What is homeopathy?

What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a mind-body approach to health that has its hypothesis in the work of Hypocrites, and Paracelsus among others who recognized that a substance that can cause symptoms in a healthy person can also stimulate the immune system to produce the same symptoms to balance itself (or “like cures like.”) Modern homeopathy was developed as a system of wellness by the German physician Samuel Hahneman in the late 1700s. The word homeopathy translates to “similar suffering,” which means it works through matching an individual’s symptoms to a similar “remedy symptom picture.”

THE REMEDIES

Dr. Hahneman also realized that all matter contains a unique vital energy and developed a method of capturing that energy through dilution and shaking. Most remedies are derived from the mineral and plant kingdoms, with a few from the animal kingdom. Homeopathic remedies are FDA approved, prepared in FDA inspected sterile facilities, and listed in the HPUS, (the homeopathic equivalent of the USP.)

The remedy doesn't actually DO anything, but stimulate/allow the immune system, evan "jump-starting" it at times. A central theme important for clients to understand is that homeopathy works by supporting the immune system.

HOW DISEASE DEVELOPES

Traumatic events, both physical and emotional, create blocked energy which carries the body's life force. The blocked vital life force enters into a dis-eased state and conveys its stress by producing symptoms. Symptoms are the immune system’s way of attempting to rebalance itself (i.e., fevers burn away viruses) as well as a 'language' of the body. The homeopaths job is to understand this lanquage and to match symptoms with a remedy “picture.” The remedy’s refined and potentized energy then stimulates the immune system to address the same disease symptoms in the client and (in effect) cancel them out (instead of suppressing them.)

CONSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT

Homeopaths believe that different constitutions are prone to particular diseases and that the unique characteristics particular to a constitution determine the direction in which illness will progress. The concept of constitution addresses all the mental, emotional and physical characteristics of a person that makes that person unique. Homeopathy is a holistic modality as the skill of the homeopath includes an understanding of the patterns of the entire individual.

THE HOMEOPATHIC INTERVEIW

In order to accurately understand the client’s symptom picture the homeopath asks many questions, taking careful notes, of physical, mental and emotional symptoms, medical history and genetics.

While taking a case history the homeopath records a precise timeline that includes everything that has made a recognizable impact: illnesses, accidents, big events, vaccinations, medications, emotions, changes, anything. This is detective work as many of these events have been long forgotten. Clues to the individual case are in the “most characteristic” symptoms, the details. For instance, is the pain shooting? Descending? A dull ache? Does it feel like being stuck with a splinter? Splinter-like pains are specific enough to indicate a few remedies that include this specific characteristic symptom. A homeopath will then use physical generalities, called particulars (chilly or warm-blooded, thirsty or not, desire or aversion to oysters) to confirm the remedy choice.

RESTORING VITALITY

It may take many years for illness to develop, usually a result of layer upon layer of symptoms that have been either ignored or suppressed. Visits to remove these layers may last a year or two with follow ups as required, usually every six weeks. The layers of dis-ease are removed as an onion is peeled - the most recent layer removed first and so on. At each stage the carefully selected remedy should match the totality of symptoms of the client. To reach optimum health and vitality the most important prerequisite for both homeopath and client, is patience.

THE SOONER THE BETTER

Disease, or stress that bears destructive influence, may reside in a state of dormancy until a set of conditions incites its actualization. For instance, four people are exposed to freezing cold temperatures, one of them dies of hypothermia, one comes down with pneumonia, one catches cold, and one remains healthy. Why? Because some had a predisposition, or a weakness, in their vital force that predisposed them to react the way they did - they had a tendency to the disease BEFORE the disease developed. Homeopathy can aid your constitution by addressing/fixing any vulnerability so that you do not get sick.

Many people wait till they are ill and after traditional medicine has not worked to turn to homeopathy. While homeopathy can help and even eliminate many conditions, balancing is easier even before illness begins, or as soon as possible. Why wait until an imbalance in your body creates active pathology? You do not need to have developed illness to benefit. Homeopathy can be used to STAY HEALTHY.

LIGHT-YEARS AHEAD

Although its reintroduction continues to be hindered in the United States (due to opposition to “alternative” medicine), homeopathy is practiced all over the world. For instance, it blessed Mother Teresa with her miracles. The Royal family of Britain also uses homeopathy (the reason they live such long, strong, vital lives.)

Treatment ends up being less expensive than $15 insurance “co-pays” (for treatments that only suppress symptoms which often complicates and causes illnesses to become chronic.) And as homeopathic remedies are made from natural substances and are used in the minimum dose, they are very inexpensive.

The highest goal of homeopathy is to maintain health or to restore it rapidly, gently and permanently, in the most gental way. As a powerful and far-reaching modality, fully capable of reaching into emotional and spiritual disturbance along with physical ills, the ideal of homeopathy is to facilitate living to the fullness of our promise.

Please contact me if you have further questions.