Homeopathy, a term derived from the Greek meaning “similar suffering”, is a scientific and holistic form of alternative medicine. Though the principles of homeopathy were first discussed by Hippocrates in the 4th century B.C., homeopathy as we now understand it is largely the work of an 18th century German physician named Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann was concerned that the practice of medicine he had been taught often did more harm than good with his patients, an issue that is still relevant today.
After years of study, Hahnemann presented a new approach to healing known as the doctrine of “like cures like.” His discoveries suggested that a substance causing the symptoms of disease in healthy people will, when highly diluted, cure similar symptoms in the sick. For instance, if arsenic poisoning causes headaches, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain, then use of the arsenicum substance could be used to stimulate relief and healing from food poisoning with the same symptoms. Hahnemann's discovery revealed a form of medicine that could facilitate health like the well-respected herbal medicines, but without toxic side-effects present in many herbs. Homeopathic medicines, known as remedies, are FDA-approved ultra-diluted natural substances that work in the deep recesses of the body to stimulate self-healing. Unlike herbs that are slower-acting (on account of the need for digestion), or prescription medications that seek only to minimize symptoms (and often have harsh side-effects), homeopathic remedies are completely safe, fast-acting, non-addictive, non-toxic and produce NO side-effects. Remedies are processed following a specific method unique to homeopathy. They are labeled by a number (6X or 30C, etc.) using the Roman numeral to suggest the amount of dilution. For instance, a 6X remedy means that one (1) part of the original substance has been diluted in nine (9) parts water, six (6) times (1 x 10^6). One drop of the final solution is then placed on a sucrose or lactose pellet (which itself may have already been ground up and combined with indissoluble particles of the substance) for ease of use and preservation. Scientists refer to some homeopathic remedies as being diluted "beyond Avogadro’s number". This means that they have been so diluted that the final concentration contains none of the molecules of the original substance (*see bottom note). Though currently unexplainable, these remedies continue to be the fastest and most effective available. Remedies themselves don’t provide healing, rather they facilitate healing by sending a message to the brain, directing it to stimulate the body to heal in a specific way (similar to the brain’s use of the nervous system to send and receive messages). By naturally activating the body’s own abilities to heal (self-restoration), it consequently inspires a deep and permanent level of healing. Better yet, it’s safe for use with infants, children, adults, and animals. Homeopathic remedies are easy to obtain and can be safely used by anyone to facilitate healing. However, as there are more than 2000 remedies currently in use, many health situations require the use of a trained homeopath to best match the appropriate remedy to the patient. Using the proper remedy facilitates the most efficient results, promoting better healing and vitality. The highlight of homeopathy is that it works to facilitate healing physically, mentally, and emotionally all at the same time. There truly is no other form of alternative medicine as holistic as homeopathy because it seeks to heal the whole person on an individual basis. No wonder it’s the second most commonly prescribed form of medical treatment worldwide* (as of 2001), and is gaining popularity. It remains an utterly life changing approach to maintaining health and wellness on our journey to vitality. *Note on Avogadro’s number: Recently in 2010, scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology have utilized Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction by Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), and chemical analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) to prove the presence of physical entities in these extreme dilutions in the form of nanoparticles of the starting metals and their aggregates. You can read this report here.
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*In our discussion of homeopathy it’s valuable to address the US medical community’s controversial pronouncement of homeopathy’s healing abilities as bogus, quack and otherwise ineffective. For someone just introduced to homeopathy, who may wonder at the opinions espoused by the medical community, the best advice I have is this: try it for yourself, or use the educated guidance of a trained homeopath. Our families were largely skeptical of homeopathy when first introduced to it. However, after some novice personal experimentation we were baffled at the results. As we await technology’s advancement such that we can scientifically track the healing nature of a remedy, use the basic litmus test available to you: personal experience. Give homeopathy a try and discover just how life-changing it can be.