances, allergies, and emotional causes of illness are only a few. What harm would it be to try homeopathy when a doctor says, there is nothing I can do, you just have to live with it.

There are also many conditions the use of homeopathy can prevent, such as reoccurring otits medic (middle ear infections) in dogs. A homeopathic form of calcium in Calcarea Phos. stops the vicious circle of re infections after antibiotics gets rid of the infection.

I do not recommend the use of homeopathy exclusively with life threatening illness such as cancer. But homeopathy can help get rid of the effects and strengthen a person after conventional cancer treatment. In most cases, I would be suggesting herbs, vitamins and diet changes, along with initial detox for the animal.

If a Animal needs surgery, if not immediate life threatening we can post pon surgery and apply homeopathics to heal the patient, if no healing or changes take place then surgery would be a second option. But we have not had a case as yet when surgery was needed after homeopathic treatment using complexes and single symptomatic remedies.

When thinking of homeopathy, people need to get away from the idea of using homeopathy as if it were allopathic medicine. There is not any one remedy that corresponds to any one condition. It is holistic, including every part of a person, and variable, in that any remedy can come up for any condition, depending on the person and his biochemistry.