Homoeopathy is an alternative medicine that was developed 200 years ago by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), a German physician in 1796.
Homeopathy is fundamentally a natural healing process that provides remedies to aid patients in regaining their health by enhancing the body's inherent strengths and recovery mechanisms. Unlike conventional medicine, which often targets the disease itself, homeopathy focuses on treating the patient as a whole. It operates on the principle of “like cures like,” meaning that a substance causing symptoms in a healthy person can be used to treat similar symptoms in a sick person.
For example, consider the common onion. When you chop an onion, it causes your eyes to water and your nose to burn. In homeopathy, a remedy made from onion (Allium cepa) is used to treat conditions like hay fever or colds that exhibit similar symptoms of watery eyes and a burning nose. This approach is believed to stimulate the body's natural defenses and promote healing from within.
Homeopathy is holistic in its approach, aiming to address the root causes of ailments rather than merely suppressing symptoms. This means it treats the patient from the inside out, working to restore balance and health on a deeper level. Additionally, homeopathic remedies are non-addictive and contain no substances that could lead to dependency, making them a safe option for long-term use. Despite its natural basis, homeopathy is founded on scientific principles. The remedies are prepared through a process of serial dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking), which is believed to enhance their healing properties. However, the practice of homeopathy is also considered an art, as it requires a deep understanding of the patient’s unique symptoms and overall constitution. One of the core beliefs in homeopathy is that the body has an innate ability to heal itself. By stimulating this self-healing capacity, homeopathy aims to restore health in a gentle, sustainable manner. This approach contrasts with conventional medicine, which often relies on more aggressive interventions to manage symptoms.
Homeopathy treats each person as a unique individual with the aim of stimulating their own healing ability. Homeopathic doctors considering the totality of the patient’s symptoms, personal traits, physical, psychological state, life history and selects the most appropriate medicine based on the individual’s specific symptoms and personal level of health.
Before the medicines are decided upon, their curative powers are discovered by testing them out on healthy human subjects and carefully noting emotional, mental and physical changes. This is termed a ‘proving’.
Homeopathically prepared remedies are given in a minimum dose which is gentle, powerful, safe, non-addictive, and not tested on animals.
The remedies are prepared from natural substances according to precise standards and stimulate the healing power of the body. Homeopathy is a Holistic Medicine working on the concept that life is composed of body, mind, and spirit (Vital energy). According to homeopathy, it is not from external things or from Individual organs that man becomes sick but its due to rearrangement of inner energy (vital force) is the basic cause of illness.
Therefore, Homeopathy treats the patient as a whole not just a particular disease and not believes in giving different medicines for different affected parts of the body.
Homoeopathy History in INDIA
Homeopathy made its entry into India in 1810, thanks to the efforts of Dr. John Martin Honigberger, a French traveler who was a devoted disciple of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the originator of homeopathy. During his visit to India, Dr. Honigberger began utilizing homeopathic treatments to address various ailments among patients. His approach marked the beginning of homeopathy's journey in the Indian subcontinent. Dr. Honigberger's impact grew significantly during his second visit to India in 1839. During this period, he treated Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Punjab, who was suffering from an ailment. Using Dulcamara, a homeopathic remedy, Dr. Honigberger successfully alleviated the Maharaja's symptoms. The Maharaja was greatly impressed with the results and became an advocate for the continued use and expansion of homeopathy in India. His support provided a crucial endorsement that helped homeopathy gain acceptance and recognition in the region.
