Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine, first proposed by German physician Samuel

Hahnemann in 1796, that treats patients with heavily diluted preparations which are thought to
cause effects similar to the symptoms presented. Homeopathic remedies are prepared by serial
dilution with shaking by forceful striking, which homeopaths term "succussion," after each
dilution under the assumption that this increases the effect of the treatment. Homeopaths call this
process "potentization". Dilution often continues until none of the original substance remains.

Apart from the symptoms of the disease, homeopaths use aspects of the patient's physical and
psychological state in recommending remedies. Homeopathic reference books known as
repertories are then consulted, and a remedy is selected based on the totality of symptoms.
Homeopathic remedies are considered safe, with rare exceptions. Some homeopaths have,
however, been criticized for putting patients at risk with advice to avoid conventional
medicine such as vaccinations, anti-malarial drugs, and antibiotics. In many countries, the laws
that govern the regulation and testing of conventional drugs do not apply to homeopathic
remedies.

Claims of homeopathy's efficacy beyond the placebo effect are unsupported by the collective
weight of scientific and clinical evidence. While some studies have positive results, systematic
reviews of all the published trials fail to conclusively demonstrate efficacy. Furthermore, higher
quality trials tend to report less positive results, and most positive studies have not been
replicated or show methodological problems that prevent them from being considered
unambiguous evidence of homeopathy's efficacy.

Homeopathic remedies (also called homeopathics) are a system of medicine based on three
principles:

• Like cures like

Homeopathy, from Greek homoeo (meaning similar) and pathos (meaning suffering) is a
system of medicine based on treating like with like. The same principle is widespread in
mainstream medicine, the most notable examples being antidotes and vaccines
For example, if the symptoms of your cold are similar to poisoning by mercury, then
mercury would be your homeopathic remedy.

• Minimal Dose
The remedy is taken in an extremely dilute form; normally one part of the remedy to
around 1,000,000,000,000 parts of water.
 • The Single Remedy
No matter how many symptoms are experienced, only one remedy is taken, and that
remedy will be aimed at all those symptoms.

History of Homeopathy

The Founder of Homeopathy

Homeopathy's roots emerge from the findings, teachings and writings of Dr. Samuel
Hahnemann (1755-1843). Hahnemann graduated from medical school in 1779 and started
his own medical practice. He soon began his first homeopathic experiments in 1790, as a
result of his disillusionment with such common medical practices of the day as purging,
bloodletting, and the use of toxic chemicals.

At one point, he gave up his own daily practice to begin working as a chemist while translating
medical texts. It was when Hahnemann began working on a project to translate William
Cullen's Materia Medica into German that he began his quest for a better way of providing
healthcare using the principles of "Similars." While working on this project, he became
fascinated with a species of South American tree-bark (cinchona) which was being used to
treat malaria-induced fever. Hahnemann ingested the bark and discovered that it caused
symptoms similar to malaria. He continued his research into "cures" and the idea of "similar
suffering," and began compiling his findings. Similia similibus curentur, the Latin phrase
meaning "let likes be cured by likes," is the primary principle of homeopathy. A homeopath
searches for a substance that produces in a healthy person those same symptoms a patient
experiences.

The First U.S. Homeopathic School

Students of Hahnemann founded the first homeopathic medical school in the United States in the
late 1800’s. It gained recognition because of its success in treating the many disease epidemics
rampant at the time — including scarlet fever, typhoid, cholera and yellow fever.

The school’s method of treatment became very popular in the early 1900’s. At that time, there
were 22 homeopathic medical schools, 100 homeopathic hospitals and over 1,000 homeopathic
pharmacies. Boston University, Stanford University and New York Medical College were among
those educational institutions that were teaching homeopathy. However, it was not long after this
period of time (in the early 1920’s) that many of the schools closed — mostly due to the decline
of homeopathy’s popularity which was greatly effected by the American Medical Association.
This was also around the time when modern drug companies began releasing drugs that were
easy to administer to patients, a trend that also contributed to the decline of homeopathy.

The Homeopathic Resurgence

Although the United States experienced a dwindling interest in homeopathy in the 20th century,
other nations, including countries in Europe and Asia, were experiencing a steady growth of
homeopathic teachings and interest.

Today, nearly all French pharmacies sell homeopathic remedies and medicines; and homeopathy
has a particularly strong following in Russia, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Germany, Netherlands,
Italy, England, and South America.
Homeopathy is also rising again in the United States. This resurgence has been documented by
the National Center for Homeopathy in Virginia, which stated that Americans spent 230 million
dollars on homeopathic remedies in 1996. It has also been said that sales are rising rapidly at
about 12 – 15% each year.

Doctors, scientists, researchers, corporations and the general public are all responsible for the
accelerated expansion in the interest of homeopathic products, research and educational
initiatives.

Homeopathic remedies
"Remedy" is a technical term in homeopathy that refers to a substance prepared with a
particular

procedure and intended for treating patients. Homeopathic practitioners rely on

two types of reference when prescribing remedies: Materia medica and repertories. A
homeopathic Materia medica is a collection of "drug pictures", organised alphabetically by
remedy, that describes the symptom patterns associated with individual remedies. A
homeopathic repertory is an index of disease symptoms that lists remedies associated with
specific symptoms.

