A Spotlight on Homeopathy
By Deborah Olenev,C.C.H.
The original idea of homeopathy, which is curing
with similars, dates back to Hippocrates in the fourth century
B.C. He believed there were two possible ways to cure people,
by contraries or by similars. "Allopathy" has followed
the way of the contraries through the centuries, while "homeopathy"
has championed treating with similars.
In the latter part of the eighteenth century
Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician founded and elaborated a
therapeutic science based on curing with similars. He discovered
that a medicine that could produce a particular disease scenario
during provings on healthy people, would cure those same symptoms
when found in the sick.
Hahnemann and his colleagues tested hundreds
of animal, mineral and vegetable substances on themselves to learn
about their properties by this direct method. They handed their
findings down to their followers, along with principles and laws
on how to make the healing process rational, safe and effective.
These principles are the cornerstones of homeopathy.
- The remedy should be selected on the basis
of symptom similarity.
- Only one medicinal substance should be used
at a time.
- The remedy should only be repeated when the
previous dose has exhausted its action, evident by a relapse
of the symptoms.
- The smallest possible dose of the medicine
should be used to stimulate a vital response.
- As the patient's health improves symptoms
should travel from above downward, from more important organs
to less important organs, from inside out, and leave in the reverse
order of their appearance.
Homeopathy can benefit people of all ages,
and treat the full range of human disease conditions. The principles
behind this marvelous therapeutic art are very beautiful, because
they take the gamble out of medicine and bring in law and order,
safety and reliability.
In a Perfect World What Would Medicine
Be Like?
- Medicine would act promptly to relieve suffering,
taste sweet and dissolve in the mouth.
- Practitioners would look at all aspects of
the individual to derive insights into the causes of the current
illness, and the best way to treat the whole person.
- Its forté would be chronic conditions,
where it would reverse the progress of the disease and restore
the patient to health.
- Acute diseases would yield quickly to well-selected
medicines.
- The medicine would correct functional disturbances
before signs of disease had an opportunity to develop.
- The remedies would assist people with their
development and spiritual growth by improving mental and emotional
health.
We do not live in a perfect would, but we are
lucky enough to have homeopathy, a therapeutic science with all
of these qualities and more, to make the world a better place
by improving the health of the people in it.
What Happens at the Homeopathic Consultation?
- The homeopath asks for a detailed description
of the physical symptoms starting with when they were first noticed
and what makes them better or worse.
- She asks about the client's personal history
to get an understanding of what influences may have played a
part in bringing about the current state of health.
- The homeopath gathers information about the
health of family members and ancestors to see what genetic factors
could be contributing to the health problems.
- In order to understand the mental and emotional
state, the homeopath inquires about fears, anxieties, moods and
dreams.
- The homeopath looks to see if there are any
obstacles to cure that need to be removed or minimized such as
addictive behaviors, imbalances in the use of time, unhealthy
mental processes, or dissatisfaction with work or relationships.
- She asks about food preferences, responses
to the weather, energy patterns, sleep behavior and more, in
order to match the symptoms of the client with the similar homeopathic
remedy that will initiate the healing process.
The client is encouraged to take an active
role in the healing work by making wiser life style choices, practicing
meditation, and using the mind and body in healthier ways.
The Types of Conditions Homeopathy
Can Treat
Homeopathy is a comprehensive pharmaceutical
science with a materia medica regulated by the F.D.A. Here is
a list of the most commonly encountered illnesses treatable with
classical homeopathy.
- Skin conditions, colds, flus and other infections
- Seasonal, environmental and food allergies
- Musculo-skeletal problems
- Digestive ailments
- Pains and aches of all kinds
- Respiratory problems
- Sleep disorders
- Chronic diseases of all types
- Effects of trauma and surgery
- Symptoms at menopause
- Painful periods and P.M.S.
- Morning sickness of pregnancy
- Sexually transmitted diseases
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- Depression
- Fears
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Shyness and lack of self-confidence
- Grief and disappointments in love
- Ailments from abuse
- Suppressed anger
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- Memory loss
- Learning disabilities
- Problems with concentration
- Behavioral problems
- Mental confusion
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
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Click here to see A
Chart Contrasting Allopathy with Homeopathy