What Is Homeopathy And How Does It Work?

What is homeopathy and how does it work?

You might have already searched on Google for “homeopathy meaning”, “what is homeopathy”, “homeopathy definition”, etc. Well, let us simplify it for you. Homeopathy is based on the belief that the body can cure itself. Homeopathy practitioners use tiny amounts of natural substances such as plants and minerals. They believe these stimulate the healing process. It was developed in the late 1700s by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in Germany. He is the father of homeopathy.

World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations specialized agency which concerned with international public health since 1948. According to the WHO, homeopathy is a system of medicine born in Europe in the last part of the 18^th century. Homeopathy doctors use homeopathy medicines that are prepared following a well-defined procedure, starting from substances derived from the mineral, herbal and animal worlds.

How does homeopathy work?

A fundamental belief behind homeopathy is like cures like. In other words, something that brings on symptoms in a healthy person can treat an illness with similar symptoms. This triggers the body’s natural defenses. For instance, red onion makes your eyes water. This is the reason why it is used in homeopathy remedies for allergies.

Homeopathy doctors or homeopaths weaken the ingredients by adding water or alcohol. Then they shake the mixture. This process is called potentization. They believe this step transfers the healing essence. They also think that the lower the dose, the more powerful the homeopathy medicine. Many homeopathy remedies no longer contain any molecules of the original substance. They come in various forms, such as sugar pellets, liquid drops, creams, gels, and tablets.

During your appointment, a homeopathy doctor will ask several questions about your mental, emotional, and physical health. They will prescribe the homeopathy remedy that best matches all of your symptoms. Then they will tailor the homeopathy treatment for you.

How long does it take for homeopathy to work?

The homeopathy treatment might start showing an improvement in one’s condition as soon as a few weeks to as late as a few years. This depends upon the duration of one’s illness, its progression and earlier treatments that an individual might have taken. The sooner the homeopathy treatment is started, the better are its outcomes.

How effective is homeopathy?

As with all therapies, whether alternative or conventional, the answer depends on whom you ask! When it comes to alternative therapies, people tend to conclude the efficacy of the entire system based on a single experience.

In truth, the knowledge and skill of a homeopathy practitioner or homeopath have an immense bearing on the therapy outcome. To think otherwise would be akin to dismissing conventional medicine as a whole after one bad experience with your new doctor.

For example, a good homeopathy doctor can recommend the appropriate magnesium phosphoricum to relieve abdominal cramping and menstrual cramps. This is just one of a host of other tried and tested homeopathy remedies that work.

If the patient doesn’t respond to this kind of homeopathy therapy, the homeopathy doctor can explore other treatments or recommend a consultation with a conventional doctor. This kind of individualized attention is one of the defining characteristics of homeopathy.

Now, you may be questioning the safety of homeopathy.  Is homeopathy safe, you ask? A large part of the answer depends on the homeopathy doctor. It is essential to highlight that homeopathy and its underpinning principles are designed to safeguard the patient and their wellbeing as far as possible.

Recommending minimal or watered-down doses and single-remedies helps homeopathy doctors monitor the immune response of each patient and the efficacy of a specific homeopathy remedy.

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes and regulates homeopathy remedies that are manufactured under strict guidelines. However, the regulations are location-specific and it is generally a good idea to familiarize yourself with your state’s position before seeking out homeopathy-related services or training.

That said, in isolation, homeopathy has limited application and efficacy. Nevertheless, when combined with complementary therapies and treatments, homeopathy might contribute toward overall health and wellness.

For instance, a general practitioner (GP), naturopath, and homeopathy doctor may formulate a regimen that supports a mutual patient’s individual health needs. The integration of conventional and unconventional methods adds a level of depth to the healing process that traditional medicine has historically excluded.

Regarding homeopathy, at least 142 trials have been published in scientific journals. Up to 85% of random-controlled trials demonstrate that homeopathy is more effective than placebo. (Source: The School of Homeopathy)

There have been five meta-analyses reviewing homeopathy trials, including one that appeared in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Four studies showed that overall homeopathy worked better than placebos.

A six-year study reported that 70% of 6,500 follow-up patients experienced improved health after receiving homeopathy treatments. (Source: Bristol Homeopathic Hospital)

Why choose homeopathy treatment?

Homeopathy treatment is widely used all over the world. It’s a very famous and natural way of treatment because it works on the principle of Like Cure Like.

• Homeopathy treatment helps to get health back by using the body’s healing powers.
• In the treatment process, each patient is treated as an individual.
• Homeopathy cures by using the minimum amount of dose.
• Homeopathy remedies are powerful and can be easily managed.
• Homeopathy treatment does not need to be tested on animals. It is that much secure.
• Homeopathy treatment helps you to cure your symptoms at all levels (mentally, spiritually and physically).

