Friday, August 15, 2008

What is Homeopathy?

For those looking for a succinct overview...

Homeopathy, a holistic medical system, was created over 200 years ago by Samuel Hahnemann, a medical doctor disenchanted with traditional (allopathic) medicine and its inability to actually cure disease. A combination of scientific method and art, homeopathy is founded on a series of distinct principles, the basis of which is “like cures like” meaning a substance that can cause illness can also cure it in its homeopathic form.

Homeopathic remedies are made using a plant, mineral, or animal substance prepared according to the second principle, “Potentization,” a process by which the remedy is highly diluted in water and succussed (a process of shaking). Unlike herbal preparations, there is not a single measurable molecule of the original substance remaining in the remedy, only its vibrational energy. The water is then infused onto sugar pellets. Many people dose with the dry pellets, but water dosing is gaining momentum as a gentler, faster-acting method.

In accordance with homeopathy’s third principle, each remedy is “proven” in a clinical study of healthy people to determine which symptoms it can cure. While there are over 2,500 proven remedies available today, approximately 200 remedies comprise those most frequently used, known as polychrests.

The remedy works as a catalyst to the person’s own immune system using the smallest possible dose. This fourth key principle is the law of the “minimum dose,” meaning the dose given is so small it should cure without side effect.

A holistic approach, homeopathy treats the whole person taking into account not only physical and mental symptoms but things such as dreams, sleep habits, food cravings and aversions, general personality, family health history, etc. It is safe for pregnancy, newborn babies, and even pets. It's effectiveness in treating babies and pets disproves the placebo effect theory sometimes attributed to its results. It’s nontoxic and effective in treating both acute and chronic illness. Homeopathy is an individualized, natural, holistic medicine offering healing and health to everyone.