Definition
Homeopathy, or homeopathic medicine, is a holistic system of treatment that originated in the late eighteenth century. Thename homeopathy is derived from two Greek words that mean "like disease." The system is based on the idea thatsubstances that produce symptoms of sickness in healthy people will have a curative effect when given in very dilutequantities to sick people who exhibit those same symptoms. Homeopathic remedies are believed to stimulate the body'sown healing processes. Homeopaths use the term "allopathy," or "different than disease," to describe the use of drugsused in conventional medicine to oppose or counteract the symptom being treated.
Purpose
Homeopathic physicians seek to cure their patients on the physical, mental and emotional levels, and each treatment istailored to a patient's individual needs. Homeopathy is generally a safe treatment, as it uses medicines in extremelydiluted quantities, and there are usually minimal side effects. Its non-toxicity makes it a good choice for the treatment ofchildren. Another benefit of homeopathy is the cost of treatments; homeopathic remedies are inexpensive, often a fractionof the cost of conventional drugs.
Homeopathic treatment has been shown effective in
treating many conditions. Colds and flu may be
effectively treatedwith aconite and bryonia. Influenza suffers in a
double-blind study found that they were twice as
likely to
recover in 48
hours when they took homeopathic remedies. Studies have been published in
British medical journals confirming theefficacy of
homeopathic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Homeopathic remedies are effective in
treating infections,circulatory problems, respiratory problems, heart disease, depression and nervous disorders, migraine headaches,allergies,
arthritis, and diabetes. Homeopathy is a
good treatment to
explore for acute and chronic illnesses, particularly if
these are found in
the early stages and where there is
not severe damage. Homeopathy can be
used to
assist the healingprocess after surgery or
chemotherapy.
Description
Origins
Homeopathy was founded by
German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843), who was much disturbed by
themedical system of
his time, believing that its cures were crude and some of
its strong drugs and treatments did moreharm than good to
patients. Hahnemann performed experiments on
himself using Peruvian bark, which contains quinine,a
malaria remedy. He
concluded that in a
healthy person, quinine creates the same symptoms as
malaria, includingfevers and chills, which is
the reason why it is
effective as a
remedy. He
then began to
analyze the remedies available in
nature by
what he
called provings. Provings of
homeopathic remedies are still compiled by
dosing healthy adults withvarious substances and documenting the results, in
terms of
the dose needed to
produce the symptoms and the length of
the dose's effectiveness. The provings are collected in
large homeopathic references called materia medica or
materialsof
medicine.
Hahnemann formulated these principles of homeopathy:
- Law of Similars (like cures like)
- Law of the Infinitesimal Dose (The more diluted a remedy is, the more potent it is.)
- illness is specific to the individual
Hahnemann's Law of Similars was based on thinking that dated back to Hippocrates in the fourth century B.C. It is thesame thinking that provided the basis for vaccinations created by Edward Jenner and Louis Pasteur. These vaccinesprovoke a reaction in the individual that protects against the actual disease. Allergy treatments work the same way. Byexposing a person to minute quantities of the allergen, the person's tolerance levels are elevated.
The Law of the Infinitesimal Dose has always caused controversy among those outside the field of homeopathy.Hahnemann contended that as he diluted his remedies with water and alcohol and succussed, or shook, them, theremedies actually worked more effectively. In fact, diluted homeopathic remedies may have no chemical trace of theoriginal substance. Practitioners believe that the electromagnetic energy of the original substance is retained in thedilution, but toxic side effects of the remedy are not. It is this electrochemical "message" that stimulates the body to healitself.
Homeopathic practitioners believe that illness is
specific to an
individual. In
other words, two people with severeheadaches may not receive the same remedies. The practitioner will ask the patient questions about lifestyle, dietaryhabits, and personality traits, as
well as
specific questions about the nature of
the headache and when it
occurs. Thisinformation gathering is
called profiling or
case-taking.
In the early 1900s, homeopathy was popular in America, with over 15 percent of all doctors being homeopathic. Therewere 22 major homeopathic medical schools, including Boston University and the University of Michigan. However, withthe formation of the American Medical Association, which restricted and closed down alternative practices, homeopathydeclined for half a century. When the 1960s invigorated back-to-nature trends and distrust of artificial drugs andtreatments, homeopathy began to grow again dramatically through the next decades. In 1993, The New England Journalof Medicine reported that 2.5 million Americans used homeopathic remedies and 800,000 patients visited homeopaths in1990, and it has continued to grow. Homeopathy is much more popular in Europe than in the United States. Frenchpharmacies are required to make homeopathic remedies available along with conventional medications. Homeopathichospitals and clinics are part of the national health system in Britain. It is also practiced in India and Israel, among othercountries.