5 benefits of homeopathy

1. Considers all aspects of an individual patient

Homeopathy does not view an illness as just a collection of symptoms but rather a reaction to a unique patient’s situation. Homeopathy treats all symptoms experienced by a patient, including spiritual, emotional, mental and physical. This means homeopathy treatments consider things like chronic stress and beliefs about one’s ability to get better, which we now know are hugely important for overall health.

1. Uses low doses of natural products

Homeopathy medicines are not made using artificial preparations or chemicals but rather from things found in nature like trace minerals and herbs. They are usually used in very low doses. They are gentle, subtle and powerful. Compared to prescription medications, homeopathy medicines carry a very low risk for addiction and only very rarely cause any adverse side effects.

1. Treats allergies and asthma

Homeopathy treatments are used to treat allergies and asthma similarly to conventional treatments by giving a patient a small amount of the same substances that cause their allergies, to begin with. In a study conducted by researchers, 80% of asthma patients who received customized, tiny homeopathy doses experienced significant relief and improved symptoms within the first week of treatment. Patients were given tiny doses of substances that they were allergic to in order to stimulate the body’s immune system and help them heal. Compared to the homeopathy group, the control group receiving a placebo only experienced improvements about 38% of the time. (Source: The University of Glasgow in Scotland)

1. Reduces anxiety and depression

Many patients with anxiety and depression experience insomnia or trouble sleeping, fatigue, muscles aches, headaches and digestive upset. A homeopathy doctor addresses all symptoms associated with mental disorders, both physical and emotional, which can help a patient recover faster.

A meta-analysis investigated homeopathy’s effectiveness for anxiety. Several observational studies reported positive results, including high levels of patient satisfaction. Overall, surveys suggest that homeopathy is quite frequently used by patients suffering from anxiety. It offers many patients benefits with minimal risk. (Source: School of Integrated Health in London)

1. Controls pain

Certain studies have found that people suffering from chronic pain can benefit from homeopathy treatments, without risky procedures or medications. A controlled, randomized prospective study involving 43 patients suffering from chronic lower back pain assessed symptoms at the beginning and end of 18.5 months. During the trial period, patients received homeopathy therapy based on their unique symptoms. They statistically evaluated the results. The results showed that at the end of treatment, many patients experienced a significant decrease in pain.

What conditions does homeopathy treat?

Homeopathy is used for a wide variety of health problems, including some chronic conditions:

• Allergies
• Migraines
• Depression
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Premenstrual syndrome

Homeopathy can be used for minor problems such as bruises, scrapes, toothaches, headaches, nausea, coughs, and colds. It would be best if you avoid the use of homeopathy medicine in emergencies. You should avoid using homeopathy in place of vaccines.

Common homeopathy remedies

Following are the homeopathy medicines often used to treat common ailments:

• Allium cepa: Homeopathy medicine allium cepa is a type of onion used for the common cold and hay fever.
• Chamomilla: Homeopathy medicine chamomilla is used to give relief to irritable infants dealing with teething. (It helps parents with their sleep, as well, of course.)
• Hypericum: Homeopathy medicine hypericum is used to treat pain in the nerves, like in the fingers, toes and back.
• Ignatia: Homeopathy medicine Ignatia is used to treat acute grief, anxiety, or depression, like following the death of a loved one.
• Magnesia phosphorica: Homeopathy medicine Magnesia phosphorica is used for alleviating cramps, like menstrual cramps.
• Nux vomica: Homeopathy medicine nux vomica is often used to help those dealing with ailments exacerbated by the use of recreational drugs or excessive eating or drinking – the proverbial “hair of the dog that bit you.”
• Pulsatilla: Homeopathy medicine pulsatilla is not used for a specific disease but for those who tend toward a particular set of psychological characteristics and physical symptoms that include wearing less clothing than others, problems dealing with heat.
• Rhus tox: Homeopathy medicine Rhus tox is used for sprains and strains.

While using these for medical treatment, homeopathy doctors will add water or alcohol to the substance to create a mixture as part of a process known as potentization. It is not the amount or volume of the substance being used that formulates its effectiveness – it is its essence.

The homeopathy doctor will proceed through multiple rounds of potentization, adding more water or alcohol each time, such that in some instances, the final remedy to be used no longer includes any of the original substance’s molecules because it is so diluted. This theory of diminishing substance amount is what the National Institutes of Health (NIH) refers to as the law of minimum dose.

The main thing to keep in mind is that you should never self-medicate. Always visit your nearest homeopathy clinic and consult an expert homeopathy doctor for a tailored homeopathy treatment plan.

We strongly believe that you will find homeopathy not only to be highly effective but remarkably safe for all of your health concerns. If you would like to find out how we can help you at OHO Homeopathy, get in touch with us. We would love to hear from you.