LIKE CURES LIKE
The word “homeopathy” explains a lot about this safe and effective form
of medicine. “Homeo” means “like” and
“pathy” means disease. In other words any substance
which creates certain symptoms when taken repeatedly by a healthy
person, can cure those same symptoms when given in very small
doses.
Lets take some everyday examples. A sensitive person who drinks a
few cups of coffee will become nervous, hyped up and sleepless.
Therefore a homeopathic remedy made from coffee, called "Coffea" is
effective in cases of
insomnia with nervousness and increased mental activity. While
cutting an onion a
person may experience watering of eyes and nose, similar to
the symptoms of a common cold. Therefore, "Allium Cepa"
(made
from onion) is one of the medicines used in homeopathy in the treatment
of colds which have sore and
streaming eyes and runny nose.
HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINES ARE 'POTENTIZED'
Over
200 years ago Dr. Samuel Hahnemann announced the law of "like cures
like" described above. Additionally he found that by
diluting and 'succussing' a substance its healing effects were enhanced
rather than
lessened. 'Succussing' is a special method of shaking,
and medicines which have been prepared this way are called
'potentized' medicines.
This
explains why Homeopathic medicines each have a
number after the name, which signifies how many times they have been
'potentized'. For example Nux Vomica 30c has been diluted
and succussed 30 times. It is suggested that the more diluted or higher
potencies of medicinal substances are like vapours which can penetrate
and affect the subtle energies of body and mind. The understanding of
the action of homeopathic medicines may be more easily understood by
reading the section about acupuncture and the various manifestations of
energy or Qi (Chi) in the body.
MEDICINES HAVE BEEN TESTED AND ‘PROVED’ ON HUMAN BEINGS
Homeopathic medicines are made from substances from all kingdoms of nature -
mineral, plant, animal and gaseous. They each have unique mental,
emotional and physical ‘pictures’, which have been discovered over the
last two hundred years, through trials and practice by many thousands
of doctors.
When
Hahnemann and his followers tested substances in small and
repeated doses on groups of volunteers they carefully recorded all
mental, emotional and physical
symptoms which appeared.
THE RIGHT MEDICINE IS LIKE THE CORRECT KEY WHICH OPENS A DOOR.
Many
commonly used homeopathic medicines have ‘mental’, ‘emotional’ and
physical 'pictures’.
The homeopath 'matches up' the medicine with the patient and their
symptoms. The correctly 'matched' medicine is like a key which unlocks
the healing mechanism within the mind and body in a very powerful way.
The healing is done by the intelligent 'Life-Force' or 'Vital Force'
within the body and not by the medicine. The basis of Chinese Medicine is in some ways very similar to Homeopathy as they both treat and direct the Vital Force. However Chinese Medicine calls it "Chi" and directs it by the use of needles and specific herbal formulae.
Lets
look at the 'picture' of the remedy Nux
Vomica. This medicine is described as being appropriate for ambitious
and hardworking perfectionists who become irritated and impatient
with inefficiency and disorder. They may suffer from such complaints as
headaches, insomnia, cramps in the legs or feet, and digestive
complaints,
including liverishness and heartburn. Their digestive complaints
or headaches are often worse from rich or spicy foods and
alcohol.
If Nux Vomica is given to a person matching the
above symptoms he or she will become less irritable, more relaxed and
their liver and digestion will also improve. Both body and mind will
become healthier.
HOMEOPATHS
ASK PATIENTS MANY QUESTIONS
During
the homeopathic interview or in a homeopathic questionnaire the patient
may be asked many questions about body and mind to find the best
matching medicine which is called 'the simillimum'. In some
cases where there is an outside cause, like back pain from lifting, or
viral influenza, not much information is required about the mind and
emotions. But in the treatment of chronic disease and symptoms which
relate to the individual constitution of the patient then more detail is
required.
From a homeopathic point of view, each person is unique and each case of disease is unique and
it is this unique and individual picture which the homeopath tries to understand through detailed inquiry.
For example one case of arthritis will be different from another. One person with arthritis
may be worse when it rains and better in hot dry weather, worse on
waking and better from moving about. They could benefit from Rhus Tox.
Another might be worse in
hot weather, better in cold and worse from motion. Rhus Tox would not work in such a case, whereas Bryonia probably would.
HOMEOPATHY TREATS MANY COMPLAINTS OF BODY AND MIND
Many
diseases are helped and cured with homeopathy, even those pronounced as
'incurable' by conventional medicine. The following are examples:
anxiety, irritability, depression, pms, menopause, headaches, hayfever,
sinusitis, asthma, eczema, arthritis, irritable bowel,
insomnia, constipation, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, candida
etc.
TAKING THE MEDICINES
Homeopathy is great medicine for people of all ages because it acts
very gently yet powerfully and also tastes good. Children love
homeopathic medicines because they are often given in the form of
impregnated sugar pills, like little sweets.
Homeopathic
medicines may be given in the form of drops, powders or pillules
which are sucked not swallowed as the medicinal substance is absorbed
through the blood vessels in the mouth not in the stomach.
They are not to be taken within 10 minutes of eating or drinking and best taken on a relatively empty stomach.
SUMMARY OF PRINCIPLES OF HOMEOPATHY
The main principles of Homeopathy are:
- “Like
cures like”. A substance having the power to produce a symptom
picture (eg. onion and tears), will cure a diseased person presenting with the same symptom picture.
-
When substances are diluted, they are able to penetrate into deeper
levels within body and mind and their therapeutic powers become
intensified.
-
Homeopaths treat 'the person' and their 'individual symptom pattern' and not the disease.
- It
is not the medicine which
does the healing. It is the intelligent 'vital force' which acts and
heals dis-ease in response to stimulation by the appropriate
homeopathic medicine.
- Healing
takes place from within outwards. Improvement in energy and an
increased sense of mental and emotional wellbeing often are the first
thing to occur before physical symptoms improve. Sometimes
for a
brief period (perhaps a few days) symptoms may get worse. This is
usually a good sign that the body has been activated to 'throw off' its
disease.
Q&A on Homeopathic Treatment...
