Homeopathy -- Let likes be cured with likes.
"The physician's high and only mission is to restore the
sick to health, to cure, as it is termed. . . .The highest ideal
of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of the health,
or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent,
in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, on easily
comprehensible principles."
"He is likewise a preserver of health if he knows the things
that derange health and cause disease, and how to remove them
from persons in health."
Organon of Medicine, Aphorism #1, 2, & 4
by Samuel Hahnemann
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a safe, non-toxic system of medicine which matches
the symptoms of a patient with a substance in nature that would
produce similar symptoms when consumed in toxic quantities. Homeopathy
literally means, “similar sufferings”. It is the science
of potentizing minute extracts from nature into powerful medicines.
Finding a match in Nature requires the patient to explain symptoms
in exact detail, revealing the true peculiar nature of the illness.
A comprehensive database compiled over 200 years, then compares
the totality of the symptoms to the most similar substance in
Nature.
Homeopathy is a system of medicine for treating both chronic diseases
and acute ailments. In 1838, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder
of homeopathy, wrote The Chronic Diseases: Their Peculiar Nature
and Their Homeopathic Cure. This classic text is still accurate
today because the medicinal aspects of Nature are unchanged by
time.
The History of Homeopathy
The history of homeopathy begins with the discoveries of its founder,
Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), a German physician. Hahnemann first
coined the word "homeopathy" ("homoios" in
Greek means similar; "pathos" means suffering) to refer
to the pharmacological principle, the Law of Similars, which is
its basis. Actually, the Law of Similars was previously described
by Hippocrates and Paracelsus and was utilized by many cultures,
including the Mayans, Chinese, Greeks, Native American Indians,
and Asian Indians; but it was Hahnemann who codified the Law of
Similars into a systematic medical science.
Hahnemann's first comments about the general applicability of
the Law of Similars were written in 1789 when he translated a
book by William Cullen, one of the leading physicians of the era.
At one point in the book, Cullen ascribed the usefulness of Peruvian
bark (Cinchona) in treating malaria, to its bitter and astringent
properties. Hahnemann wrote a bold footnote in his translation,
disputing Cullen's explanation. Hahnemann asserted that the efficacy
of Peruvian bark must be for other reasons, since he noted that
there were other substances and mixtures of substances decidedly
more bitter and more astringent than Peruvian bark that were not
effective in treating malaria. He then described his own taking
of repeated doses of this herb until his body responded to its
toxic dose with fever, chills and other symptoms similar to malaria.
Hahnemann concluded that the reason this herb was beneficial was
because it caused symptoms similar to those of the disease it
was treating.
The Rise of Homeopathy
In an 1890 issue of Harpers Magazine, Mark Twain acknowledged
the special value of homeopathy, noting, "The introduction
of homeopathy forced the old school doctor to stir around and
learn something of a rational nature about his business."
Twain also asserted that "You may honestly feel grateful
that homeopathy survived the attempts of the allopaths (orthodox
physicians) to destroy it.
Despite the significant oppression from the orthodox medical profession,
homeopathy survived and even thrived in the 1800s and early 1900s.
By 1900 there were 22 homeopathic medical schools, more than 100
homeopathic hospitals, over 60 orphan asylums and old people's
homes, and over 1,000 homeopathic pharmacies in the United States.
These impressive numbers alone do not provide an accurate perspective
on the significant impact that homeopathy had on American life.
The Current Explosion of Homeopathy in Europe
According to recent surveys in France, an astounding 40% of the
French citizens have used homeopathic medicines, and 39% of French
physicians have prescribed them. At least six French medical schools
currently offer courses leading to a degree in homeopathy. Homeopathy
is also taught in all pharmacy schools and in four veterinary
schools.
In a prominent French news magazine President Francois Mitterand
and six medical school deans called for more research on homeopathy,
and the author of this article editorialized, "It is a fact
that homeopathy obtains results, sometimes spectacular results."
Research on Homeopathy
Research on Infant Diarrhea
Conducted in Nicaragua in association with the Universities of
Washington and Guadalajara, this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study of 81 children showed that an individually chosen remedy
provided statistically significant improvement of the children's
diarrhea as compared to those given a placebo. Children given
the homeopathic remedy were cured of their infection 20% faster
than those given a placebo, and the sickest children responded
most dramatically to the homeopathic treatment. A total of 18
different remedies were used in this trial, individually chosen
based on each child's symptoms.
Research on Migraine Headache
In Italy, sixty patients were randomized and entered into a double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial. These patients regularly filled out
a questionnaire on the frequency, intensity, and characteristics
of their head pain. They were prescribed a single dose of a 30c
remedy at four separate times over two-week intervals. Eight remedies
were considered, and prescribers were allowed to use any two with
a patient. While only 17% of patients given a placebo experienced
relief of their migraine pain, an impressive 93% of patients given
an individualized homeopathic medicine experienced good results.
Research on Diabetic Retinitis
Retinitis is a common complication of diabetes in which there
is an inflammation of the retina causing impairment of sight,
perversion of vision, swelling, discharge from the eye, and sometimes
hemorrhages into the retina. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled
study on 60 patients used Arnica 5c. The results of this study
showed that 47% of patients given Arnica 5c experienced improvement
in central blood flow to the eye, while only 1% of patients given
the placebo experienced this improvement. Further, 52% of patients
given Arnica 5c experienced improvement in blood flow to other
parts of the eye, while only 1.5% of those given the placebo experienced
a similar degree of improvement.
Research on Resolving the Flu in 48 hours
The best-selling flu remedy in France is actually a homeopathic
medicine. Anas barbariae 200c, commonly marketed under the trade
name Oscillococcinum™, is also popular in the United States
and is effective primarily at the first signs of influenza. A
double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 478 patients suffering
from influenza was conducted, making this the largest trial yet
performed testing a homeopathic medicine. This trial showed that
almost twice as many people who took the homeopathic remedy got
over the flu after 48 hours, as compared to those given a placebo.
Research on Shorter Labor and Fewer Complications
Ninety women were given the 5c potency of the following remedies:
Caulophyllum, Arnica, Cimicifuga, Pulsatilla, and Gelsemium. They
were given doses of this combination remedy twice daily during
the ninth month of their pregnancy. This double-blind, placebo-controlled
study showed that women given the homeopathic medicines experienced
a 40% shorter labor than those given a placebo. Also, the women
given the placebo had four times as many complications of labor
as those given the homeopathic medicines.
Research on Shorter Labor
A recent study of 22 healthy women in their first pregnancies
tested Caulophyllum, which was administered in the 7c potency
during the active phase of labor (one dose per hour repeated for
a maximum of 4 hours). The time of labor for those women given
the homeopathic medicine was 38% shorter than for women given
a placebo. This trial was not double-blind; however, researchers
have recently completed a double-blind trial, which confirmed
their earlier results.
More information
If
you would like to learn how you can use homeopathic remedies to
help you and your family resolve acute medical problems, Blair
Lewis, PA-C has developed a wonderful series of CD's. It is 6
hours of information on the most common ailments, the basis and
the history of homeopathy. Right away you will learn about the
basic remedies that you need to have. Click
here and get more information on this course.
