What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which assists the body and mind in healing itself by strenghtening, balancing the vital energy. it is holistic medicine, therefore mental, physical, emotional, objective and subjective symptoms and sensations are part of the whole pictureof the patient's health. Homeopathic remedies are prescribed according to the Law of Similars. Like cures like. This means treating the person with a substance that produces symptoms similar to those from which he/she is suffering.
It is a system of medecine that recognizes that the whole person-mind, body and spirit are linked in the illness. The focus is the totality of the individual, not only the diseased parts of the body. The remedies stimulate the body's self-regulating system. Homeopathy maintains, restores health in people of all ages without toxicity or side effects. It is preventive as well as curative in acute and chronic diseases.

"The immense power of the infinitely small" Samuel Hahnemann

Brief history
Homeopathy was introduced and developped by a German doctor and chemist, Samuel Hahnemann in 1796, more than 200 years ago. He discovered a different approach to the cure of the sick he called homeopathy, from the Greek meaning "similar, suffering" Like Hypocrates 2000 years before him, he realized that illnesses can be cured by the Law of opposites, or that of Similars.

What is health? According to the World Health Organization, "health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". A well balanced vitality and immune system fights a large number of bacteria, virus and even some cancer cells each day.

What is illness? Imagine a tree. Out of balance, leaning on the side, in a 45 degree angle, with some roots coming out. You could try to hold it with cables to avoid it from falling, you could cut some sick branches to make it look nicer, you could cover its roots to protect them or even try to cover them with earth. The homeopathic approach looks at the tree, looks for the cause, the reason why it is falling to the side, recognizes its unique nature, its roots, its fruit, its perfume, its general aspect, its deeper nature and reaction to its environment, and gives this tree a remedy that is similar to it from the roots to the top. This powerful remedy has an effect on the very vital energy and has the capacity to bring the tree back to balance.

When this tree is out of balance, one cannot simply cut off a branch and expect everything to be alright, one has to treat the very roots of the problem. The body manifests symptoms of illness, but they are not the origin of the illness. The well-trained homeopath takes into consideration the globality of the person in their emotional, physical, physiological and general state in order to prescribe the right remedy.

Vital energy Upon death, the body remains, but it is no longer curable. That which is curable, the vital force, has left the body. The illness is the imbalance of this vital force. The global symptoms are the manifestation of this imbalanced vital force. Being of a dynamic nature, the homeopathic remedy has the capacity to balance the vital energy which, once balanced, has the capacity to cure the body.

The origin of the illness
What takes the vital energy out of balance?

A physical cause : bad nutrition, lack of exercise, physical injury, lack of sleep...

A genetic cause : Hereditary illness.

A toxic cause : Medication, vaccination, cigarette, pollution, poisoning...

An emotional cause : Emotional stress, sensitivity to some events (major or minor depending on the specific sensitivity of the person). This cause is the most common. A physical trauma has a visible effect on the body, and so does an emotional trauma. The emotional trauma that will make you ill is not necessarily the one that will make me ill, and, thank God, not all emotional stresses make us ill. It depends on our inner sensitivity. Suppose thirty people go through a divorce, maybe only ten of them will develop a health problem after the stress divorce. Their being, energy and vitality is sensitive to that type of event. A different remedy could be prescribed to each of these ten persons depending on what their own perception and experience of the pain is. Some go through a painful and sad divorce without getting sick, but they will be more sensitive to a business failure, a fearful situation, a humiliating situation, a violent situation...

The homeopathic principles. Homeopathy is a science, a medicine which lies on four principles : infinitesimality, individualization, similarity and the minimum dose. These principles remain unchanged over the 200 years for their truth has been demonstrated through the successful treatment of the ill.

A Tailor Made Treatment: the principle of individualization:

Like cures like : The principle of similarity

Homeopathy derives tis name from the Greek, homeo=similar, and pathos=suffering.

Through research, Hahnemann discovered that a substance that can produce disease in a healthy person is used to provoke a healing response in someone presenting with a similar disease or state.

The homeopathic remedy that would cause a specific set of physical, intellectual and emotional symptoms in a healthy person will cure someone presenting the same symptoms .

The principle of individualization : A Tailor Made Treatment

Only one remedy should be given at the time. A well-trained homeopath can find the required remedy.

This individual analysis is adapted to the patient and enables the homeopath to select the single most appropriate remedy from the over 2 500 homeopathic remedies. This is why ten different patients with the same complaint may receive a different remedy. Each patient who consults a homeopath gets a HOMEO (similar) PATHIC (illness) remedy.

The symptoms are considered to be an ineffectual attempt by the body to cure itself. Rather than suppressing the symptoms, homeopaths carry out an in depth study of the physical, physiological or emotional cause of the illness. The sensitivities, the physical, intellectual and emotional state of the person will indicate the remedy that will maximize the body's capacity to cure itself.


The principle of infinitesimality : Infinitely small

Homeopathic remedies are potentized. They are unique, unlike any other medecine. They are made trough a process of dilution and succussion (shaking). This process is somewhat mysterious and not yet understood by the current science, but still, it is designed to arouse the dynamic nature of the medecine.

Like doctors of his time, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann began his practice by using strong tinctures (macerated extracts of plants, minerals, animals). Finding their reactions too violent and toxic, he diluted them, at the same time shaking the liquid vigorously so as to ensure proprer distribution of the drug. Over the years, he found that the process of successive dilutions and shaking not only reduced side effects but was not a mere mechanical division of drug particles; some vital element was released in its preparation.

This process really brings out the vital energy force which has been latent in the original crude material form. This has always been the procedure for making homeopathic remedies. And as the remedies have been developped and adopted by homeopaths, they have never been banned or declared to be dangerous by homeopaths. The same remedies that were first made by Samuel Hahnemann 200 years ago are still used by modern homeopaths.

Throw a lump of coal into the fire; nothing spectacular happens. But grind the lump of coal into fine particles and then throw it into the fire and there will be an explosion This is because the minute subdivision, breaking down matter —molecules and atoms —liberates tremendous energy.

The principle of the minimun dose

The infinitesimal doses of medicine are given with the minimum repetition. The remedy should be repeated only when necessary. Repetition of doses is determined by the individual's response to the remedy. Unnecessary repetition may lessen the response. Always consult your homeopath before repeating a dose of your remedy.

Homeopathy and emergencies

Some remedies do not require a consultation with a homeopath. They are specific first-aid homeopathic remedies that work wonders in cases of blows, injuries, concussions, cuts, insect bites, burns, insolations, food intoxications, frost bites etc. See the Emergency Remedies section.