What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a gentle, safe, and natural system of healing that is based on using minute ‘homeopathic’ doses to stimulate and encourage the natural healing systems of the body. The human body is self-sufficient equipped with its own healing system that repairs and preserves the structure and functions of the body. This same healing system thus maintains a healthy and harmonious balance between mind, body, and spirit. Based on this fact, homeopathy is designed to stimulate and support this healing mechanism and help maintain health.
History of Homeopathy
Although the basic principle of homeopathy was observed throughout the history of medicine, a German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann accidentally stumbled upon this phenomenon in the early 1700’s and explored this phenomenon further. Later, he developed it as a system of healing, and named it Homeopathy.
Principles of Homeopathy
Like Cures Like
Every Action is followed by an equal and opposite reaction
Law of Minimum Dosage: Less is more powerful
Vital Force is the primary healing force
Symptoms: Self Preserving Measures of Vital Force
Law of the Direction of Cure
Concept of Suppression
Mind and body: Two sides of the same coin
Like Cures Like
Homeopathy refers to ‘homeos’ - similar and ‘pathos’ - disease. The primary principle of homeopathy is the Law of Similars or like cures like. Dr. Hahnemann observed that when a sick person is given minute doses of the same substance that produced similar symptoms of sickness in healthy person, the sickness disappears leaving the patient healthy. It is similar to taking Ipecac. Ipecac is used successfully in emergency situation to induce vomiting in poisoning cases, and for this capability, in minute dosage, it is capable of halting the vomiting. Similarly, coffee, in minute dosage, can be used effectively in the similar way to relax the excessively restless and sleepless person or minute dose of red onion can be used to stop the watering of eyes and running of nose during an attack of hay fever.
Every Action is followed by an equal and opposite reaction
Hahnemann verified this observation repeatedly by conducting many experiments. From his experiments, he concluded that the basic concept that every action has an equal and opposite reaction is responsible for this phenomenon. Newton’s third law of gravity describes that every action will have an equal and opposite reaction of similar magnitude. Thus, in order to remove symptoms of sickness, if they were slightly enhanced in a controlled, safe setting, the equal and opposite reaction from the body will be enough to eradicate the pre-existing symptoms as well as the artificially enhanced symptoms.
Law of Minimum Dosage: Less is more powerful
Through his continued experiments on the dosage, he observed that the artificial enhancement was extremely gentle and almost unnoticed when he used the minutest doses of the substances. This is in congruence with the Nature where most poisonous animals and plants require very little quantity to accomplish what they need to. This concept is the most contrary to the popular medical practices of past as well as present which believes that the physical quantity of the substance must match the intensity of the symptoms even though less is more principle is used effectively in other scientific fields. For example, in order to make an atomic bomb, a scientist requires merely two atoms of Uranium to enhance the magnitude of its effect.
Vital Force is the primary healing force
He made another important revelation that the earliest sensations of illness are experienced at the level of the life force (Vital Force as he called it) instead of previous notion which believed disease to be a purely physical phenomenon. He discovered that since the sensations are experienced at this level, the mode of reaction throughout the body is also decided at this level. Although a general awareness of the life force existed during his times, it wasn’t applied to the healing systems.
Symptoms: Self Preserving Measures of Vital Force
The logical conclusion from these previous discoveries was that the physical symptoms of discomfort were the mode of reaction to the illness felt by the Life Force or the Vital Force, in order to preserve itself. Removing the mode of reaction will not bring the person to well being again. Rather, helping remove the sensation of illness at the level of Life Force is essential for it to change its mode of reaction. For example, if a person is extremely restless, fidgety, and sleepless because of the fear of a dog barking next door, he will not be at peace even with sleeping pills or anti-anxiety medication until the person moves or the dog is moved away. The agitation, the sensation of a great threat and discomfort is experienced at the level of vital force in this situation. Unless and until the measures to bring peace are taken at this level, the sleeplessness or restlessness will turn into an allergy to dogs or dust in the house he lives in. This allergy will help him to remove himself from the same environment of the dog creating him a temporary peace. Thus, most symptoms are parts of the defense mechanisms orchestrated by the life force in order to preserve and protect itself and the body it resides in.
Law of the Direction of Cure
Law of Cure as the name defines the direction of cure under homeopathic treatment. This law states that the cure takes place from the more important organ to the less important organ, from above downwards from within outward, in the reverse order of the appearance of the symptoms. Since it defines the direction of cure, it also indirectly provides the direction how the disease will progress. Thus, the disease must progress in the opposite direction of cure, from less important organs to the more important organ, from below upwards and from outward within. Dr. Constantine Hering, an American physician was the first to observe the distinct pattern of diseases. During his extensive clinical practice, and research, he concluded that there is a distinct hierarchy amongst the organs in the human body according to the level of importance for the survival. Brain, spinal cord, heart, and kidneys are the most important organs for the survival and the healing mechanisms of the body will protect them at any cost until there is no other recourse. Skin, upper respiratory tract, upper digestive tract are able to rejuvenate themselves completely, the disease is allowed to express itself in those organs before it can afflict deeper organs. This was one of most invaluable contribution made to the field of healing as it took the definition of cure further into the whole being. It changed the perspective of local organ pathology into a whole being with some organs being affected. It helped to map the chronology of the disease, the chronology of the cure and the duration of time to arrive at total health.