Homeopathy uses many animal, plant, mineral, and synthetic substances in its remedies.
Examples include Arsenicum album (arsenic oxide), Natrum muriaticum (sodium chloride or
table salt), Lachesis muta (the venom of the bushmaster snake), Opium and Thyroidinum
(thyroid hormone). Homeopaths also use treatments called nosodes (from the Greek nosos,
disease) made from diseased or pathological products such as fecal, urinary, and respiratory
discharges, blood, and tissue. Homeopathic remedies prepared from healthy specimens are
called Sarcodes.

Preparation of remedies

In producing remedies for diseases, homeopaths use a process called

"dynamisation" or "potentisation" whereby a substance is diluted with alcohol or distilled
water and then vigorously shaken by ten hard strikes against an elastic body in a process called
"succussion". While Hahnemann advocated using substances which produce symptoms similar to
those of the disease being treated, he found that material doses would intensify the symptoms
and exacerbate the condition, For this purpose, Hahnemann had a saddle maker construct a
special wooden striking board covered in leather on one side and stuffed with horsehair.[50]
[51]
Insoluble solids, such as quartz andoyster shell, are diluted by grinding them
with lactose (sometimes causing what amounted to dangerous toxic reactions. He therefore
specified that the substances be diluted.

Dilutions

Three potency scales are in regular use in homeopathy. Hahnemann created the
centesimal or "C scale", diluting a substance by a factor of 100 at each stage. The centesimal
scale was favored by Hahnemann for most of his life. A 2C dilution requires a substance to be
diluted to one part in one hundred, and then some of that diluted solution diluted by a further
factor of one hundred. This works out to one part of the original substance in 10,000 parts of the
solution.[52] A 6C dilution repeats this process six times, ending up with the original material
diluted by a factor of 100−6=10−12. Higher dilutions follow the same pattern. In homeopathy, a
solution that is more dilute is described as having a higher potency, and more dilute substances
are considered by homeopaths to be stronger and deeper-acting remedies. [53] The end product is
often so diluted that it is indistinguishable from the dilutant (pure water, sugar or alcohol

Commonly Prescribed homeopathic remedies and its uses:

• Aconite commonly known as monkshood - anxiety and fears, shock, panic attacks, early
or sudden onset of illness, restlessness.
• Allium cepa commonly known as red onion - watery eyes, burning, etc
• Apis commonly known as the honeybee - redness, swelling, etc.
• Arnica commonly known as the mountain daisy - bruises, sprains, and strains
• Arsenicum album is a diluted form of arsenic – anxiety, restlessness, avarice,
compulsive, fearful, depressed, skin disharmonies, chilly, controlling without spontaneity,
right-sided ailments, worse around midnight, asthma, thirst for small sips, burning
sensation.
• Belladonna - commonly known as deadly knightshade - dry mouth, nausea, delirium, etc.
• Bryonia commonly known as wild hops - vomiting, diarrhea, inflammation, etc.
• Calcarea carbonica also known as calcium carbonate - exhaustion, depression, and
anxiety.
• Cantharis commonly known as Spanish fly - abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea,
convulsions, etc.
• Chamomilla derived from German chamomile - irritability, impatience, etc. It is most
often prescribed to children
 • Ferrum phosphoricum also known as iron phosphate - low energy and anemia.
• Gelsemium also known as yellow jasmine – vision problems, balance.
• Hepar sulphuris is derived from the inner layer of oyster shells - infection.
• Hypericum commonly known as St. John's wort - nerve damage.
• Ignatia - headache, cramping, and tremors
• Ledum also known as marsh tea - infections, most often from animal bites, stings, cuts,
etc.
• Lycopodium commonly known as club moss - diarrhea, digestive upset, etc.
• Mercurius vivus also known as quicksilver - sweats, shaking, nausea, etc.
• Natrum muriaticum commonly known as salt - excessive thirst
• Nux vomica - overeating and too much caffeine or alcohol
• Phosphorus - excessive thirst, fatigue, and nervousness
• Pulsatilla - bedwetting, sinusitis, etc.
• Ruta - bruising, sciatica, etc.
• Silica - weakness, sweating, and sensitivity to cold
• Sulphur - itching, burning pains, and bad odor

Homeopaths generally begin with detailed examinations of their patients' histories, including
questions regarding their physical, mental and emotional states, their life circumstances and any
physical or emotional illnesses. The homeopath then attempts to translate this information into a
complex formula of mental and physical symptoms, including likes, dislikes, innate
predispositions and even body type.