Fast forward to the mid-20th century, significant advancements were made to formalize and regulate the practice of homeopathy in India. In 1952, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, the then Union Health Minister, took a pivotal step by establishing a Homeopathic Ad-hoc Committee. This committee was tasked with evaluating and promoting the use of homeopathy within the healthcare system. It operated effectively until 1954, laying the groundwork for future developments. In 1954, the Indian government formed the Homeopathic Advisory Committee, which marked a shift towards a more structured approach to managing homeopathy in the country. By 1956, the oversight of this committee was transferred to the Ministry of Health, with the Health Minister and Secretary in the Ministry of Health assuming leadership roles as its chairman. This transition underscored the government's commitment to integrating homeopathy into the national health framework. A significant milestone was reached in 1962 when Dr. K. G. Saxena was appointed as the first Honorary Homeopathic Advisor. In the same year, the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee was established to create standardized guidelines and quality benchmarks for homeopathic medicines, ensuring consistency and reliability in their preparation and use. Further developments in 1969 saw the creation of an autonomous council dedicated to the advancement and regulation of homeopathic medicines. This council played a critical role in enhancing the credibility and scientific basis of homeopathy in India.
The formal institutionalization of homeopathy reached its zenith on December 17, 1973, with the establishment of the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH). This was enabled by the enactment of the Central Council of Homeopathy Act, 1973. The CCH was tasked with the regulation of homeopathic education and practice across India, ensuring that standards were maintained and that the practice of homeopathy was both credible and scientifically grounded.
These developments collectively underscore the significant journey of homeopathy in India, from its introduction by Dr. Honigberger to its formal institutionalization by the government, highlighting the nation's commitment to integrating this holistic healing practice into its healthcare system.
Sources of Homoeopathic Medicines Explained
Homeopathic medicines are prepared largely from naturally occurring substances like:
- Plant kingdom
- Animal kingdom
- Mineral kingdom
The particles of the substances are diluted as per homeopathic guidelines these substances lose their natural toxicity and only the medicinal curative properties remain active.
How are homeopathic medicines tested?
Homeopathy is the only science where the homeopathic drugs proved on healthy human beings of all ages and on both sexes.
1) Plant Kingdom
There are over many homeopathic drugs that have been proved and are in use world over. The process of preparing is unique. It comes in various potency.
There are so many drugs which are prepared from the plant kingdom. Some examples are:
1. Drug name = ocimum sanctum
Common name = tulsi
2. Drug name = syzygium jambolanum
Common name = java plum,jamun
2) Animal Kingdom
Many homeopathic drugs are prepared from the animal kingdom which is prepared in a similar manner as that of the plant kingdom the only difference being here the part of an animal is taken to prepare the medicine. A few examples of animal kingdom drugs are listed below:
1. Drug name = tarantula hispanica
Common name = Spanish spider
2. Drug name = sepia
Common name = dried inky juice of cuttlefish
3) Mineral Kingdom
The remedies under this category are such as:
1. Calcarea carbonica = (caco#3)
2. Calcarea phosphoric = (ca3(po4)2)
3. Natrum muriaticum = (Nacl)
Acids also included in this category such as:
1. Nitric acid
2. Phosphoric acid
The metals which are included in this category are as follows:
1. Drug name = cuprum metallicum
Common name = copper
2. Drug name = ferrum metallicum
Common name = iron
As per WHO standard guidelines, Homeopathic medicines are the safest mode of treatment.
1. Homoeopathic medicines are well proven
Homoeopathic medicines are proved on healthy humans and not on animals. Animal models have different anatomy and physiology from that of humans, as a result, they respond differently to the same medicine. Therefore, the proving cannot be relied upon. In homoeopathic system of medicine, the medicine are proven on both sexes, all age groups, all constitutions to complete drug picture.
2. Homoeopathy is not a miracle medicine
Homoeopathy produces miraculous results but please, it is not a miraculous medicine. No medicine is a miracle. The medicine works on certain fixed principles which are eternal known from time immemorial.
3. Homoeopathy is not a mind based medicine
Mind, body and spirit are united but homoeopathy is not just a mind based medicine. Mental faculty is an important component in patient study, but is not the only fragment studied. The nature of disease, seat and nature of pathology, various changes in lab titers, prognosis, all make the totality of the case.
