What
Is Homeopathy?
by
Gita Elgin, Psy.D.,Ph.D., and Bart Bödy,
Ph.D
A Resurgent Tradition
Homeopathy originated over 200 years ago with Samuel Hahnemann,
an inspired German physician. By the dawn of the twentieth century, homeopathy
had become the dominant mode of medical practice in this country. But the
advent of modern antibiotics and other technological advances caused a sharp
decline — a decline very much accelerated by the strenuous (and still
ongoing) efforts of the American Medical Association to denounce, discredit,
and restrict the practice of homeopathy..
By the end of World War II, it seemed that homeopathy
was a spent force. The returning troops had forgotten all about it, and
those too young to fight had never heard of it. But in the last two or three
decades, it has had a slow but steady recovery in this country, as well
as a resurgence in Europe and the rest of the world. As of today, the World
Health Organization reports that homeopathy is the most widespread and most
effective general system of health care on the planet.
A
Comprehensive, Natural System
Homeopathy is a comprehensive, natural system of treatment that
mobilizes your own vital force for healing from within. It goes
to the essence of who and what you are — body, mind, and spirit. Homeopathy
may be used alongside standard medicine, but it employs no invasive procedures
and no medications with toxic side-effects or other complications.
In some ways, the philosophy and practice of homeopathy
are directly antithetical to standard, or "allopathic" medicine.
For example, standard medicine generally does all it can to counter
and suppress symptoms of illness. In homeopathy, symptoms are seen as
evidence that the life force is striving to restore health. Thus they
are treasured indications in finding the correct remedy to support the
healing process. It is somewhat ironic, therefore, that homeopathic
practitioners have traditionally been M.D.s, and that many continue
to practice a mix of homeopathy and allopathic medicine.
How
It Works: Finding a Match
The basic principle of homeopathy is the Law of Similars:
"Like cures like." A substance will help to cure a particular
illness if it evokes the same pattern of signs and symptoms in a person
who is healthy, as is manifested by the one who is ill. At some level, perhaps
the level of energy or thought, this substance presents essentially the
same picture as the complex of physical symptoms, and physical, emotional,
and mental characteristics of the ill person. It acts at this deep level
to mobilize and redirect the vital force, to restore balance, and to effect
a cure.
Disease manifests when the internal harmony of health
has been disrupted, and the organism attempts to heal itself. Homeopathy
pays close attention to the specific signs and symptoms that manifest
along with the disease, because they see them as indications of the vital
force at work, and a reflection of your unique manifestation. They therefore
point to the right remedy for you.our remedy is a substance that, on the
plane of energy, presents essentially the same picture as your physical
signs and symptoms. It acts at the deepest level to mobilize and
redirect the vital force, to restore balance, and to effect a cure.
In chronic situations, identifying your “constitutional”
remedy is essential. This requires a comprehensive assessment. To
explore your inner workings, the homeopathic practitioner gathers a wealth
of detail about all aspects of you as a person, and sifts them in various
ways to construct a very specific picture of your unique manifestation.
Several sessions may be required, and you may have to try several remedies
before you find the right match.
In acute situations, the assessment is focused on
what is going on right now, and on finding a remedy to fit the current
picture. Finding a constitutional remedy may not be practical
and may not be required. Once the immediate crisis has been resolved,
a more comprehensive exploration can be launched to resolve long-standing
difficulties at the root of the problem.
When
is Homeopathy Called For?
Homeopathy can be used by
young and old, for serious illnesses or for minor colds. For children
and adults who have not taken a lot of antibiotics and other standard
medications, the results can be truly amazing and swift —
practically instantaneous. For children with, say, ear infections,
taking a tiny “sugar pill” can be so much less distressing than repeated
courses of antibiotics, then perhaps a shunt. Older patients with
severe illnesses may require repeat doses of several different remedies,
over an extended period of time.
The
Homeopathic Practitioner
Considerable study and training are required to become
a proficient practitioner of homeopathy. The homeopathic practitioner
may be licensed as a medical doctor, an osteopath, a psychologist, an
acupuncturist, or some other health care practitioner.
