What is homeopathy and how does it work?
Dr. Samuel Hahnemann
In 1790, after many years of research with his patients, a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, discovered the “Law of Similars”.
Like Cures Like
All medicinal substances (herbs, chemicals, etc.) produce changes – symptoms – in the body. Dr. Hahnemann found that by administering medicinal substances that produced the same symptoms as the disease or derangement from health – normal bodily function, a cure could be affected.
The classical example is with quinine and malaria. In Hahnemann’s day, as Britain sailed the seas, the sailors contracted malaria. Quinine, made from the bark of a tree, Peruvian bark, was found to cure malaria. Unto this day, quinine is used to treat malaria. But, doctors noticed, that if healthy people drank tea from Peruvian bark, quinine; then the healthy people would get malaria like symptoms.
Dr. Hahnemann took this discovery and developed it, into a whole method of treatment, which he called homeopathy.
Matching symptoms of ill health to the symptoms produced by substances is the basis of homeopathy. Hence, “Like Cures Like”.
All symptoms together – mental, emotional, and physical – not just the symptoms of one part or area of the body, comprise the entire deranged constitution. Dr. Hahnemann found that taking care of the constitution is primary and then the local symptoms and ultimates will be taken care of.
Hering’s Law of Cure
Based upon clinical experience with Dr. Hahnemann’s method of treatment – homeopathy, Dr. Constantine Hering (1800-1880) developed the “Law of Cure”. The effectiveness of a remedy can be measured from the top down, in out and; by the reverse order of symptoms. This means that relief comes to the head first and then down to the feet and; relief comes first to the inside and internal organs before the external organs and skin and; that the more recently appearing symptoms are the first to disappear and the more lingering symptoms take longer to be removed.
The Infintesimal Dose
After much clinical experience, Dr. Hahnemann found the curative effect of homeopathic remedies could be greatly increased by using high dilutions. This dilution process made the effects of homeopathic remedies gentle.
The dilution process is very great. Dilutions are commonly at ratios of 1:50,000 and greater. This is referred to as the infinitesimal dose. The amount of original “active” ingredient remaining, can not be measured by conventional means. We can only see the effects in the results of homeopathic care.
Typically, only one application of a remedy is necessary. The effects can act deeply and be long lasting.
Susceptibility and Side Affects
Dr. Hahnemann observed that homeopathic remedies are only effective “if indicated” – that the symptoms match. In addition, one must be as susceptible to the remedy as to the disease. If the remedy is not “indicated”, then the remedy acts as nothing more than a sugar pill, especially so with infinitesimal doses as the substance present is very minute. So, there is no possibility of side affects.
The FDA has the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the US, HPUS that regulates the production of homeopathic remedies. This helps to ensure quality, content and safety.