Homeopathy

Homeopathy

Introduction

Homeopathy is a system of natural medicine introduced and developed by a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, at the end of the 18^th century. Recognizing that the whole person-mind, body, spirit-is affected when there is illness, homeopathy seeks to treat that whole person. The focus is not the diseased part or the sickness, rather the totality of the individual. Homeopathic medicines, or ‘remedies’, stimulate the body’s self-regulating mechanisms to initiate the healing process.

Definition

The theory or system of curing disease with very minute doses of medicine which in a healthy person and in large doses would produce a condition like that of the disease treated.

Homoios - like (or) similar.

pathos - feeling, suffering.

Law of similars which is the natural law of healing, diseases are heated by medicines, which are capable of producing in healthy persons, symptoms similar to those of the disease which it can heat in a sick person. - Webster’s Dictionary

Origin of Homeopathy

The credit of deriving an entire system of therapeutics from this principle goes to the German Physician Christian Friedrich Samuel Hanemann in 1796 is based on his doctrine of like cures like, a claim that a substance that causes the symptom of a disease in

Founder - Samuel Hahnemann

Year - 1796

Healthy People would cure similar symptoms in sick people.

Homeopathy is a pseudo science-A belief that is correctly presented as a scientific

It claims “Like cures like” dilution increases potency”.

Homeopathy claims that Hippocrates may have originated homeopathy around 400B.C. When he prescribed a small dose of mandeake root to treat malaria.

In 16^th century - Paracelsus declares that small dose of “what makes a man ill also cures him”.

Concepts and Principle Of Homeopathy

Law of Similars

The law of similars is an ancient medical maxim, but its modern form is based on Hahnemann’s conclusion that vast set of symptoms produced by any substance on a group of healthy individuals can be cured in a sick person by application of same substance as per homeopathic principles.

Ex: Preparation of Red onion - Allium ceper

According to the principle of homeopathy a person suffering from similar watering and burning of eyes and nose frequently seen with common cold can be treated by Allium cepa.

The cornerstone principle is Similia Similbus Curentur, “Let likes cure likes”

Single simple remedy:- Homeopathic medicines are usually administered ideally in single, simple and unadulterated form.

Minimum dose:- The homoepathic medicine selected for a sick person is prescribed in minimum dose, so that when administered there is no toxic effect in the body.

The Potentized Remedy:- Homeopathic remedies, though made from natural substances such as plants, minerals, animals, etc., are manufactured unlike any other medicine

Potentiation

The most characteristic and unique principle of Homeopathy is “Drug Dynamization” or potentiation. The crude drug substance is diluted and triturated or successed to increase its potency, only the medicinal power of the substance is retained and drug related side effects are eliminated.

The potentized medicine act as a triggering or a catalytic agents to stimulate and strengthen the defense mechanism of the body.

Vital force which regulates all the function of the body and maintain life.

Miasms

The word miasm comes from Greek work miasma which means taint, stain, pollution.

Each miasm is seen as the root cause for several diseases, which are chronic in nature. Miasms are either inherited at birth or acquired from environment during life time.

Three Levels of Home opathic Therapy

·           First Aid

Homeopathy can be used in first aid to safely treat common ailments and occurrences, such as sprains and bruises, minor burns, skin irritations and reactions (including poison ivy, diaper rash and insect bites), teething pain, etc.

·           Acute Homeopathy

Acute health problems are those in which the symptoms will eventually go away on their own. They are temporary conditions, such as colds, flu, coughs, sprains, etc. A homeopathic remedy can be useful and attractive because it is safe, gentle and has no harmful side effects. Homeopathy can also be used to assist sensitive conditions such as pregnancy.

·           Constitutional Homeopathy

Constitutional homeopathy refers to the treatment of a person as a whole, including past and present symptoms. When accurately implemented, homeopathic constitutional care can elicit a profound healing response. Homeopathy can be extremely effective in treating chronic and long-term health problems. Recurrent ear infections can be treated with a homeopathic remedy for a longer period of time to strengthen the body’s immune system and to prevent future occurrences.

Holistic and Individual Approach

Homeopathic approach is holistic as well as individualistic.

Such a variation of symptoms is found in respect of location of symptoms, their sensation, character, physical and mental attributes of the patients/ Scope and limitations:

·           Complains during pregnancy, labour and puerperium.

·           Common problems of children, acute or chronic which are not life threatening.

·           Homeopathy can enhance the healing process and reduce the recovery period.

·           Homeopathy can provide corollary assisstance, improve quality of life and act.

Obesity

Simple equation….. when you eat more than you use… it is stored in your body as “fat”

Advantages:-

·           Basically Homeopathy is considered to be one of the safest forms of treatment.

·           It improves the body’s own healing power to be able to fight disease.

·           These medicines do not have any side effects.

·           These medicines are based on natural ingredients.

·           It is very easy to use eg. Tiny sugar pills. It does not involve large expenditures.

Scopes of Alternative Medicine

·           Areas of study in an alternative medicine doctoral program include

§   Acupuncture

§   Oriental medicine

§   Homeopathy

·           Students in doctoral program such as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine[N.D or N.M.D) gain the opportunity to improve their holistic skills and assist patient in private practices.

·           Education  in  this  field  varies from certification courses to Ph.D depending on which specialization on alternative medicine practitioner chooses.

·           Alternative medicine is the perfect field for those hoping to help heal people with traditional methods.