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a Homeopath
Homeopathy
What Is It?
How Does It Work?
What Happens During Treatment?
What Is It Used For?
Side Effects/Cautions
Recommended Books
What Is It?
Homeopathy is a holistic healing system that is based on the idea
that “like cures like” or the “law of similars”:
patients showing specific symptoms are treated by giving them a
minute dose of a substance that causes similar symptoms. Homeopathic
remedies consist of tiny amounts of substances derived from plants,
animals and minerals which are diluted many times, and are used
to treat a wide variety of physical, mental and emotional problems.
Homeopathy was developed around 1800 by German physician
Samuel Hahnemann. Disgusted by medical practices such
as blood-letting and purging, common at that time,
Hahnemann quit his practice and began looking for more
humane ways to treat illnesses. During his research
into the healing qualities of natural substances, he
discovered that cinchona bark, a remedy for malaria,
produced malaria-like symptoms when taken by a health
person. This discovery formed the basis of his “Law
of Similars” which suggested that a substance
which produces symptoms in a healthy person could also
cure those symptoms in a sick person. Hahnemann then
experimented with a number of substances, on himself
and other healthy volunteers, trying different doses
and developing a special process for diluting and shaking
each substance until they reached a potency that was
safe and effective.
How Does It Work?
The dilution process used in many homeopathic remedies makes it
impossible to detect the original substance. This has led many
scientists to dismiss the remedies as no more than a placebo.
However, advocates of homeopathy have explained the effectiveness
of these treatments in terms of an “imprint” or “memory” of
the active ingredient contained in the water used to dilute the
substance. Repeated dilutions, or “potentisations” make
the imprint stronger rather than weaker, and this imprint is
thought to mobilise the body’s vital energy to improve
wellbeing.
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What Happens During
Treatment?
Homeopathic remedies are available in tinctures, tablets, powders
and ointments in various potencies. Many are available in health
stores and pharmacies and are considered safe to self-administer,
but seeking advice from a trained homeopath can help you find the
best remedy for your particular problems.
Your homeopath will take a complete medical history
and ask detailed questions about your symptoms before
suggesting a remedy and a dosage which is best for
you. Remedies are usually prescribed one at a time,
sometimes in combinations. Once a remedy is selected
for you, you will only need to see your homeopath again
in two to six weeks time. By this time you should know
whether the remedy has worked for you.
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What Is It Used
For?
Homeopathic remedies have been effective in treating respiratory
conditions such as hay fever and asthma, colds and flu, digestive
disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, pain or traumatic injury such
as sprains, psychological problems, headaches and many other ailments.
Side Effects/Cautions
Some homeopathic tinctures contain small amounts of alcohol. It’s
best not to take these if you need to avoid alcohol.
Remedies should not be taken for extended periods
of time. If there has been no improvement after a week
or so, you may want to try another remedy.
If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking
a homeopathic remedy.
References
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a Homeopath
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Recommended
Books
Prices are in US Dollars
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Impossible Cure: The Promise
of Homeopathy
Amy L. Lansky
Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy
provides an in-depth and exciting account of
the history, philosophy, and experience of
homeopathic medicine. At the core of Impossible
Cure is the amazing story of how the author's
son was cured of autism with homeopathy. It
also includes dozens of other testimonials
of homeopathic cure, for a variety of physical,
mental, and emotional conditions.
Impossible Cure will serve as an invaluable guide to anyone
interested in learning more about this intriguing form of
health care. It has won endorsements from leading experts
in alternative health care, including: Larry Dossey, MD (executive
editor, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, and
author of Healing
Words); Bernard Rimland, PhD (director, Autism Research
Institute); Wayne Jonas, MD (director, Samueli Institute,
and former director, Office of Alternative Medicine, NIH);
Michael Castleman (author of The
New Healing Herbs and other consumer health books); Louis
Klein, RSHom (president, Luminos Homeopathic Courses); and
Richard Pitt, CCH, RSHom (NA) (director, Pacific Academy
of Homeopathy).
Learn
more...
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Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines:
Safe and Effective Remedies for You and Your
Family
Stephen Cummings
Written by a medical doctor and a well-known
homeopath, who has authored several books on
the subject, this revised and expanded edition
is a good introduction to the theory and practice
of homeopathy. Intended for the lay reader,
the bulk of the book details self-treatment
options for common ailments. The authors take
great care advising patients when professional
medical intervention is warranted.
Learn
more...
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The Complete Homeopathy Handbook :
Safe and Effective Ways to Treat Fevers, Coughs,
Colds and Sore Throats, Childhood Ailments,
Food Poisoning, Flu, and a Wide Range of Everyday
Complaints
Miranda Castro
Homopathy is an approach to medicine based
on the principle that any substance that can
cause illness can also be a cure. Centuries
old, its practice has always enjoyed wide popularity
among individuals looking for safe and effective
ways to treat illness as well as to improve
their health.
The Complete Homeopathy Handbook is the definitive guide
for using homeopathic remedies at home. It includes A-to-Z
listings for external and internal remedies, with explanations
for correctly diagnosing the symptoms of any particular injury
or illness. The book also includes ten case studies and specific
dos and don'ts to follow when treating more than seventy
conditions.
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more...
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Homeopathy Books
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