Homeopathy
What Is It?
How Does It Work?
What Happens During Treatment?
What Is It Used For?
Side Effects/Cautions
Recommended Books
What Is It?
Homeopathy is a holistic healing system that is based on the idea that “like
cures like” or the “law of similars”: patients showing
specific symptoms are treated by giving them a minute dose of a substance
that causes similar symptoms. Homeopathic remedies consist of tiny
amounts of substances derived from plants, animals and minerals which
are diluted many times, and are used to treat a wide variety of physical,
mental and emotional problems.
Homeopathy was developed around 1800 by German physician Samuel Hahnemann.
Disgusted by medical practices such as blood-letting and purging, common
at that time, Hahnemann quit his practice and began looking for more
humane ways to treat illnesses. During his research into the healing
qualities of natural substances, he discovered that cinchona bark,
a remedy for malaria, produced malaria-like symptoms when taken by
a health person. This discovery formed the basis of his “Law
of Similars” which suggested that a substance which produces
symptoms in a healthy person could also cure those symptoms in a sick
person. Hahnemann then experimented with a number of substances, on
himself and other healthy volunteers, trying different doses and developing
a special process for diluting and shaking each substance until they
reached a potency that was safe and effective.
How Does It
Work?
The dilution process used in many homeopathic remedies makes it impossible
to detect the original substance. This has led many scientists to dismiss
the remedies as no more than a placebo. However, advocates of homeopathy
have explained the effectiveness of these treatments in terms of an “imprint” or “memory” of
the active ingredient contained in the water used to dilute the substance.
Repeated dilutions, or “potentisations” make the imprint
stronger rather than weaker, and this imprint is thought to mobilise
the body’s vital energy to improve wellbeing.
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What Happens During
Treatment?
Homeopathic remedies are available in tinctures, tablets, powders and
ointments in various potencies. Many are available in health stores
and pharmacies and are considered safe to self-administer, but seeking
advice from a trained homeopath can help you find the best remedy for
your particular problems.
Your homeopath will take a complete medical history and ask detailed
questions about your symptoms before suggesting a remedy and a dosage
which is best for you. Remedies are usually prescribed one at a time,
sometimes in combinations. Once a remedy is selected for you, you will
only need to see your homeopath again in two to six weeks time. By
this time you should know whether the remedy has worked for you.
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What Is It Used
For?
Homeopathic remedies have been effective in treating respiratory conditions
such as hay fever and asthma, colds and flu, digestive disorders, rheumatoid
arthritis, pain or traumatic injury such as sprains, psychological
problems, headaches and many other ailments.
Side Effects/Cautions
Some homeopathic tinctures contain small amounts of alcohol. It’s
best not to take these if you need to avoid alcohol.
Remedies should not be taken for extended periods of time. If there
has been no improvement after a week or so, you may want to try another
remedy.
If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking a homeopathic
remedy.
References
Find
a Homeopath
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Recommended Books
Prices are in US Dollars
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Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy
Amy L. Lansky
Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy provides an in-depth
and exciting account of the history, philosophy, and experience
of homeopathic medicine. At the core of Impossible Cure is
the amazing story of how the author's son was cured of autism
with homeopathy. It also includes dozens of other testimonials
of homeopathic cure, for a variety of physical, mental, and
emotional conditions.
Impossible Cure will serve as an invaluable guide to anyone
interested in learning more about this intriguing form of
health care. It has won endorsements from leading experts
in alternative health care, including: Larry Dossey, MD (executive
editor, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, and
author of Healing
Words); Bernard Rimland, PhD (director, Autism Research
Institute); Wayne Jonas, MD (director, Samueli Institute,
and former director, Office of Alternative Medicine, NIH);
Michael Castleman (author of The
New Healing Herbs and other consumer health books); Louis
Klein, RSHom (president, Luminos Homeopathic Courses); and
Richard Pitt, CCH, RSHom (NA) (director, Pacific Academy
of Homeopathy).
Learn
more...
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Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines: Safe
and Effective Remedies for You and Your Family
Stephen Cummings
Written by a medical doctor and a well-known homeopath,
who has authored several books on the subject, this revised
and expanded edition is a good introduction to the theory
and practice of homeopathy. Intended for the lay reader,
the bulk of the book details self-treatment options for common
ailments. The authors take great care advising patients when
professional medical intervention is warranted.
Learn
more...
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The Complete Homeopathy Handbook : Safe and Effective
Ways to Treat Fevers, Coughs, Colds and Sore Throats, Childhood
Ailments, Food Poisoning, Flu, and a Wide Range of Everyday
Complaints
Miranda Castro
Homopathy is an approach to medicine based on the principle
that any substance that can cause illness can also be a cure.
Centuries old, its practice has always enjoyed wide popularity
among individuals looking for safe and effective ways to
treat illness as well as to improve their health.
The Complete Homeopathy Handbook is the definitive guide
for using homeopathic remedies at home. It includes A-to-Z
listings for external and internal remedies, with explanations
for correctly diagnosing the symptoms of any particular injury
or illness. The book also includes ten case studies and specific
dos and don'ts to follow when treating more than seventy
conditions.
Learn
more...
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Homeopathy Books
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