Homeopathy- a More Natural Form of Health Treatment

Homeopathy is a harmless, natural kind of alternative health treatment, based on the practice of treating like with like. Homeopathy is derived from the Greek words homios, meaning like or similar, and italios, meaning suffering.  Homeopathy is concerned with treating the whole person rather than the illness alone. The homeopath will look at carefully the patient as a whole, both physically and psychologically, taking into account the patient’s biological appearance, their likes, dislikes and their temperament. It is thus a highly personalized form of treatment, so patients who on the face of it suffer from the same illness may be given different medicines.

Homeopathy is a well established form of healing. Today many of the principal pharmaceutical companies are researching and mass-producing homeopathic medicines.  Homeopathic medicines appear very much like conventional medicines, and are taken in the same way, but the way they operate is totally different.

The medicines are not synthetic and are derived from organic sources. Over 60% of homeopathic remedies are prepared from vegetable or plant materials. Other remedies are prepared from naturally occurring mineral substances, including metals, non-metallic substances, and mineral salts. Some customary remedies include: arnica montana, from the Leopard’s bane plant; belladonna, from the deadly nightshade plant; calcarea, calcium carbonate from oyster shells; sepia, from cuttlefish ink; and the element, sulphur.

Homeopathic medicines are prepared by obtaining the remedy in its most concentrated form, and then, through a long process of dilution, by preparing a medication whose potency is sufficient to bring about a treatment. The potency describes the measure of the dilution of the remedy and is denoted by the number which follows the name of the medicine itself. The higher the number, the greater the dilution (up to one part remedy to one trillion parts dilutant).

Homeopathic remedies today are produced using the same dilution principles as in Hahnemann’s day. In a common dilution of 1:100, one drop of the homeopathic element is added to 99 drops of water and/or alcohol. The concoction is then potentized by a process called “succussion” – recurrent tapping on a hard surface for a particular length of time. Remedies may be diluted up to 1000 times, leaving only an minute suggestion of the substance. Remedies are normally diluted 10, 100, or 1,000 times, which decode into potencies that are marked with the Roman numerals X, C, and M. Homeopathic remedies range from 6X as the lowest potency to 1M or more as the highest potency.

treatments can be taken orally in pill, powder, or drop form, rubbed locally, or injected. There are as a rule no side effects from homeopathic remedies, but a patient can get what is called a “healing aggravation,” a temporary accentuation of symptoms. This is seen as a definite sign that the remedy is working. Depending on the severeness of the symptoms, a homoeopath may choose an antidote, which produces the opposite effect of the remedy. The antidote may be another homeopathic remedy, or a strong substance, such as perfume, camphor, or coffee, which are known to block the effects of a remedy.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognised homeopathic medicines as drugs since 1938, working with the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention to create and update their reference book of homeopathic medicines. Over the years, the FDA has classified homeopathic medicines as either prescription or more typically as non-prescription (over-the-counter), depending on their strength. In the United Kingdom, homeopathic medication has been part of the National Health Service (NHS) since it began in 1948. There are currently 5 homeopathic hospitals in the NHS. Homeopathic medicines are available over-the-counter or by prescription.

Because of the extremelysmall doses used in homeopathic treatment, the medicines are completely safe, non-addictive and have no undesirable side effects. The remedial properties of the remedies are liberated even in extremely high dilution, and render the medicine completely nontoxic for the treatment of both children and babies. Where dosing instructions have been followed, no instance of toxic activity has ever been reported in association with homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic treatment is practised by fully certified Health Practitioners who comprehend the philosophy of homeopathic medicine’s well as patients’ emotional and daily situations.

while some homeopathic medicines are readily available in both common pharmacies and health stores, you should consult your homeopathic practitioner before attempting treatment for any “acute” ailment or disease.  If you are currently on medication for a critical medical or psychological illness, you should NOT stop taking your medication in order to start homeopathic treatment. Your practitioner will counsel you on the appropriate course of treatment, frequently working with your internist or therapist.  If you would like to view 10 information and demonstration videos specifically on Homeopathic practice, as well as view over 400 other alternative healing videos, take a look at http://www.alternativehealthtreatments.org//tag/Homeopathy.