From these symptoms, the homeopath chooses how to treat the patient. A compilation of reports
of many homeopathic provings, supplemented with clinical data, is known as a homeopathic
materia medica. But because a practitioner first needs to explore the remedies for a particular
symptom rather than looking up the symptoms for a particular remedy, the homeopathic
repertory, which is an index of symptoms, lists after each symptom those remedies that are
associated with it. Repertories are often very extensive and may include data extracted from
multiple sources of materia medica. There is often lively debate among compilers of repertories
and practitioners over the veracity of a particular inclusion.
USE OF HOMEOPATHY

Due to homeopathy’s use of minute amounts of naturally occurring healing substances,

homeopathy is (and has been for over 200 years) one of the gentlest and safest healing therapies
in the world today without any known toxic side-effects. Family’s who use homeopathy, choose
to use completely non-toxic remedies first, before taking any risks with our children, or ourselves
using any other substance’s with possible side-effects and toxicity. For millions of people
homeopathy has been and continues to be our first choice with our children and ourselves for this
commonsense reason, alone.
Acute conditions.

Homeopathy is useful for ourselves and families (our animals) in acute situations with
emotional upset, stress, colds, flues, accidents, etc. Many families are quite capable of self
treating with a kit and a good book most minor health conditions safely. Since the remedies
have no toxic side-effects they can be used without detriment. The only concern is using the
remedies in a potentially life or limb threatening situation without also seeking help from
emergency medicine.

Emergency conditions.

There is no reason to avoid emergency medicine when needed, or the need is suspected. I
personally use emergency medicine if the need arises without more then a second thought.
There are homeopathic remedies which can handle emergency situations. But, why not use
the best of both worlds? Once the emergency is handled then the overall health could be
supported amazingly well again by non-toxic homeopathy. It’s not a question of one or the
other here. Its more a question of when to use one, the other, or both? I usually prefer both
in an emergency.

Chronic conditions.

Homeopathy really shines where chronic conditions are concerned. Chronic conditions are
ailments where we have no end to the discomfort. It either keeps occurring or coming and
going, but always returning. Chronic conditions can be emotional pain, or physical, or
disrupted performance. These kinds of conditions have underlying reasons in our lives why
they persist. Homeopathy when used by a good homeopathic practitioner can potentially
diminish and even entirely relieve these conditions. It usually doesn’t matter if the condition
seems to affect us more emotionally or physically or our performance. Remember
homeopathy is holistic, and truly non-medical, and does not seek to diagnose or treat a
medical condition. But, I have seen people relieved of symptoms from conditions medically
diagnosed prior as ADD, ADHD, diabetes, asthma, tumors, cysts, fibroids, lupus, chronic
fatigue, hypoglycemia, reoccurring ear infections, recurrent sinus infections, nonspecific
pain, gallbladder colic, hepatitis, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, fibromyalgia, ITP,
addiction to various substances, various cancers, IBS, Crohn’s, various thyroid conditions,
allergies, hay fever, Acne, psoriasis, eczema, heart conditions, high cholesterol, etc..etc..etc.
This list goes on and on. The medical diagnosis is of little concern compared to the reason
an unhealthy state persists. Address our unhealthy state and (with work) we can heal from a
great majority of conditions.

Medical treatment support.

Homeopathy is also effective at supporting recovery from drastic emergency medical

therapies. Many of our clients have gone through chemotherapies and other drastic therapies
with their doctors reportedly having been surprised at the lack of side-effects and their
patients quicker and fuller recoveries. Even if homeopathy for some reason is unable to heal
 us from a specific affliction (no therapy is 100% effective for everyone), homeopathy still
has a great potential to strengthen and give us better relief, more vitality, and quality of life.

Side Effects and Risks

Although the side effects and risks of homeopathic treatments are not well researched outside of
observational studies, some general points can be made about the safety of these treatments:

• A systematic review found that homeopathic remedies in high dilution, taken under the
supervision of trained professionals, are generally considered safe and unlikely to cause severe
adverse reactions.
• Liquid homeopathic remedies may contain alcohol. The FDA allows higher levels of
alcohol in these remedies than it allows in conventional drugs. However, no adverse effects
from alcohol levels have been reported to the FDA.
• Homeopaths expect some of their patients to experience homeopathic aggravation (a
temporary worsening of existing symptoms after taking a homeopathic prescription).
Researchers have not found much evidence of this reaction in clinical studies; however,
research on homeopathic aggravations is scarce.
• Homeopathic remedies are not known to interfere with conventional drugs; however, if
you are considering using homeopathic remedies, you should discuss this with your health
care provider first.
Important thing to know when taking Homeopathic Medicine:

• When using homeopathic pills, it is best not to touch them with your hands. Most
homeopathic medicine containers provide a bottle cap to make it easy for you to avoid
touching the pills. Just pour the pills out into the top and then directly into your mouth. The
pills should be dissolved in the mouth rather than chewed or swallowed.
• The liquid form of medicine can be dropped right on the tongue (don’t touch the dropper
to your mouth) or added to clean water. The dosage is written on the container. Dosage is
not as important in homeopathy as getting the right remedy. When you are self-treating, it is
probably best to use potencies of 6-30x or 6-30c.
• Homeopaths will usually tell you not eat or drink anything within 20 or 30 minutes of
taking homeopathic medicine.
• Don’t drink coffee while you are taking a homeopathic medicine
• Don’t consume or use anything containing a strong essential oil, such as eucalyptus, tea
tree oil, peppermint, menthol, and camphor.
• Drugs, nail polish and stress can “antidote,” or cancel out, the effectiveness of
homeopathic remedies.