WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?
The word ‘homeopathy’ comes from two Greek words, ‘homeoios’ and ‘pathos’ meaning ‘similar symptoms’. Homeopathy basically is the medical practice of treating like with like. It is safe and gentle and works by stimulating the body’s immune system to re-establish health and well – being.
The modern practice of homeopathy is based on the work of Dr Samuel Hahnemann. Two hundred years ago Dr Hahnemann was working on a translation of a German medical book when he discovered accounts suggesting that the bark of the Cinchona tree would give a healthy person the symptoms of malaria. This intrigued him because he knew that this particular bark had long been used as a ‘natural’ cure for malaria so he started to conduct his own experiments. He found that by diluting the bark he could treat people suffering from that same disease. The success of the treatment encouraged him to test many more natural substances, which form the basis of the remedies which we use today. Homeopathy is not the same as herbalism, although it does use many of the same sources. Hahnemann’s work showed that diluting and succussing (shaking vigorously) the remedy minimised the unpleasant side effects, and greatly increased its healing properties.
Homeopathy is used all over the world with great success- indeed it is recognised by the WHO as the second most widely used form of medicine worldwide after Chinese Herbal medicine. Our own royal family has used it since Queen Victoria’s time and the Duke of Gloucester is Patron of the Homeopathic Trust for Research and Education. There are five homeopathic hospitals in the UK including ones in London, Glasgow and Liverpool.
How homeopathy is believed to work.
Homeopaths see the symptoms of disease as positive signs that the body is trying to heal itself and should therefore not be suppressed (as western medicine does). The remedies stimulate and support the body’s healing process. Homeopathy is based on three principles:-
the law of similars. This idea goes back to the ancient Greeks and states that like cures like -
a substance which would produce similar symptoms to the disease in large doses can cure the disease in tiny ones.
the minimum dose. This states that continued dilutions of the remedy increase its curative power and prevent side effects.
treating the whole person. Two people with the ‘same’ cold will have different symptoms. Therefore homeopaths do not treat any two people the same. Each remedy is chosen to treat you as an individual.
Gandi said, "Homeopathy .... cures a larger percentage of cases than any other method of treatment and is beyond doubt safer and more economical and most complete medical science."
"The Homeopathic Revolution" by Dana Ullman (2007) p202
