Introduction to homeopathy

Homoeopathy is the school of medicine founded two hundred years ago with the philosophy "like cures likes". It treats the whole person rather the disease, recognizing body,mind,and spirit all as equally important factors in healing. The medicines of homeopathy, obtained from plants animals and minerals, are designed to prompt a person's body to heal itself by stimulating the vital force. Homoeopathic remedies are remarkably free of side effects of any kind, and they are among the safest preparations known to medical science.

Theory of homoeopathy

Homoeopathic remedies, created form all natural substances, contain no synthetic drugs. The intent of homeopathy is to stimulate the body's vital force. Only the tiniest trace amount of an original substance is required to do this, so homeopathic remedies are highly diluted. It is the dilution of the remedy that gives its potency, so that the more-diluted solution is stronger than a less diluted solution. Potencies are usually labeled with either X or C depending whether the dilution is by 10's or 100's. Some very strong remedies may have higher potencies such as M, for dilution by 1000's. The Law of Similar: "Similibus Curator", let likes is cured with likes. Any substance that can cause symptoms when given to healthy people can help those who are experiencing similar symptoms.

Use and Application

Determining which remedy to take is the most difficult part of homeopathy. For acute, short-term situations, it is often practical to use three or four different remedies that all match the symptoms fairly well. For chronic conditions, only one remedy should be used at a time, so any success can be positively identified with the remedy that has been given. Choosing the correct potency is the next step. While there is no exact determiner for potency, in general higher potencies should be used for more severe conditions. A mild bruise or pain might require only a 6X potency, whereas a severe condition might warrant something higher like 30C, or 200C. Homeopathic remedies are unlike other medications in that the dosage amount is not a factor in the effects of the remedy. As homoeopathic remedies are absorbed into the body through mucus membranes, proper dosage is only that which is large enough to ensure that sufficient contact is made with the mucus membrane. The easiest means of ensuring this is placing a few tablets or pellets under the tongue and holding them until absorbed. Children and infants should have slightly reduced dosages.

Acute/Chronic Disease

An acute illness is one that is self-limiting. The individual with acute illness will either recover and regain health or will die. A chronic disease is one that causes the individual limitations, but neither kills nor completely goes away. A cold is considered an acute illness and allergies are considered to be chronic disorder. An ankle sprain is an acute problem; arthritis is a chronic disorder.

Health:

"Homeopaths define health as a state of freedom. A healthy person experiences physical vitality and freedom from physiological malfunction, emotional peace and freedom of expression and mental clarity with creativity. The most serious symptoms affect the deeper, more vital parts of the person. Evaluation of our overall state of health, according to the homeopath, depends more on our mental state, next our emotional state, and third on our physical state."

Vital Force:

"The concept of the vital force, and age-old belief in the body's guiding intelligence, instills an attitude of humility in the homeopathic physician. We accept the fact that we cannot comprehend all the marvelous and complex workings of the body and aim to assist it as best we can." (Panos) The vital force is that part of us that seeks and promotes life and health. I t includes our resistance to illness, and our ability to heal when we are ill. Some people think of it as our energy level. It is not something we have the tools to measure yet. Good homeopathic treatment seems to enhance an individual's vital force or immune system.

Herring's Law:

Constantine Herring, a German homeopath who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1830's, observed that the healing occurs in a consistent pattern. He described this pattern which homeopath's can use to recognize that healing is occurring. This pattern can be recognized by acupuncturists for hundreds of years and is also used by practioners of herbalism and other healing disciplines. According to the first part of Herring's law, healing progresses from the deepest part of the organism-the mental and emotional levels and the vital organs- to the external parts, such as the skin and extremities." "Herrings second part states that, as healing progresses, the symptoms appear and disappear in the reverse of their original chorological order of appearance. Homeopaths have consistently observed that their patients reexperience symptoms from past conditions. According to Herring the third part, healing progresses from the upper to the lower parts of the body. For instance, a person is considered to be on the mend if the arthritic pain in his neck has decreased although he now has pain in his finger joints." We heal in the reverse order we become dis-eased.