Let like be cured by
like"
This exploits the property of some medicinal substances
to stimulate the natural healing energy of the individual.
The activity of this healing process is demonstrated
by the symptoms of an illness, and a remedy is chosen
which has been found when taken by healthy volunteers
to cause symptoms similar to that illness.
This system of therapeutics was discovered by Hahnemann
at the end of the eighteenth century. He found that
cinchona bark, which was used to treat swamp fever
(now known as malaria), when taken by him produced
the same symptoms as the disease. Here was a strange
phenomenon, a remedy which was an effective treatment
for a disease inducing the symptoms of that disease
when given to a healthy person. He decided to experiment
further. He took further doses himself, and gave some
to his family. He found in every case that symptoms
of swamp fever occurred on taking the cinchona bark,
which stopped on ceasing to take it.
He now began to determine and record the effect of
a large number of substances on the human body. He
gathered together a band of helpers to whom he gave
remedies, interrogating them daily on sensations experienced
.He called this a proving. He was thus able to produce
a materia medica consisting of symptoms produced in
healthy volunteers. This materia medica represented
a vast collection of very accurate observations. These
pictures, when matched with the symptoms of a sick
person, enabled him to identify the remedy which would
cure the patient. He found when actually treating
patients that a small material dose of the substance
would produce an aggravation of symptoms before it
cured. He then started to dilute the remedies, and
vigorously shaking them (succussing) between dilutions.
This produced a cure without the aggravation. He also
found that a remedy so treated was more powerful as
a curative, and so he called the process potensisation.
Homoeopathy is still based on this principle when
used today, 200 years later then Hahnemann’s
time. It is very different from conventional medicine
and is frequently misunderstood and denigrated . In
conventional medicine we are taught to think in terms
of disease and pathological states, changes from the
normal physiological state wrought by outside factors
such as infection trauma and stress, and also conditions
arising from allergy or even autoimmunity. In order
to treat such disease states we try to make a diagnosis
based on symptoms and physical signs. This may enable
us to find a cause for which there is a specific treatment
or failing this, to treat the patient’s complaints
by symptomatic measures. Although there has been an
increasing emphasis on treating the patient as a whole,
medicine is in actual fact becoming increasingly fragmented
and specialised, and there are few treatments which
cure the patient as a whole.
If we look more closely at the patient, we find that
although symptoms of a disease fall into a variety
of categories which are more or less well defined,
there are also other symptoms present. These vary
from case to case, and are unique to that person.
Thus no one case, even of a well defined disease like
chickenpox, or pneumonia, exactly resembles another,
any more than two individuals are ever absolutely
identical. In other words the symptoms and signs of
the disease are modified by the reaction of the patient.
The basis of homoeopathy is that the most successful
remedy for any given occasion will be the one whose
symptomatology presents the clearest and closest resemblance
to the symptom complex of the sick person in question.
That is: let like be treated by like. Examples of
this are as follows:-
The effects of peeling an onion are very similar
to the symptoms of a cold or hay fever, and the remedy
prepared from onion is used to treat colds and hay
fever where the symptoms are similar.
The symptoms and signs of arsenic poisoning are very
similar to those of certain cases of gastro-enteritis,
and the remedy arsenicum album is used to treat these
cases, with success.
So the first and fundamental principle of homoeopathy
is the selection and use of a similar remedy.
The second and more controversial issue is the use
of remedies in apparently very small quantities. This
in itself is not homoeopathy but a refining of the
basic method worked out by Hahnemann. Recent research
has indicated that during potentisation an imprint
of the molecular structure of the remedy is left in
the liquid ,and this is therapeutically active.
Further research has shown that homoeopathic remedies
are more successful than placebo and in some cases
than conventional treatment in certain illnesses.
It is believed that the natural healing process of
the organism is stimulated by the remedy.
In spite of the general scepticism of many conventional
medical practitioners homoeopathy works and has a
place in modern therapeutics. It is prescribable on
the NHS, and has been used by the Royal Family for
many years.
Homoeopathic treatment can aid recovery in many conditions
where a medical practitioner might wish to avoid the
use of allopathic medicines. Since it stimulates the
natural healing process there is less likelihood of
recurrence of the condition, and homoeopathic treatment
leads to an improvement in general health. There are
applications for the use of homoeopathy in some conditions
which are difficult to treat by conventional means.
Remedies may afford relief to sufferers who find side
effects of some drugs too unpleasant. Homoeopathic
remedies can be used together with allopathic drugs
and other conventional treatment quite safely and
effectively, they are without side effects and can
be used in pregnancy, for young infants, and the elderly;
they are inexpensive and treatment is cost-effective.
Homoeopathy is indicated in the treatment of many
conditions:
in the initial treatment of acute infections, of
the upper and lower respiratory tract, and skin.
for chronic conditions such as skin disease, arthritis,
postviral fatigue.
for recurrent conditions-upper respiratory tract infections,
glue ear, rhinitis, bronchitis, cystitis, vaginitis.
in the treatment of hormone related diseases-PMT,
endometriosis, and menopausal problems.
for psychosomatic problems, stress related illnesses,
including headaches, migraine, backache and muscular
tension.
for allergies
for depression and anxiety
Article written by Dr Prunella E Mark
Sources:
"Classical Homoeopathy" by Dr Margery Blackie
"Introduction to Homoeopathic Medicine"
by Dr Hamish Boyd
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