4. Homoeopathy is faith medicine
Homoeopathy is not based on faith of the patient. It’s a well proven science, based on natural laws. Clinically also it is been administered to plants, animals and babies who don’t have any belief. A medicine based on laws acts at all times irrespective of their faith.
5. Homoeopathy is not that slow
In my opinion and what I have experienced in these many years of practice, Homoeopathy is not at all a slow method of treatment, be it Acute or Chronic diseases.
Benefits of Homoeopathy
Homeopathy is a holistic science as it treats by a minute or nano doses of natural drug substances. There should always be a reason for opting anything. In the case of the homeopathic system of medicine, it has many reasons as it is based on natural laws and principles. There are several benefits of homeopathy as given below:
The benefits of Homeopathy are as follows:
1. Effective:
Homeopathy is very effective. When the diseases which keep on re-appearing after every few days, months or years homeopathy helps treat such tendencies.
2. Gives lasting relief:
This lasting relief is attained because homeopathy treats the root of the diseases. It depends on the disease and its causative factors, the cure achieved by homeopathy may last for a very long time, many times for over decades or more.
3. Safe and free from side-effects:
The homeopathic medication contains sub physiological quantities of doses so they don’t cause any structural damage to the body. So it is safe to say that homeopathic medicines have no side effects.
It is easy to administer and safe for infants, pregnant females, and it can be used along with other forms of medications.
4. All Age Groups:
Homeopathy can be used in any age group and specifically safer in children, infants, pregnant women, and old persons.
5. Convenient:
These medicines are very convenient and easy to consume.
Myths and Facts about Homeopathy
Myth: Is homeopathy capable of curing medical illness?
Yes, Homeopathy has proved its efficacy in treating auto-immune disorders, allergies, female disorders, diseases of children and elderly people. In fact, some diseases are curable only by homeopathic medicines.
Myth: Are supplements advisable along with homeopathy?
Yes, Supplements are a part of homeopathic treatment. In certain conditions where another source of nutrients is necessary then supplements are recommended.
Myth: Are lab investigations required in homeopathy?
Yes, For proper diagnosis and effective homeopathic prescription like any other pathy, lab investigations such as X-ray, blood tests, MRI, etc. are needed.
Myth: Does homeopathy treat the diseases permanently?
Homeopathy gives lasting results for sure. The word is theoretical, which cannot be promised for, in difficult diseases.
Myth: Can we take homeopathy medicines along with allopathy medicines?
Yes, homeopathic medicines can be taken along with allopathy but it is advised that your consultant homeopathic doctor must know which allopathic medicines you are taking.
Myth: Do homeopathy medicines aggravate the symptoms?
Not true, Homeopathic aggravation is misinterpreted. There may be a mild increase in the symptoms in a few cases in which suppression with allopathic drugs is there like corticosteroid withdrawal.
Myth: Is homeopathy effective in structural changes in the body?
Yes, There are numerous documented cases that have proved the efficacy of homeopathic remedies that it can reverse the structural changes in the body.
Myth: Does homeopathy treat only chronic conditions?
Not True, As many people are getting aware of homeopathy, I have many patients with acute illness.
Myth: Action of homeopathic remedies is slow. Is it true or false?
False, Homeopathy is fast acting medication, as the medicine gets absorbed via sublingual route and starts acting whereas the other medicine goes to the stomach and then gets absorbed which takes some time. When Homeopathy is given in acute cases the action is much faster. When Homeopathy deals with chronic or degenerative diseases the course of medicine may seem long as the diseases are deep-seated and chronic and take time to get treated.
Myth: Is homeopathy safer during pregnancy and in infants?
Yes, Homeopathic remedies are highly diluted and have no side effects, so they are very safe to be prescribed even during pregnancy and in infants.
Myth: Are homeopathic doctors against surgery?
Not really. Surgery is a part of homeopathy. Interestingly, some of the surgical diseases (like piles, fissure, tonsillitis, etc.) can be cured without surgery.
