What is Homoeopathy?
Homeopathy is a medical system that embraces the holistic, natural approach to treating illnesses. It aims to treat the person by stimulating his or her body's healing ability. The holistic nature of homeopathy centres on the concept of treating each person as a unique individual and considering their body, mind, spirit and emotions in the management and prevention of the disease. Considering these factors, the homeopath selects the most appropriate medicine based on the root cause of the person's presenting problem.
How Does Homoeopathy Work?
Similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), homeopathy is a holistic method of treatment. It is based on the belief that "like cures like", which is meant to trigger the natural defenses of the body.
Homeopaths use small amounts of natural substances, such as plants and minerals, to stimulate the healing process. They believe that the lower the dose of the medicine, the more powerful it can become in treating diseases. As a matter of fact, several remedies no longer contain any molecules of the original substance.
The formulation of homeopathic remedies is based on three principles:
- Like cures like (Law of Similars) - the substances that produce the symptoms of a disease in a healthy person are the same substances that can cure the same symptoms exhibited by a sick person.
- The more dilute the remedy, the greater its potency (Law of the Infinitesimal Dose) - Homeopathic remedies are usually prepared through a process called potentization, which dilutes the ingredients with pure water or alcohol by succussing or vigorous shaking. The more diluted the remedy gets, the more potent it becomes.
- An illness is specific to the individual (a holistic medical model)
What are the Benefits of Homoeopathy?
Homoeopathy has been proven effective in the treatment of a wide range of physical, mental and emotional conditions. Although critics would attribute its efficacy to the placebo effect, people who have experienced it firsthand think otherwise. The lives that have been improved by homoeopathic remedies attest the effectiveness of the modality as a safe and natural treatment for different health problems, including:
- Bruises
- Scrapes
- Toothaches
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Coughs
- Colds
- Acne
- Warts and other skin conditions
- Chronic pain
- Allergies
- Migraines
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Menopausal symptoms
What Can You Expect From Homoeopathy?
During your appointment with a homeopath, he or she will ask a series of questions regarding your mental, emotional and physical health, even going back as far as 10 years. Your diet, lifestyle choices and family history will also be taken into account as many diseases originate from a person's genetic background.
After analysing the information you provided, the homeopath will select the appropriate remedy to prescribe for your presenting symptoms and provide instructions regarding its administration and dosage. Then, this will be followed by a custom treatment plan tailored to your needs.
A homoeopathic consultation usually lasts an hour to an hour and a half. Many practitioners offer face-to-face consultations as well as telemedicine to reach more patients, especially those who live in remote areas and have no access to a qualified homeopath. After your initial consultation, the practitioner may require two or more follow-up checkups, depending on the issue that you're working to resolve.
Is Homoeopathy Safe?
As the substances used in homoeopathic remedies are diluted many times to become more potent, there isn't any active substance left to cause serious side effects. In fact, scientific reports show that homoeopathic treatments aren't only safe for all ages but also produce better patient outcomes when used alongside conventional medicine.
