Homeopathy is a system of medicine that is fundamentally different from conventional (allopathic) medicine. Whereas allopathic medicine focuses on suppression of symptoms, homeopathy seeks to correct the underlying imbalance that caused the symptoms in the first place. Homeopathy achieves this by strengthening the body’s own defenses, thereby allowing the body to heal itself..
Homeopathy is derived from the Greek word “homeo” meaning like or similar and “pathos” meaning pathology or illness. So the literal meaning of homeopathy is similar illness. This means that a homeopathic medicine is administered based upon its ability to mimic the disease state, thereby stimulating the body to heal itself.
Homeopathy had its beginning in eighteenth century Germany, with Samuel Hahnemann, a physician and scholar whose practice included aristocracy and royalty. Disappointed in the results of the medicine that he and his colleagues were then using, Hahnemann left his prominent practice. He went on to discover a profound natural law, the Law of Similars, which became the foundation for homeopathy. The Law of Similars asserts that any substance which can cause symptoms when given to a healthy person can help to heal those who are experiencing similar symptoms when given in a very minute amount.
Most of us know what to expect from Western medicine. Treatments have very specific effects: they aim to reduce a cough or a cramp or alleviate a pain or a pressure. But what can we expect from homeopathy?
No matter what the chief complaint, a homeopath will ask questions about every system of the body. In addition to physical functioning, he or she will want to know about emotional issues and mental clarity. He’ll ask about digestion, sleep, energy level and ability to focus and to retain information. This is because homeopathic medicines have such broad reaching effects. When selected by a well-trained practitioner, they enhance the functioning of all systems of the body so improvement is seen and felt physically, emotionally, and mentally.
- A cough may go away, but so will sleeplessness and anxiety
- A cramp may ease, but digestion will improve and so will energy
A patient who comes in with a specific complaint such as chronic headaches or allergies, is typically delighted when other concerns like depression or difficulty falling asleep disappear as well. Whats more, family members and friends typically notice the changes too.