Homeopathic Medicine “Let likes be cured by likes”

differs from traditional medicine and herbalism
How homeopathic medicines are made
How

to use homeopathic medicines
Compatibility, side effects and overdosing

the U.S.
According to a study published by JAMA, 4 out

of 10 Americans use some form of alternative medicine.
The most common forms of alternative medicine are homeopathy, massage, meditation, therapeutic touch, acupuncture and herbal remedies.

are even older than Hippocrates.
It seeks to cure

in accordance with natural laws of healing and uses medicine made from natural substances: animal, vegetable and mineral.
“Discovered” in the early 1800s by a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann became disillusioned with the brutal and senseless treatment methods (bleeding, purging and cautery) of the day.

practice of medicine and turned to medical translating.
While translating a

Scottish professors medicine book he stumbled across the key to curing sick people.
The author claimed that quinine could cure malaria because of its “astringent and bitter” qualities.
Hahnemann decided to test it on himself and found that by taking quinine he could induce the symptoms of malaria in himself.
He reasoned that malaria was cured by quinine, not because of its bitter taste but because the drug produces the symptoms of malaria in a healthy person.

conventional physicians.
In some areas, one out of four physicians was

a homeopath.
There were 22 homeopathic medical school and over 100 homeopathic hospitals.
The rise of the drug industry after the Civil War changed the practice of medicine and by 1940’s the homeopathic physician was almost obsolete.

the world.
Britain has over 200 homeopathic physicians.
France has nearly 800

homeopathic physicians.
India is the stronghold of homeopathy, with 124 homeopathic medical schools.
Mexico, as well as Brazil, Chile and Argentina have homeopathic colleges and many practicing physicians.

The Law of Similars
#2 The Law of Proving
#3 The

Law of Potentization

remedy can cure a disease if it produces in a

healthy person symptoms similar to those of the disease.
How this law works in practice: A person develops a fever, with flushed face, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, and a feeling of restlessness. The homeopathic physician studies these symptoms, then searches for a remedy that produce all these symptoms in a healthy person.

refers to the method of testing a substance to determine

its medicinal effect. To prove a remedy, a group of healthy people are given a dose of the substance daily, and each person carefully records the symptoms experienced. When the proving is completed, all the symptoms that the people consistently experience are recorded and listed in the Materia Medica, a prescriber’s reference.

the preparation of a homeopathic remedy. These medications are prepared

by successive diluting and shaking to the point where the resulting medicine contains no molecules of the original substance. These small doses are called potencies. As strange as it may seem, the higher the dilution, the greater the potency of the medicine.
A potentized remedy does not contain sufficient matter to act directly on the tissues, which means that homeopathic medicine is nontoxic and cannot cause side effects.

healthy reaction of the body’s defense mechanism.
Treats the patient according

to the symptoms.
The aim is to strengthen the body so it can resist harmful organisms.

Allopathy
Symptoms are manifestations of the disease, to be opposed or suppressed.
Treats the patient according to the disease.
The aim is to identify the organism and select a drug to destroy the specific germ.

large number of homeopathic medicines were adopted by allopaths, and

some are still being used today.
One of the best known is nitroglycerine tablets.

of preparation.
Prepared according to an exact process and prescribed according

to the law of similars.
The potentized medication contains only minute amounts of the original substance and is nontoxic.

Herbalism
Preparation depends on the herbalist’s intuition and experience.
Uses a combination of a number of herbs.
Many medicinal herbs are toxic. A self-help herbalist has no way of knowing what constitutes a “safe” dose.

the patient as closely as possible to the symptoms that

were produced in healthy humans. (Law of similars)
Give only one remedy at a time.
Continue giving the remedy until improvement starts, then increase the interval between doses.
Medicine should be taken in a clean mouth, placed on or under the tongue, free of food, drink, tobacco, toothpaste, mouthwash, mints or anything except plain water.

and will not interfere with the effectiveness of other medicines.
Other

medications may lessen the effects of homeopathy. Many remedies can be affected by strong odors, steroids or caffeine.

effects. When I prescribe, I do not have to worry,

Is this drug safe? I have never heard of a homeopathic medicine being recalled for causing adverse side effects, which is an enviable record considering that these remedies have been in use for more than 150 years.”

very safe dilutions.
A homeopathic remedy, even an entire vial

consumed at one gulp, is not toxic or poisonous

of the remedy.
Avoid aspirin, laxatives and sleeping pills.
Do not use

nasal drops, antiseptics, liniments, or preparations containing camphor.

totality of the symptoms.
Two people may be “bitten” by

the same bug, but react differently and require different remedies.

especially homeopathic medicine.
What are some explanations you have heard

from patients or friends who use alternative medicine?
How would you counsel a patient who wants to try homeopathic medicine?