Myth: Does homeopathy have an effective role in genetic disorders?
Yes, homeopathy is effective in various hereditary and congenital disorders.
Myth: Does homeopathy have some limitations?
Yes, Every science has some limitations. Homeopathy is not an exception. Some diseases that have advanced to a stage that they need surgery might not respond to homeopathic remedies whereas some disease & conditions are beyond any pathy’s capacity to treat like metastasis, etc.
Myth: Is homeopathy against modern medicines?
No, homeopathy is not against modern medicine. Homeopathy is just a part of medical science. Alternative medicine is complementary and collaborating.
Homeopathy and Allopathy can co-exist. It is a myth that if a person is taking allopathy medication he cannot take Homeopathy. In fact, Allopathy or conventional medication can be taken with Homeopathy in deep pathology cases like Psoriatic Arthritis or cancer cases pain relief is required, Homeopathy works on controlling the further progression and controls the deterioration of the cases.
Why Homeopathy
Homeopathy: A Nearly Complete Medicine System:
Homeopathy is not limited to specific diseases but is universally applicable to all types of conditions. It is time for people to be fully aware of the benefits and reach of homeopathy in the treatment of various diseases daily. Homeopathy should be more and more accessible to people in difficulty because it can positively help 90% of the infections we know today.
Homeopathy: Not a Last Resort
For the best results and the full benefits of homeopathic science, homeopathy should be used at the beginning of the disease. Due to ignorance and lack of public awareness of the usefulness of homeopathy in all kinds of illnesses ranging from colds to cancer, many patients approach homeopathy late. At this stage, the process of the disease is at an incurable stage and homeopathy can hardly offer solutions to otherwise curable disorders. However, a timely homeopathic treatment could be a blessing for humanity.
Homeopathic: Advice is Important
In the scientific era of health consciousness, time has come to take homeopathic advice for the treatment of any disease not responding to any particular treatment. Often, patients quickly lose their time to a specialist without recourse, without permanent relief, and approach homeopathy only when other drugs fail.
Homeopathy: Excellent for Psychosomatic Diseases
Homeopathy can successfully treat psychosomatic disorders such as migraine, asthma, acidity, peptic ulcer, allergy, ulcerative colitis, etc. Homeopathy has recognized the psychological origin of somatic (bodily) symptoms. Homeopathy always examines the mental constitution of the patient in all cases, and the remedies administered act together at the level of the mind and body, eliminating the disease.
Perhaps no other medical system has such a superb approach to tackling mind-body disorders with definite therapeutic agents. Homeopathic remedies can influence the state of mind. They can act individually to relieve emotional disturbances such as excessive anxiety, irritability, insecurity, obsessive traits, unwarranted jealousy, fears of suspicion (paranoia), depression, neurosis, etc. Thus, homeopathy demonstrates the possibility of the ultimate goal of medicine, the therapy for the person rather than for the disease alone. Homeopathic remedies can treat disturbed mental and emotional states.
Homeopathy: Answer to Allergic Diseases
In modern life, infections have decreased, and various allergic disorders have become widespread. Homeopathy offers a very effective treatment in all allergic diseases such as various skin diseases, such as urticaria, eczema, contact dermatitis, and gives incredibly miraculous results in asthmatic bronchitis.
Homeopathy: Often Avoid Surgery
Homeopathy is not against surgery, but Surgery is an art and a science in itself. The operation is called in cases where drugs have a limited or nonexistent role and in which medicine can cure or improve the disease. There are some so-called “surgical” diseases, in which homeopathy acts curatively and avoids surgery. Recurrent septic tonsillitis, piles, anal fissure, fistula, appendicitis (except gangrenous), chronic ear discharge, vocal cord nodules, nose-ear polyp, small gallstones, small uterus, small uterus fibroid, ovarian cysts, warts, corns, etc.
