HISTORY OF HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathy is another rich modality in naturopathic medicine that utilizes substances derived from plants, animals and minerals to treat health ailments in patients.  This school of medical thought was founded and defined originally by a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, M.D. in the beginning of the 19th century.  From his clinical work and writings, the use of homeopathy flourished as a mainstream treatment in many European countries and India.  Homeopathy was quite popular in the United States until medical examiners outlawed its use by practitioners during the last century.  The goal of this action was to the create uniformity in mainstream medical practice and theory.  Prior to that time, there were many hospitals devoted to the use and treatment of patients, the most notable of which was the Hahnemann Medical School that still bears the founder’s name.

Recently, homeopathy is undergoing resurgence as alternative healing modalities come back into prominence.  In Arizona, M.D. physicians may practice homeopathy upon certification (which entitles them to place an “H” designation behind their professional initials).  Lay homeopaths can prescribe low potency remedies, depending on the state’s regulation of the practice of homeopathy.  The US Pharmacoepia itemizes and numbers homeopathic medicines or remedies in the same way it does all drugs.  High potency remedies require a prescription in order to be dispensed, while lower remedies may be found in health food stores over the counter.

WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?

Homeopathy is a holistic form of medical practice.  The aim of homeopathy is to stimulate the body’s innate ability to bring about healing and restore health.  The issues and philosophical differences that were pointed out with botanical medicine apply to homeopathy as well.  This modality is a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment.  Homeopathy relies on taking the patient’s case and then applying the techniques of diagnosis and treatment that have been passed down through the rich writings of past generations of homeopathic physicians.  The underlying philosophy and approach to illness is refined and unique in this particular school of medical thought.

Hahnemann wrote his theories of disease in the Organon of Medical Art.  His successors built on his pioneering work to produce a rich tradition and database of the action of the remedies called provings.  Hahneman observed that quinine could be used to treat malaria.  To test its properties, he took it himself in a series of dilutions to determine the dose.  What he observed was the he developed the symptoms of the disease when he did this.  His health improved immediately when he stop taking the remedy.   This was the first “proving.” This means that the substance or remedy given to a healthy individual will develop the symptoms or show the remedy picture that is seen in someone who is ill and requires that remedy.  This observation is the basis of the concept of the Law of Similars (like cures like).  The constellation of symptoms are called the “remedy picture.”  Hahnemann also observed another quality of remedies: the more dilute the substance, the more powerful or potent it becomes.  The practice of homeopathy is the selecting the remedy based on its remedy picture and matching that to the patient.  If it is a perfect match, the patient’s vital force should be restored to allow healing on all levels of the being.

Fundamentally, homeopathy is an energetic medicine.  This is so because the successive dilutions of the remedies eventually mean that there is little or no physical essence of the substance left.  This is the problem that most of allopathic medicine and the scientific community have with homeopathy.  Their position is that the remedy could not possibly impact the health of the patient because there are no molecules of the substance present to do it.  Many physicians unschooled in homeopathy maintain that homeopathy could only possibly work by a placebo action, if it works at all.  This belief was part of the reason that medical boards outlawed its use because it was considered to lack efficacy.

DOES HOMEOPATHY WORK?

Homeopathy was developed as an exclusive form of treatment.  Hahnemann believed that once obstacles to cure were removed and the fundamental requirements for a healthy life were in place, the one true constitutional remedy was all that was needed to treat the patient and restore health.  Part of this position was based on his observation that mainstream medicine of his time employed toxic drugs that only made the disease worse or created a new disease in the patient.  Sound familiar?

Many 21st century physicians maintain that homeopathy could not work because it is contrary to the modern view of disease and cure.  There have been many clinical trials abroad that prove that homeopathy does in fact treat illnesses based on the proper assignment of the remedy.   The problem is remedies do not treat a particular disease.  They treat particular patients.  If you take five different patients with the same allopathic diagnoses, It is likely they will require five different remedies, depending on their particular remedy pictures. This does not apply to a double blind placebo model well, because the subjects cannot be randomly selected and given the same medicine. They will all have variations in their remedy picture.

I have used homeopathy to treat a variety of health issues successfully.  I do not use it exclusively, because sometimes removing obstacles brings a body back into balance and health.  For cases that are resistant to improvement with fundamental changes in lifestyle, homeopathy has been a marvelous tool to use in patient care.

IS IT DANGEROUS?

I believe that homeopathy is possibly the safest modality we use in naturopathy today.  The most a patient could experience with an inappropriate prescription is what we call an “aggravation.”  Essentially, the remedy was not well matched to the patient and new symptoms develop which were previously not present or unknown.  I have never heard of outcomes that bring about as bad a reaction in a patient as you might have with a drug reaction.

CAN ANYONE BENEFIT FROM HOMEOPATHY?

“ANYONE” is the operative word here.  Most people associate health care with “diseases” and ask if their disease can be treated with a modality of naturopathic medicine.  Homeopathy can benefit all patients regardless of their health status and regardless of what is wrong with them from an allopathic perspective.  Because homeopathy balances energy, everyone given their appropriate remedy will experience improved health and vitality.  Homeopathy treats the whole patient mind, body and spirit.

The practice of homeopathy requires years of study and incorporates a huge body of information.  There are as many variations in the treatment approach as there are physicians practicing this modality.  Some physicians practice homeopathy in a manner that seems allopathic in nature.  By this I mean, the remedies are applied to a disease process—not necessarily to the patient’s whole remedy picture.  I prefer to use homeopathy in a more classical approach to treatment.   By this I mean that I take the case, study the rubrics derived the synthesis, examine the homeopathic Materia Medica for potential remedies and prescribe the remedy that best fits the total picture of the patient.  A good homeopathic prescription is a powerful medicine and can enrich and improve health in marvelous ways.  Call me to discuss ways in which homeopathy can improve your health!