Homeopathy is a gentle, safe, and natural system of healing that is based on using minute ‘homeopathic’ doses to stimulate and encourage the natural healing systems of the body. The human body is self-sufficient equipped with its own healing system that repairs and preserves the structure and functions of the body. This same healing system thus maintains a healthy and harmonious balance between mind, body, and spirit. Based on this fact, homeopathy is designed to stimulate and support this healing mechanism and help maintain health.
History of Homeopathy
Although the basic principle of homeopathy was observed throughout the history of medicine, a German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann accidentally stumbled upon this phenomenon in the early 1700’s and explored this phenomenon further. Later, he developed it as a system of healing, and named it Homeopathy.
Principles of Homeopathy
Like Cures Like
Every Action is followed by an equal and opposite reaction
Law of Minimum Dosage: Less is more powerful
Vital Force is the primary healing force
Symptoms: Self Preserving Measures of Vital Force
Law of the Direction of Cure
Concept of Suppression
Mind and body: Two sides of the same coin
Like Cures Like
Homeopathy refers to ‘homeos’ - similar and ‘pathos’ - disease. The primary principle of homeopathy is the Law of Similars or like cures like. Dr. Hahnemann observed that when a sick person is given minute doses of the same substance that produced similar symptoms of sickness in healthy person, the sickness disappears leaving the patient healthy. It is similar to taking Ipecac. Ipecac is used successfully in emergency situation to induce vomiting in poisoning cases, and for this capability, in minute dosage, it is capable of halting the vomiting. Similarly, coffee, in minute dosage, can be used effectively in the similar way to relax the excessively restless and sleepless person or minute dose of red onion can be used to stop the watering of eyes and running of nose during an attack of hay fever.
Every Action is followed by an equal and opposite reaction
Hahnemann verified this observation repeatedly by conducting many experiments. From his experiments, he concluded that the basic concept that every action has an equal and opposite reaction is responsible for this phenomenon. Newton’s third law of gravity describes that every action will have an equal and opposite reaction of similar magnitude. Thus, in order to remove symptoms of sickness, if they were slightly enhanced in a controlled, safe setting, the equal and opposite reaction from the body will be enough to eradicate the pre-existing symptoms as well as the artificially enhanced symptoms.
Law of Minimum Dosage: Less is more powerful
Through his continued experiments on the dosage, he observed that the artificial enhancement was extremely gentle and almost unnoticed when he used the minutest doses of the substances. This is in congruence with the Nature where most poisonous animals and plants require very little quantity to accomplish what they need to. This concept is the most contrary to the popular medical practices of past as well as present which believes that the physical quantity of the substance must match the intensity of the symptoms even though less is more principle is used effectively in other scientific fields. For example, in order to make an atomic bomb, a scientist requires merely two atoms of Uranium to enhance the magnitude of its effect.
Vital Force is the primary healing force
He made another important revelation that the earliest sensations of illness are experienced at the level of the life force (Vital Force as he called it) instead of previous notion which believed disease to be a purely physical phenomenon. He discovered that since the sensations are experienced at this level, the mode of reaction throughout the body is also decided at this level. Although a general awareness of the life force existed during his times, it wasn’t applied to the healing systems.
Symptoms: Self Preserving Measures of Vital Force
The logical conclusion from these previous discoveries was that the physical symptoms of discomfort were the mode of reaction to the illness felt by the Life Force or the Vital Force, in order to preserve itself. Removing the mode of reaction will not bring the person to well being again. Rather, helping remove the sensation of illness at the level of Life Force is essential for it to change its mode of reaction. For example, if a person is extremely restless, fidgety, and sleepless because of the fear of a dog barking next door, he will not be at peace even with sleeping pills or anti-anxiety medication until the person moves or the dog is moved away. The agitation, the sensation of a great threat and discomfort is experienced at the level of vital force in this situation. Unless and until the measures to bring peace are taken at this level, the sleeplessness or restlessness will turn into an allergy to dogs or dust in the house he lives in. This allergy will help him to remove himself from the same environment of the dog creating him a temporary peace. Thus, most symptoms are parts of the defense mechanisms orchestrated by the life force in order to preserve and protect itself and the body it resides in.
Law of the Direction of Cure
Law of Cure as the name defines the direction of cure under homeopathic treatment. This law states that the cure takes place from the more important organ to the less important organ, from above downwards from within outward, in the reverse order of the appearance of the symptoms. Since it defines the direction of cure, it also indirectly provides the direction how the disease will progress. Thus, the disease must progress in the opposite direction of cure, from less important organs to the more important organ, from below upwards and from outward within. Dr. Constantine Hering, an American physician was the first to observe the distinct pattern of diseases. During his extensive clinical practice, and research, he concluded that there is a distinct hierarchy amongst the organs in the human body according to the level of importance for the survival. Brain, spinal cord, heart, and kidneys are the most important organs for the survival and the healing mechanisms of the body will protect them at any cost until there is no other recourse. Skin, upper respiratory tract, upper digestive tract are able to rejuvenate themselves completely, the disease is allowed to express itself in those organs before it can afflict deeper organs. This was one of most invaluable contribution made to the field of healing as it took the definition of cure further into the whole being. It changed the perspective of local organ pathology into a whole being with some organs being affected. It helped to map the chronology of the disease, the chronology of the cure and the duration of time to arrive at total health.