Homeopathy is a safe, natural form of medicine based on the practice of treating like with like. Homeopathy is derived from the Greek words homies, meaning like or similar, and italics, meaning suffering.
Homeopathy deals with the treatment of the whole person rather than the disease itself. A homeopath assesses the patient as a whole, both physically and mentally, taking into account the patient's physical appearance, likes, dislikes and temperament. It is therefore a highly personalized form of treatment, so that patients who are apparently suffering from the same disease can be advised on different drugs.
Homeopathy is a well-established form of healing. Today, many leading pharmaceutical companies are researching and mass-producing homeopathic remedies.
Homeopathic Medicines:
Homeopathic medicines look very similar to conventional medicines, they are taken in the same way, but their mode of action is completely different.
Medicines are not synthetic and come from natural sources. More than 60% of homeopathic medicines are preparing from plant or plant materials. Other agents are preparing from naturally occurring mineral substances, including metals, non-metallic substances and mineral salts. Animal sources of homeopathic remedies include: Cuttlefish (the ink or juice provides cuttlefish) and the honey bee.
Homeopathic medicines are preparing by taking the medicine in its most concentrated form and then using a long process of dilution to prepare a medicine whose potency is sufficient to carry out the treatment. The strength describes the degree of dilution of the drug and is indicated by a number that follows the name of the drug itself. The higher the number, the greater the dilution (up to one part drug to one trillion parts diluent).
Homeopathic Medicines
Homeopathic remedies, commonly referred to as medicines, can come from the plant, mineral or animal kingdoms. Some common remedies include: Arica Montana, from the Leopard's bane plant; belladonna, from the deadly nightshade plant; cascara, calcium carbonate from oyster shells; sepia, from sepia ink; and the element, sulfur.
Homeopathic medicines today are made using the same dilution principles as in Hangman time. In a common 1:100 dilution, one drop of the homeopathic substance is added to 99 drops of water and/or alcohol. The mixture is then potentizing by a process called "secession" - repeated tapping on a hard surface for a period of time. Medicines can be diluted up to 1000 times, leaving only a tiny trace of the substance. Remedies are usually dilute 10, 100, or 1000 times, which translates into potencies that are designated by the Roman numerals X, C, and M. Homeopathic remedies range from 6X as the lowest potency to 1M or more as the highest potency.
Medicines can be taken orally in the form of pills, powder or drops, rubbed on topically or injected. Homeopathic treatment usually has no side effects, but the patient may experience what is called "curative aggravation", a temporary exacerbation of symptoms. This is considered a positive sign that the remedy is working. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the homeopath may choose an antidote that will produce the opposite effect of the medicine. The antidote may be another homeopathic remedy or a strong substance such as perfume, camphor or coffee known to block the effects of the remedy.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized homeopathic remedies as medicines since 1938, working with the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention to produce and update their reference book of homeopathic remedies. Over the years, the FDA has classified homeopathic remedies as either prescription or, more commonly, prescription (over-the-counter) based on their strength. In the United Kingdom, homeopathic medicine has been part of the National Health Service (NHS) since its inception in 1948. There are over 5 homeopathic hospitals in the NHS. Homeopathic medicines are available over the counter or by prescription.
Safety of Homeopathic Medicines:
Due to the very, very small doses used in homeopathic treatment, the drugs are completely safe, non-addictive and have no unwanted side effects. The medicinal properties of drugs are released even at extremely high dilutions
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