What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy (meaning "similar suffering") is a safe and effective scientific system of medicine developed by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in the late 1700's, but the concept dates back to the time of Hippocrates (500 BC).

Homeopathic remedies are prepared from natural resources such as plants, animals, venom, minerals, metals, cell salts, to name a few, and are recognized as drugs by the Food and Drug Administration.  They are non-toxic, and when properly administered, can be safely used with people (infants -- elderly) and animals.

Homeopathy is based on the Laws of Similars meaning "likes cure likes".  More specifically, if a substance can cause symptoms in a healthy person, then it can stimulate self-healing of similar symptoms in a sick person.  One example is bee venom from a sting can induce pink edema, itching and stinging that is improved with cold application to the affected area.  Homeopathically attenuated bee venom (Apis venenum) can be used to relieve urticaria (hives) characterized by pink edema, itching and stinging sensation ameliorated by cold applications.  Homeopathy strengthens the body's own defenses to heal itself.

Homeopathy is also based on the Minimum Dose Principle meaning the minimum dose capable of treating a case without aggravating the condition or inducing "side effects" is to be chosen in every instance.  Why a minimum dose?  It is obvious that when taking a substance upon the basis of their similarity to an imbalance or "disease condition", the dose to be used must be less than the dose capable of inducing that imbalance or "disease condition" in a healthy person; therefore, remedies are administered in doses which are smaller than those capable of inducing a direct physiological drug effect in the healthy.

Homeopathy treats the whole person -- mentally and physically -- and treats each person as an individual.  Each individual's symptoms are recognized by the homeopath.  For instance, two people suffering from the common cold may take entirely different remedies based on their symptoms.  Different symptoms require different remedies.

As homeopathy works by stimulating the body's own healing ability, it can treat virtually any illness.  Emotional symptoms such as anxiety, stress and depression can be treated as well as physical symptoms such as skin disorders, chronic fatigue, menstrual problems, allergies, recurring infections, and digestive disorders to name a few.

Even though Homeopathy has been the center of continual medical controversy over the past 200 years, the progress has been steady.  There are more medical doctors using homeopathic remedies in the world today than at any time in homeopathy's history.  There are also more non-M.D. health professionals practicing homeopathy, as well as professional homeopathic health education consultants advising on the use of homeopathic remedies than at any previous time in history.