| Homeopathic Remedies That Work |
|---|
| Name | Description |
|---|
| Aconite | Commonly known as monkshood, aconite is highly
toxic. A nontoxic, diluted extract of aconite is used in
homeopathy to treat symptoms similar to that of poison. |
|---|
| Allium cepa | Commonly known as red onion, homeopathic physi-
cians use a dilute extract of red onion to treat symptoms
similar to that of red onion—watery eyes, burning, etc. |
|---|
| Apis | Commonly known as the honeybee, apis as a homeo-
pathic remedy is made from the body of the bee. It is
used to treat symptoms similar to that of a bee sting—
redness, swelling, etc. |
|---|
| Arnica | Commonly known as the mountain daisy, arnica is used
by homeopathic physicians to treat bruises, sprains, and
strains. |
|---|
Arsenicum
album | Also known as ars alb, arsenicum album is a diluted
form of arsenic, a metallic poison. It is used by homeo-
pathic physicians to treat symptoms similar to the
effects of arsenic poisoning—dehydration,
burning pain, etc. |
|---|
| Belladonna | Commonly known as deadly knightshade, belladonna is
used in homeopathy to treat symptoms of dry mouth,
nausea, delirium, etc. |
|---|
| Bryonia | Commonly known as wild hops, bryonia is used in
homeopathy to treat vomiting, diarrhea, inflammation,
etc. |
|---|
Calcarea
carbonica | Also known as calcium carbonate or calc carb, it is used
in homeopathy to treat symptoms of exhaustion,
depression, and anxiety. |
|---|
| Cantharis | Commonly known as Spanish fly, cantharis is used in
homeopathy to treat conditions with symptoms of
abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, etc. |
|---|
| Chamomilla | Derived from German chamomile, it is used in
homeopathy to treat irritability, impatience, etc. It is
most often prescribed to children. |
|---|
Ferrum
phosphoricum | Also known as ferrum phos or iron phosphate, it is
used to treat symptoms of low energy and anemia. |
|---|
| Gelsemium | Also known as yellow jasmine, it is used to treat condi-
tions that effect vision, balance, though, and
locomotion. |
|---|
Hepar
sulphuris | Derived from the inner layer of oyster shells, hepar
sulphuris is used to treat infection. |
|---|
| Hypericum | Commonly known as St. John's wort, hypericum is used
to treated nerve damage. |
|---|
| Ignatia | Derived from seeds of a plant, this homeopathic remedy
is prescribed to treat conditions with symptoms such as
headache, cramping, and tremors. |
|---|
| Ipecac | Ipecac induces vomiting and causes gastrointestinal
distress. Homeopaths prescribe it to treat similar
symptoms. |
|---|
Kali
bichromicum | Commonly known as potassium bichromate, kali
bichromicum is a poison used also in textile dyes, wood
stain, etc. Homeopaths use it to treat localized pain. |
|---|
| Lachesis | Derived from the venom of the bushmaster snake, this
homeopathic remedy is used to treat conditions that
cause the same symptoms as the venom itself. |
|---|
| Ledum | Also known as marsh tea, ledum is used to treat infec-
tions, most often from animal bites, stings, cuts, etc. |
|---|
| Lycopodium | Commonly known as club moss, lycopodium is used to
treat diarrhea, digestive upset, etc. |
|---|
Mercurius
vivus | Also known as quicksilver, it is used to treat symptoms
of sweats, shaking, nausea, etc. |
|---|
Natrum
muriaticum | Commonly known as salt, it is used to treat conditions
that cause excessive thirst and salt cravings. |
|---|
| Nux vomica | It is used to treat symptoms caused by overeating and
too much caffeine or alcohol. |
|---|
| Phosphorus | It is used to treat symptoms of excessive thirst, fatigue,
and nervousness. |
|---|
| Homeopathic Remedies That Work [Continued] |
|---|
| Name | Description |
|---|
| Pulsatilla | It is used to treat conditions that are accompanied
by discharge, such as bedwetting, sinusitis, etc. |
|---|
Rhus
toxicodendron | Commonly known as poison ivy, homeopaths use it
to treat conditions with symptoms of fever, swollen
glands, and restlessness. |
|---|
| Ruta | It is used to treat conditions with bruising, such as
tennis elbow, sciatica, etc. |
|---|
| Sepia | Sepia is the discharge used by the cuttlefish to
disappear from a predator. Homeopaths use sepia
to treat symptoms of apathy and weakness. |
|---|
| Silica | Also called flint, silica is used by homeopaths to
treat conditions that cause weakness, sweating,
and sensitivity to cold. |
|---|
| Sulphur | It is used to treat conditions with symptoms of itching,
burning pains, and odor. |
|---|
A visit to a homeopath can be a different experience than a visit to a regular physician. Surveys have shown thathomeopathic doctors spend much more time during initial consultations than conventional doctors spend. This is becausea homeopath does a complete case-taking to get a complete picture of a person's general health and lifestyle, as well asparticular symptoms, on the physical, mental and emotional levels. Some symptoms can be so subtle that the patient isnot always completely aware of them, and the doctor must spend time getting to know the patient.
