HOMOEOPATHY

A complete medical system for the new millennium

In 1796 a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, discovered a radically different approach to the treatment and cure of the sick, which he called "Homoeopathy" - from the Greek words:

Homoeos - meaning: Similar

Pathos  - meaning: Suffering

Like Hippocrates, two thousand years earlier, he realised that there were two different ways of treating ill health - opposites and similars.

The treatment of illness by the use of similars is still a new concept, as mainstream medicine still adheres to the way of opposites.

An example would be in the treatment of fever which conventionally would be treated with an anti-fever agent to bring the temperature down. Very often the fever is actually seen as the problem. In the way of similars this same fever would be treated with an agent/ substance which would have the ability to produce in a healthy human organism a similar type of fever ie treating fire with fire. So, for instance, we may use homoeopathic belladonna (deadly nightshade), which we know can produce raging temperatures with delirium, to treat a child with high fever and delirium.

This revolutionary approach encourages the natural processes of the organism rather than fighting them. To explain this further, taking the same example of fever, the Homoeopathic approach maintains that the fever is the outward sign or symptom of a disturbance within the organism and represents an attempt by the defences of the organism to overcome this disturbance. Pathologically we know that the raised temperature aids in overcoming and defeating unwanted bacteria and viruses.

Hahnemann also perceived that every medicinal substance had a primary and also a secondary action or re-action of the organism. This is based on one of the laws of physics (Newton) that states that "every action has an equal and opposite re-action".

This helps to explain the logic of Homoeopathy. An example:

If you have a case of insomnia (of unknown cause) conventionally this would be treated with a soporific drug or sleeping tablet designed to force the organism to sleep. However according to the principles above this would only exacerbate the situation as the re-action of the system to this drug force would be the opposite ie to try to stay awake! Thus the addiction cycle of sleeping tablets as they are only as good as when they are taken. Using Homoeopathy in this situation would mean administering a force (drug/substance) whose primary action would be to keep the organism awake (ie similar state to the insomnia) which would then stimulate a secondary re-action of the organism to go to sleep ie the opposite! This way it is getting the human organism to do the changing from within, not being forced to do it from without. A more natural approach and one which avoids the side effects so commonly seen with drug treatments.

Homoeopathic Doses

The second great discovery Hahnemann made was work out a way of administering doses of common substances therapeutically whilst at the same time avoiding adverse side-effects. In his time "medicines" such as mercury were commonly used to treat illnesses, however the usual outcome was a worsened state or death.

Over a ten year period he discovered a methodology which allowed these often poisonous substances to be administered effectively yet safely. He called this potentisation. It involved a dual process of serial dilution of the substance and vigorous shaking of the medium which contained it(succussion). This is still how the homoeopathic medicines are made today.

How does it work

Paradoxically it appears that when the substance is diluted and succussed in a serial way, its toxic properties gradually disappear and its energetic properties are released and enhanced. This means that every substance has a latent energy held within its physical structure, bound up in matter. This is evident when we think about the terrifying energy potential of an atomic bomb which is released from the simple act of splitting an atom of a radioactive substance. This energy cannot be seen or detected within a substance until it is released from its material bonds. This is the energy source that Homoeopathy taps into and uses - it operates at an atomic level. Laws at this level of existence do not operate in quite the same way as bio-chemistry and as a result Homoeopathic potencies appear to get more active ie stronger in their action the more they are diluted and potentised!

So side-effects, in the traditional sense, are eliminated. This is one of the great attractions of Homoeopathic medicine, as a huge percentage of illness these days is being caused by the treatments and chemical drugs we use. We only have to look at the deteriorating legacy of anti- biotics to see this - with more and more bacteria becoming immune and more and more problems from the cavalier over-prescribing of these once valuable drugs appearing in the population.

How does the treatment occur?

Basically, you will be given a homoeopathic remedy, in tablet or liquid form, once the practitioner has spent enough time with you at an appointment to establish a coherent "pattern" to your symptoms and illness. This time varies but is usually around 1hr to start with and ½ hr to follow up appointments.

The homoeopathic interview or consultation will cover all areas of your emotional, mental and physical health. Your general energy level and state of health will be assessed and medical history and family history investigated.

Homoeopathic medicines can be taken alongside with chemical drugs and in some cases this is essential and necessary. However this will be discussed and if possible consultation with your doctor will be set up to check on the safety of treatment or cessation of drugs.

You will be asked to keep careful note of any reactions after the treatment and maybe to telephone to report this after an amount of time. Various things can happen after a treatment and it is important to remember these so an evaluation can be made at the next visit.

What can Homoeopathy treat?

Homoeopathy can successfully treat most acute and chronic illness. It is

particularly effective when treating individuals whose health is still at a

reasonable level and who still have the ability to respond and overcome

their condition.

Unfortunately it is increasingly common to be asked to treat major chronic illness where there is very little chance of that individual recovering. Examples of this are most Cancers, Motor Neurone disease, Schizophrenia, long-term Multiple Sclerosis etc. ie chronic auto-immune diseases of the nervous system or mental illness. Having said this homoeopathy is able to help some of these cases:

There are some cases of serious degenerative diseases eg some cases of multiple sclerosis, especially if they are caught early, that may be considerably helped with expert Homoeopathic treatment. I have personal experience of the benefit of homoeopathy in these cases.

Conditions commonly treated by Homoeopathy:

ACUTE CONDITIONS:

CHRONIC CONDITIONS: