Homeopathy
- What is Homeopathy?
- How Homeopathy Works
- Benefits of Homeopathy
- Facts and Myths
- Scope of Homeopathy
About Homeopathy
Homeopathy was discovered by a German Physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843)
in the late eighteenth century. It is a therapeutic system of medicine premised on the principle, “Similia Similibus Curentur” or ‘let likes be treated by likes'.
It treats the patients not only through holistic approach but also considers individualistic characteristics of the person. This concept of ‘law of similars' was also enunciated by Hippocrates and Paracelsus, but Dr. Hahnemann established it on a scientific footing despite the fact that he lived in an age when modern laboratory methods were almost unknown.
How are homoeopathic medicine prepared
Homoeopathic medicines are prepared from traces of animal, plant, mineral and other natural substances, by a standard method called dynamization or potentisation, which comprises of successive dilutions and succussions to raise the inherent curative power of the drugs to maximum.
The medicines thus prepared through ‘potentisation', attain their potential enhanced enormously to combat ailments while at the same time absence of toxicity is assured. The medicines are usually proved in healthy human beings, to ascertain their curative properties.
Homeopathy a science
The system believes in the existence of a self-regulating force in the organism the vital force, which plays a vital role during health, disease and cure. The symptoms are considered as the body's natural reaction to the illness and help to find a remedy against the illness.
The remedies work by stimulating the body's defence mechanism to correct itself naturally. This therapy adopts an individualistic and holistic approach towards the sick individual.
A homoeopathic doctor does not treat in the name of disease, rather the treatment is targeted against the “patient” who is suffering from a particular disease. The physician perceives all the derangements at physical and mental levels of the patient, brings about conceptual image of the patient through totality of symptoms and selects the medicine, which is most similar to the symptomatic totality of the patient.
Homoeopathic medicines are cost effective, palatable, have no adverse side effects and can be administered easily.
Homeopathy has been useful in treatment of psychosomatic disorders, autoimmune diseases, geriatric and pediatric disorders, ailments during pregnancy, obstinate skin diseases, life style disorders and allergies, etc.
It also has a positive role in improving the quality of life in incurable chronic diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, terminally ill patients and incapacitating diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Its popularity is gaining momentum, all over the world.
How Does It Work
Wondering why it would be beneficial to use Homoeopathic substances to help treat an illness or health problem if the same substance seems to also contribute to illness? The idea is that this practice helps stimulate the immune system and the body’s natural ability to heal.
One of the most important principles of Homoeopathic medicine is that treatments must be “individualized” and tailored to each person’s specific symptoms, history, body and needs. Even if two people are battling the same illness, they can receive completely different commendations from their Homoeopathic doctors based on their unique situation and how their body would be expected to respond.
It’s common for a Homoeopathic doctor to talk in depth with a patient about their stress levels, relationships, personal characteristics, family and so on. Patients respond differently to a range of doses of Homoeopathic medicines, some needing much higher doses than others based on their current situation. Homoeopathic remedies are diluted to a certain potency depending on the patient’s needs, and the goal is to always use the minimum dose possible that will still offer benefits.
In addition to interviewing the patient, lab tests are also commonly carried out to help the Homoeopathic doctor learn about the patient’s condition, viewed in light of the patient’s symptoms. Thus, a Homoeopathic doctor’s goal is to learn about the patient’s entire experience and expectations in order to help the patient.
Benefits of Homeopathy
Homeopathy is Safe
Homeopathic medicines are prepared from tiny amounts of proven healing substances derived mainly from plants, minerals and animals. They are given in very minute doses so that they are non-toxic, and are very safe. Unlike antibiotics and other medicines, homeopathic medicines will not hamper digestion; will not lower immune resistance; will not produce allergic reactions and are safe in the long term if taken as directed by a qualified homeopath.
Homeopathy is Effective and Fast Acting
Homeopathic medicine is fast acting, restoring optimal health. Homeopathic prescribing is effective in both acute and chronic conditions.
Homeopathy is a Scientific and Natural Medicine
Homeopathy is based on nature's principle of cure, namely Like Cures Like (The Law of Similars). Homeopathy has a long standing healing tradition and is now the most popular holistic therapy worldwide.
Homeopathy Helps Build Resistance and improve immunity.
Homeopathic treatments addresses disease at the root level, hence enhancing resistance to disease and improving immunity.
Homeopathy is for All Life's Stages
Homeopathic medicines are safe for everyone because there is no risk of toxicity or side-effects. Homeopathy is ideal for all life stages including pregnant and lactating
Homeopathy is for all disorder
Psychological, pathological, physiological thus has a clear cut advantage as compared to other systems of medicine
Homeopathy has detailed case taking
In today's conventional practice, the physician spends very little time with the patient. He may listen to what is wrong with you and just give some medication for that particular suffering only. But a Homeopath will inquire into the cause behind the trouble and go up to the root of the disease. For example: Your recurring headaches may be due to some other disorder in your body such as constipation or acidity or it may be due to stress. A homeopath will aim to remove the reason behind the headaches such as constipation, etc. or inquire patiently why are you stressed and show you the way out. Homeopathy has some fine drugs to remove the effects of stress and revitalize you so that you can win over the mental stress. Once the stress is overcome, your headaches will certainly disappear forever
Homeopathy safe, for pregnant women and babies.
Homeopathy has no drug dependency
Homeopathy for acutes
In acute conditions after administration of the medicine it will bring back the lost harmony in a rapid gentle way without producing any complications or side effects.