The initial visit often includes a long questionnaire about a patient's medical and family history, and then a long interviewwith the doctor, who prompts the patient with many questions. Sometimes a homeopathic doctor will use lab tests toestablish a patient's general level of health. The initial interview usually lasts between one and two hours.
The purpose of homeopathy is the restoration of the body to homeostasis, or healthy balance, which is its natural state.The symptoms of a disease are regarded as the body's own defensive attempt to correct its imbalance, rather than asenemies to be defeated. Because a homeopath regards symptoms as positive evidence of the body's inner intelligence,he or she will prescribe a remedy designed to stimulate this internal curative process, rather than suppress the symptoms.
In homeopathy, the curative process extends beyond the relief of immediate symptoms of illness. Healing may come inmany stages, as the practitioner treats layers of symptoms that are remnants of traumas or chronic disease in thepatient's past. This is part of Hering's Laws of Cure, named for Constantine Hering, the father of homeopathy in America.Hering believed that healing starts from the deepest parts of the body to the extremities, and from the upper parts of thebody to the lower parts. Hering's Laws also state that homeopaths should treat disease symptoms in reversechronological order, from the most recent to the oldest, restoring health in stages. Sometimes, the patient may feel worsebefore feeling better. This is called a healing crisis.
When prescribing a remedy, homeopaths will match a patient's symptoms with the proper remedy in a repertory ormateria medica that has been compiled throughout the history of homeopathy. Classical homeopaths prescribe only oneremedy at a time. However, it is becoming more common, especially in Europe, to use combination formulas of severalremedies for the treatment of some combinations of symptoms.
The cost of homeopathic care can vary. The cost of visits will be comparable to conventional medicine, with initial visitsranging from $50 to $300. Non-M.D. homeopaths can charge from $50 to $250. Follow-up visits are less, at about $35 to$100. Homeopathic medicine is significantly cheaper than pharmaceuticals, and most remedies cost between $2 and $10.Some doctors provide remedies without charge. Homeopaths rarely use lab tests, which reduces the cost of treatmentfurther. In general, homeopathy is much more economical than conventional medicine. In 1991, the French governmentdid a study on the cost of homeopathic medicine, and found that it costs half as much to treat patients, considering allcosts involved.
When homeopaths are licensed professionals, most insurance companies will pay for their fees. Consumers shouldconsult their insurance policies to determine individual regulations. Insurance usually will not cover homeopathicmedicine, because it is sold over-the-counter.
Precautions
Although homeopathic remedies sometimes use substances that are toxic, they are diluted and prescribed in non-toxicdoses. Remedies should be prescribed by a homeopathic practitioner. Those preparing to take homeopathic remediesshould also avoid taking antidotes, substances which homeopathic doctors believe cancel the effects of their remedies.These substances include alcohol, coffee, prescription drugs, peppermint (in toothpaste and mouthwash), camphor (insalves and lotions), and very spicy foods. Homeopathic medicine should also be handled with care, and should not betouched with the hands or fingers, which can contaminate it.
Side effects
A homeopathic aggravation sometimes occurs during initial treatment with homeopathic remedies. This means thatsymptoms can temporarily worsen during the process of healing. Although this is usually mild, the aggravation cansometimes be severe. Homeopaths see aggravation as a positive sign that the remedy is a good match for the patient'ssymptoms. The healing crisis, which happens when the patient is undergoing treatment for layers of symptoms, may alsocause the patient to feel worse before feeling better. Some patients can experience emotional disturbances like weepingor depression, if suppressed emotional problems led to the illness in the first place.
Research and general acceptance
Since the early 1900s, when the American Medical Association and pharmacists waged a battle against it, homeopathyhas been neglected and sometimes ridiculed by mainstream medicine. Aside from politics, part of the reason for this isthat there are some aspects of homeopathy which have not been completely explained scientifically. For instance,homeopaths have found that the more they dilute and succuss a remedy, the greater effect it seems to have on the body.Some homeopathic remedies are so diluted that not even a single molecule of the active agent remains in a solution, yetit still works; studies have demonstrated this paradox, yet can't explain it. Also, homeopathy puts an emphasis onanalyzing symptoms and then applying remedies to these symptoms, rather than working by classifying diseases. Thus,some people with the same disease may require different homeopathic medicines and treatments. Furthermore,conventional medicine strives to find out how medicines work in the body before they use them; homeopathy is lessconcerned with the intricate biochemistry involved than with whether a remedy ultimately works and heals holistically. Forall these reasons, conventional medicine claims that homeopathy is not scientific, but homeopaths are quick to reply thathomeopathy has been scientifically developed and studied for centuries, with much documentation and success.
There continue to be many studies that affirm the effectiveness of homeopathic treatments. Among the most celebrated,the British Medical Journal in 1991 published a large analysis of homeopathic treatments that were given over the courseof 25 years. This project involved over 100 studies of patients with problems ranging from vascular diseases, respiratoryproblems, infections, stomach problems, allergies, recovery from surgeries, arthritis, trauma, psychological problems,
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