What is homeopathy?
The approach of homeopathy is different to that of conventional medicine in the way remedies are prescribed and the way they are made.
Remedies are prescribed according to the way of similars (the word 'homeopathy' comes from the Greek meaning 'similar suffering'). This is possible because any substance which is able to produce symptoms in a healthy person - be they physical, mental or emotional - can, if specially prepared and diluted, address those same symptoms in someone who is ill with them.
A simple example...
If a person is unable to sleep because their mind is racing, conventional medicine will give them a drug that induces an artificial sleep. A homeopath however follows the "Law of Similars" and selects a remedy such as coffee, which in large doses can cause mental overactivity, sleeplessness or a headache. In the specially prepared homeopathic form, the remedy can stimulate the body to restore its natural balance, which enables the person to sleep again. An added advantage is that the remedy is not addictive.
The homeopath has to find the remedy that matches an individual's symptoms as they experience them - their physical sensations, thoughts and feelings. Homeopathy is thus a holistic medicine: it addresses the entire person, not just their symptoms. Therefore, the key factor is obtaining a good picture of a person as an individual, which enables the homeopath to select the most suitable remedy for them.
There are over 2000 homeopathic remedies that are made from very minute amounts of plant, mineral or animal extracts. These are greatly diluted and succussed in a sophisticated process that develops their active properties. The idea is to give as little remedy as possible to bring about quick and gentle relief or help to maintain a comfortable state. They are non-toxic and non habit-forming and are tested on humans and not on animals.
How do remedies work?
They can stimulate and reinforce the body's natural healing mechanisms. In this way, they may also strengthen the body's defences, making a person less susceptible to ill-health.
