What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is an alternative system of medicine founded by Dr.Hahnemann in 1796
based on principal of treating likes with likes. "Homeo" means similar "pathy" means
suffering i.e the remedy applied to cure a disease condition should be able to
produce similar disease in a healthy person. System of Vaccination is the closest
example to understand How Homeopathy Works.
Principals of Homeopathy --
Homeopathy has three basic principals ---
1. The law of similars - It states that a disease is cured by a medicine which creates
symptoms in a healthy person, similar to those the patient is suffering from. Better the
match between drug symptoms and patient symptoms - faster the recovery.
2. The law of single medicine - Homeopathy advocates use of single remedy at a time
which covers most of the symptoms in a patient. The present combination medicines
(containing 4,5 or more remedies) are totally against this principle. While one of the
remedies in the combination works to improve the condition of the patient the rest of
remedies creates a complex artificial disease which may be difficult to understand
even by an experienced Homeopath.
3. The law of minimum dose - Is applicable to the quantity and repetition of
Homeopathic remedies which is based on the disease conditions/stage. Each remedy
has a duration of action based on which a Homeopath repeats the medicine. Too much
repetition of a remedy my create an unwanted aggravation.
How does Homeopathy Work?
Homeopathic remedies creates an artificial disease in a patient which is similar to the
existing disease. The defence mechanism of patient's body now sees a bigger threat
to health and fights back more vigorously. As the effect of Homeopathic remedy wears
out the disease force is easily overcome by the increased auto defence mechanism
of the Patient. Thus Homeopathy while curing the disease increases immunity which
helps a person to fight minor ailments more effectively.
What your Homeopathic Doctor need to know?
In order to find the right remedy for you as an individual, your Homeopath needs all
your present symptoms/ conditions, medications you are taking, family/ occupational
history, past ailments, emotional/drug problems. Anything you say will be treated in the
strictest confidence and will help you recover to a healthy state much faster. For a
Homeopath the most important thing to start the treatment and complete the cure is to
get the complete symptom detail of the patient & follow the principles of Homeopathy.
What will the Homeopathic Treatment be like?
You will get a homeopathic remedy usually in form of sugar pills, tablets or powder
most of the time which is to be taken on the tongue and allowed to dissolve. You
should not eat or drink anything for 10 minutes before and after taking medicine.
During Homeopathic treatment you have to stop using coffee and vinegar as these
will antidote the effect of medication. Homeopathic remedies should be stored in cool
dark place away from strong smell. Do not touch the medicine. If you are travelling try
to avoid putting the remedies in the X-ray scanner as it alters the medicinal properties.
What will happen once treatment starts?
After taking your remedy you may notice some changes. Some patients show a rapid
recovery. Sometimes your symptoms can appear to get worst for a short time usually at
the beginning of the treatment. This is a good sign and shows that the remedy is taking
effect. Old symptoms can reappear one after another in chronic cases for a short period.
These symptoms will pass and must not be treated as they are very important part of
healing process. If any response to your treatment concerns you, do contact your
Homeopath. You must make notes of any changes so that you remember to discuss at
your next appointment.
How long does treatment take?
This depends very much on what sort of illness you have, as well as other contributing
factors you have. So it is not realistic for your Homeopath to assess this until it can be
seen how you respond to the remedies prescribed over some time. It is possible to say
that chronic complaints that has been experienced over several years will not
disappear immediately although there may be an improvement quite soon. Other acute
symptoms my get better more quickly.
Homeopathy cures from inside and often old symptoms get cured in the end. Be Patient,
in long term it is much better for you to get cured and increase your immunity rather
than merely relieving or suppressing the symptoms. Remember that every case is
different and no two patients are alike.
There is no shortcut for curing chronic diseases. If there was one,
the diseases would not have become chronic in the first place.
--Singh S.P.