What is Homeopathic Medicine?
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Homeopathic Medicine is "the practice of medicine that embraces a holistic, natural approach to the treatment of the sick", according to the American Institute of Homeopathy. The person is treated as a whole, rather than a diseased part of a labeled sickness. Homeopathy is a natural alternative because its remedies are from natural sources, such as vegetables, minerals, or animals in nature.
The First Principle: Let Likes Cure Likes
According to the American Institute of Homeopathy," The guiding principle of Homeopathy is stated as “let likes cure likes,” similia similibus curentur." The concept of "like curing like" dates back to the Greek Father of Medicine, Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.). However, German physician Dr. C.F. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) who first arranged this principle into a system of medicine. Dr. Hahnemann began doing experiments on himself and then used healthy volunteers to administer medical substances. According to the American Institute of Homeopathy, "symptoms that developed in the volunteers while taking a specific substance gave the homeopathic "picture" of, and indications for, that remedy". Over 2,000 substances have been derived from toxicological data, clinical experience, and the homeopathic drug pictures.
A comprehensive interview of the patient, called the homeopathic case-taking, is used to reveal the "physical, psychological and emotional characteristics and complaints of that individual", according to American Institute of Homeopathy. The homeopathic practitioner finds the homeopathic remedy whose materia medica (drug picture) is the most similar to that of the patient’s characteristic totality. That homeopathic prescription (the similimum) is given to the patient to stimulate his/her being to heal: likes cures likes.
The Second Principle: The Minimum Dose
The second principle of Homeopathy is that of the minimum dose. Dr. Hahnemann began using medicinal substance, such as full strength herbs. However, he observed that although the patients felt better, they did suffer side effects. After experimentation, he found that the minimum dose produced the maximum therapeutic effect in this patients.
The Third Principle: The Single Remedy
The third principle of Homeopathy is the single remedy. Homeopathic practitioners tend to only prescribe one remedy at a time. This is because they have found that "the homeopathic remedy has been proved by itself, produced its own unique drug picture", according to the American Institute of Homeopathy. That remedy is matched (prescribed) to the sick person having a similar picture. Moreover, it's easier to observe the patient's results when only one medicine is given at a time.
About Homeopathic Treatment: Acute and Chronic
There are two main categories of treatment in Homeopathic Medicine, acute and chronic. Acute treatments are for recent illnesses, such as the common cold. In these illnesses, the body may overcome the illness itself, but homeopathic medicine allows for quicker recovery.
Chronic treatment is the second category of treatment. A chronic disease a long term or reoccurring health problem. Treatment for chronic conditions is affected my many factors, including the "nature of the problem, the early health history, the family medical history, the previous treatment, and the person’s inherent constitutional strength", according to American Institute of Homeopathy.
Federal recognition of Homeopathic Medicine
The American Institute of Homeopathy states that "officially recognized under the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the 1965 Medicare Act, and the 1987 FDA Compliance Policy Guidelines, these safe, gentle but deep-acting medicines can be used to treat persons experiencing many kinds of medical conditions".
Essentially, homeopathic medicine is:
- a holistic, natural, safe system of medicine
- stimulates the person's own healing power
- practiced in countries all over the world
- no interactions with conventional drugs
- recognized by the FDA
Learn more about how to use homeopathy for acute conditions with Julie Tilsner on July 27th 10-11:30am. This informative workshop is for the general public to gain an invaluable and effective tool for treating acute injuries and illnesses holistically. Homeopathy is a source of infinite first line treatments for the whole family. This class will give the basics of what homeopathy is and how to effectively use the remedies. Some of the things you will learn to treat are: colds, flus, headaches, teething, abscesses, morning sickness, injuries. One of a kind, easy to use, homeopathy kits will be available for purchase.
Click here to learn more about the homeopathy class.