What is Homeopathy - A Simple Explanation

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that stimulates the body and mind to heal itself. It is legal in the United States and remedies are controlled by the FDA.

Homeopathic Remedies are made from plants, minerals and animal substances. Remedies are tested by a series of provings - the effects and symptoms of the substances on healthy and sick people are recorded and added to the Remedy’s symptom list. Homeopathy then matches the persons symptoms with the remedy’s symptoms list and chooses a remedy with the closest match possible.

These symptom lists are compiled into 2 different books or sections of a book - a "Materia Medica" which is in order by remedy with each symptom listed, and a "Repertory" which is in order by symptom with all remedies listed.

Homeopathy is Used in acute (short-term) and chronic (long lasting) conditions and illnesses. It is also used as a constitutional treatment which treats the person as a whole - all symptoms of body and mind are considered. Homeopathic prepared remedies are prescribed to match each individual persons symptoms. This is called the Law of Similars - where like treats like. The theory is that a substance that produces the same symptoms in a healthy person can cure an ill person, because symptoms of an illness expresses the body’s attempt at healing itself. A correctly chosen remedy will reinforce this activity to accelerate healing.

Homeopathic Practitioners are called Homeopaths. They are people who are trained from various post-graduate programs, and they may also have traditional medical degrees such as MD, DO, ND, Nurse, etc. Practitioners can be certified by several Homeopathic certification organizations. Some of the certifications are CCH (Certified in Classical Homeopathy), HMD (Homeopathic Medical Doctor), CVH (Certified Veterinary Homeopath), among others. Homeopaths interview the patient to find out all the physical and mental symptoms of the whole person and the disease. They then prescribe a remedy to match the patients symptoms.

Homeopathy Books for the Lay-Person

Homeopathic Uses for the Lay-Person:

Acute conditions (cold, flu, bee bites, etc) can be treated by the lay-person with homeopathic . There are plenty of books listing the most common remedies and their symptom lists for their particular acute conditions.
Remedies are inexpensive to buy - they cost from an average of $4 to $15 per bottle of 50 or more dosages of a remedy. The most common remedies can be found in health food stores and some drug stores.

different brands of remedies

Remedies are made

from plants, minerals and animal substances. These natural substances are made into tinctures, then diluted and vigorously shaken (succussed) to create the various strengths called potencies. There are 2 scales of potencies used: the decimal (X - based on 10 ) and the centesimal (C - based on 100) scale.

To make a 1C potency, they take 1 part tincture, dilute it with 99 parts water or alcohol, then succuss it. To make a 2C potency, they take 1 part 1C potency, dilute it with 99 parts water or alcohol, then succuss it.

This continues on for every potency strength. Remedies available to the layperson are made in 6x, 30x or 6c or 30c strengths. Remedies from 100c to 50CM are prescribed by homeopaths for chronic or constitutional problems. The higher the potency, the more powerful the remedy is -even though beyond the 24x or 12c potency, there are no molecules remaining of the original substance - Only the vibrational energy of the substance is found. This is also why the remedies are non-toxic.

remedy with pills in the cap

pillule size

Dosages:Generally, 3-4 pillules (small pills) are taken as one dose- they should be left to dissolve under the tongue. Best if allow at least 20 minutes before or after eating. Only the person who the remedy is for should actually touch it - just put the pillules into the cap of the bottle and pop them into the mouth.

You should keep dosages to a minimum - repeat dosages only when the symptoms return.


History: Homeopathy was founded in the late 1700’s by a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann. Homeopathy spread through Europe and the US in the 1800’s, where there were over 20 homeopathy medicine schools and over 100 homeopathic hospitals. However, by 1918, Homeopathy declined in the US due to strong opposition from the American Medical Association (AMA) and orthodox physicians that influenced legislature to limit homeopathy training and practice. Also at this time, the advance of modern pain killers and antibiotics made orthodox medicine more appealing. Today, although Homeopathy is still available in the USA, it is more popular and widely used in England, Europe and India.

　

For More Information on Homeopathy:

• National Center for Homeopathy - What is Homeopathy


• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Homeopathy - an Introduction


• The Society of Homeopathy - What is Homeopathy?


• ABC Homeopathy - What are Homeopathics?


• Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions on Homeopathic Medicine

Where to find a Homeopath:

• National Center for Homeopathy - List of Practitioners

Books:

• Homeopathy - Beyond Flat earth Medicine - by Timothy R. Dooley, N.D., M.D.


• Homeopathic Remedies - by Asa Hershoff, ND


• Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines - by Stephen Cummings, MD and Dana Ullman, M.P.H.


• The Complete Homeopathic Handbook - by Miranda Castro


• Family Guide to Homeopathy - by Dr. Andrew Lockie


• Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs - Small Doses for Small Animals - by Don Hamilton, DVM

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