Origin of Homeopathy
Homeopathy was developed at the beginning of the 19 th century by Samuel Hahnemann and it varies greatly to conventional scientific medicine. Homeopathy assumes that every human being has vital force with a specific dynamic and function. Illnesses emerge if this vital force is disrupted. With the help of homeopathic medicines, illnesses can be cured, in such a way that they stimulate the body to regulate its "out of tune" vital force. According to the homeopathy theory, the body of a sick patient receives an impulse, after the intake of the medication, which helps to mobilise the body's defences to target and fight specific symptoms.
Homeopathic Medicines
Medication used in homeopathy is tested on healthy people. The characteristic effect for each plant and each substance on the healthy body was recorded in a "Medical Tableau". The similarity rule (the simile principle) in homeopathy indicates that the medication can stimulate a similar ailment to that which it is meant to heal. Homeopathic practitioners chose medication according to this rule.
The extracts of plants and substances in homeopathy are used in a concentrated as well as an extremely diluted form. The dilution of the concentration does not influence the effectiveness of the medication. In fact in many cases in homeopathy it is the highly diluted form of medication which is regarded to be more effective than the concentrated medication.
Basic rules for applying homeopathic medication:
- As soon as the symptoms of the illness have clearly improved, the medication should no longer be taken.
- Homeopathic medication should be taken as often as necessary and as little as possible.
Dilution in Homeopathy
Diluted medication is marked with "D", "DH" or "X" if they are diluted at a ratio of 1:10 . In addition to this, 1 part of the primary substance is combined with 9 parts of the solvent. The first dilution is marked "D1", "DH1" or "X1". If the already diluted substance is again diluted with the same ratio then it is marked "D2", "DH2" of "X2". All medication marked up to "D6" is referred to as low potency, up to "D12" it is marked as medium potency and anything above "D12" is marked as high potency.
"C" or "CH" indicates that the dilution is at a ratio of 1:100. "LM" or "Q" means that it has been diluted 1 part to 50,000 parts.
The dilutions in homeopathy are often so intense that there is no trace of the active substance - from a chemical point of view - in the end product. However, the healing power in homeopathy is regarded as a type of information that can exist independently to the active substance.
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Three Homeopathic Schools
Three different schools have developed in homeopathy.
Classical homeopathy adheres to a large extent to the specified rules provided by Hahnemann. The scientific-critical homeopathy primarily treats diseased organs and uses less diluted medication (low potency). Complex homeopathy uses fixed combinations of multiple individual substances which are often available under the names of their indication.
Application and Risks of Homeopathy
Homeopathy is primarily used to treat so called civilisation illnesses. Scientific proof of the effectiveness of homeopathic medication has not been provided to this day. Nevertheless the positive reports from the practice of homeopathy are noteworthy.
Frequent applications for homeopathy include:
- Chronic illnesses
- Treating weak body defences
- Allergies
- Psychosomatic illnesses.
Homeopathic medication is not necessarily without risk and there are side effects. Medication ranging in the potency levels under "D8", which contain for e.g. arsenic, mercury or allergy releasing substances, can be relatively harmful.
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Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy
Everybody's guide to homeopathic medicines
The Complete Homeopathy Handbook : Safe and Effective Ways to Treat Fevers, Coughs, Colds and Sore Throats, Childhood Ailments, Food Poisoning, Flu, and a Wide Range of Everyday Complaints
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