Homeopathy Offers Wonderful Treatment for Viral Infections:
Viral infection diseases such as cold, flu, measles, chickenpox, mumps, viral hepatitis (jaundice), viral meningitis, and many more are very well treated with homeopathy infection.
Homeopathy: Antibiotic Substitute for Various Infections.
Homeopathy is an effective alternative to antibiotics in various infectious diseases; it has no toxic side effects and allowing rapid recovery. Homeopathy treats many contagious diseases such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media (ear pus), gastroenteritis (vomiting-diarrhea), dysentery, infections urinary, etc. better option for critical diseases such as cerebral malaria, typhoid, and acute tuberculosis, severe infection, etc.
Homeopathy: Ideal for Infants and Children:
Most childhood diseases such as colds, coughs, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, colic, tonsillitis, bronchitis, asthma, measles, chicken pox, mumps, teething problems, etc. side effects whatsoever. Unlike antibiotics and other drugs of this type, homeopathic pills do not hinder digestion or lower body resistance. They do not cause allergies or damage, even if taken over a long period. Children are happy to eat homeopathic pills with a sweet taste. Indeed, homeopathy is suitable for children! Also, homeopathy is also useful in temperament and behavior problems commonly seen in children, such as irritability, stubbornness, temper tantrums, fears, phobias, destructive power; and sucking the thumb, biting the nails, peeing in bed; as well as mentally and physically disabled children.
Homeopathy: Magic of The Minimum Dose:
Homeopathy has a unique approach to the method of drug preparation in which the result contains only the “dynamic healing power” of the drug substance, devoid of any original raw material. According to a special method of preparation called “potentization,” more than 2,500 homeopathic medicines are prepared from sources such as vegetables, animals, minerals, chemicals, and of course, they heal. Homeopathic remedies are dynamic agents that influence the energy of the body.
Homeopathy: Holistic Medicine:
The concept of disease in homeopathy is that the condition is a total affection of the mind and body, a disturbance of the whole organism. Individual organs are not the cause of the disease, but troubles at the inner level (disruption of the vital force, the essential energy of the body) are the cause of the disease. Therefore, homeopathy does not believe that it is necessary to give different drugs for different parts of the body affected, but rather a single constitutional remedy, which will cover the disorders of the person. Homeopathy treats the patient as a whole, not just the illness but it cures of the roots. Medical philosophy is concluding that the mere treatment of symptoms and organs can only help temporarily and that it is the healing power of the body as a whole that needs to be strengthened. Homeopathy believes in a holistic, total and individualistic approach.
Why Homeopathy Treatment is The Choice of Therapy?
Homeopathy is a scientific, logical, safe, fast and extremely effective healing method. It offers long-term, long-term healing by treating the disease with its roots for most conditions. Homeopathy is one of the most rational sciences in terms of concepts of health, illness, and treatment. Homeopathy does not deal superficially by chasing symptoms but heals the patient from within. Without a doubt, homeopathy is the medicine of the future
Who Can Use Homeopathy?
Treatment is individualized, as no two people are alike, and works in conjunction with conventional medicine. Homeopathy can be used to treat babies, adults, the elderly, animals, terminally ill patients, and chronic conditions. How does Homeopathy work? Homeopathy works on three basic principles:
- A medicine, which in large doses produces the symptoms of a disease, will in a small dose cure a disease with similar symptoms. By extreme dilution, the healing properties of the drug are improved, and all toxic side effects are lost. Homeopathic Treatment and medicines are prescribed by the study of the whole individual and according to your necessary temperament.
- Homeopathy Treatment and medicine services gently stimulate the body’s natural healing powers to restore the body to health gently and effectively.
- Homeopathy uses the principle of “like cures like.” If you peel an onion, you usually cry, and if you drink too much coffee, you typically don’t sleep. Onion remedies (Allium Cepa) are used to treat conditions characterized by excessive laceration, such as hay fever and colds. Coffee-Based treatment is used to treat problems such as insomnia.