Homeopathy for Chronic diseases
In chronic diseases after the remedy is administered, it will act at a very deep level and will help the individual to fight the disease. We can get good results if the case is properly managed and if the patient commences homeopathic treatment at the onset of the sickness as it gives the original unmodified picture of his illness.
Homeopathy as a compliment medicine
Homeopathy can also be used as a compliment to conventional treatment. For example, in the case of severe asthma, it would not be safe to abruptly stop an allopathic medication. Often Homeopathy makes weaning off allopathic medicines possible.
Myths and Facts about Homeopathy
According to reports, number of people using Homeopathy is increasing year after year. Apart from the people regularly seeing homoeopaths as the first choice of doctor, or using Homeopathy as first line of therapy, and there are people who use Homeopathy only occasionally. Many more think to use Homeopathy. Many of them are reluctant because of certain unrealistic myths. Here we have tried to clear some of the myths surrounding Homeopathy explaining the facts behind them.
| Myths | Facts |
|---|---|
| Homeopathy is an unproven science. | Homeopathy is based on experimental pharmacological and clinical data. Over the years, homoeopathic medicines have been extensively studied for their efficacy in a variety of indications. Clinical studies have been conducted in India as well as other countries. |
| Homeopathy is slow acting and cannot be used in acute cases of diarrhoea, fever, cough, cold, etc. | Homeopathy is fast acting in acute cases and can be effectively used in treating infections, fever, cold etc. Unfortunately, people tend to go to a homoeopath only when the problem becomes chronic. Naturally, these cases take longer to treat. Also, most people take recourse in Homeopathy in cases of arthritis, allergic asthma or skin conditions etc., which take a longer time to treat with any other system. |
| One has to follow strict dietary restrictions while on homoeopathic treatment. | There are no major dietary restrictions with Homeopathy except those indicated due to the disease of the patient. |
| Homeopathy cannot be used in diabetic patients. | Homeopathy can definitely be used in diabetic patients. The minute amount of sugar globules (the little round pills) taken daily does not matter. Sugar intake in the daily diet is significantly higher than that taken by a few globules. In very severe cases, the dilution may be taken as drops in water or over lactose. |
| Homeopathy is simply herbal medicine. | Not really. Homeopathy is much more than herbal medicine. It has medicines sourced from herbs, minerals, chemicals, animal products, organisms, etc. And, very importantly, it is backed by a sophisticated method of medication, sound scientific principles and deep philosophy. |
| Homeopathy cures all diseases. | No system of medicine can cure all diseases. |
| Homeopathy is a placebo therapy. | Homeopathy is a proven therapy, used successfully for the last 200 years in over 170 countries; supported by scientific studies. It shows once ignorance if one believes that homeopathy is placebo. |
| Homeopathy increases the disease before curing. | Not really. Only some disease such as eczema might worsen, that too in less than 5% of cases if medicines are not professionally prescribed. The whole idea of the increase of disease before the cure is exaggerated. |
| Homeopathic medicines contain steroid or cortisone! | It is absurd to even think that homeopathy may contain cortisone or steroids. |
| Homeopathy is very slow. | Homeopathy is little slower than the conventional medicines; but not very slow. Since it deals with chronic and difficult diseases, the course of treatment may seem slow and long. |
| Homeopathic medicines cannot be taken with other conventional medicines. | Conventional medicines and homeopathic medicines can safely be taken together, with advantage, without any harm. |
| Homeopathy cures all diseases | Not always, to be honest. Homeopathy gives lasting results for sure. The word is theoretical, which cannot be promised for, in difficult disease. |
| Investigations such as x-ray, blood test, MRI, etc and diagnosis of the illness are not required for homeopathic treatment. | All sort of investigations and proper diagnosis are required and useful for better and effective homeopathic treatment. |
| Vitamins, iron-tonic, etc. should not be taken during homeopathic treatment. | Can be taken. Tonics and supplements are part of the homeopathic treatment! |
| Homeopathy is against surgery. | Not really. There are some pathological cases for which surgery is the only option. But there are some diseases like piles, fissure, tonsillitis, adenoids, etc where Homeopathy is of great help. |
Scope of Homeopathy
It is a common misconception that homeopathy can only treat chronic diseases and a few acute diseases, but the fact is that it has a much wider scope and has shown amazing results in the following cases as well. These include:
Incurable cases: Many diseases like psoriasis, vitiligo etc. which have been labeled incurable by other system of medicine have been wonderfully treated by Homeopathy.
Surgical cases: like BHP (benign hypertrophy of prostate, warts, corns, piles, renal stones, gall stones, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma in breast). Other system of medicine provide only surgical treatment for these cases but homeopathy can treat them solely by medicines.
Palliative role: In diseases which are truly incurable, homeopathic medicines can act as the best palliative if chosen according to the basic law of Homeopathy. In end stages of a disease homeopathic medicine are given in lower potencies and they help in alleviating the sufferings of the patient.
Preventive role: Homoeopathic medicines can be used for preventing (prophylactic) various diseases like whooping cough, measles, diphtheria, chicken pox, scarlet fever, rabies etc. It also acts as a great prophylactic during epidemics. Depending upon symptoms present in a group of people (living in the epidemic area), the homeopathic doctor selects a single medicine for all the people living in that area. This medicine is called as Genus Epidemicus.
Past history: Homoeopathic medicines can wonderfully remove the after effects of past illness for example a patient comes to the doctor and complains that he has been unwell since he had typhoid for years back.
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