Understanding homeopathy

Understanding Homeopathy
Dr Leow Chee Seng
MBA (UPM), DBA (UBI), FBIH (UK), MMIM (Mal), MIHRM (Mal), MIM-CPT (Mal),
CAHRP (Consultant) Mal), Certified E-Commerce Professional (Mal),
Certified Professional Trainer (MIM, PSNB),Certified Stress Management (IACT, USA),
Certificate Qualitative Research (Georgia, USA), Certificate in Homeopathy Medicine (Mal)Practising Cognitive, Behavioural Therapist

“Let like be cured with like’. The homeopathic principle is that when a substance is given to a healthy person they will show signs and symptoms in the form of the disease. If the substance is prepared homeopathically and given to a patient who is suffering with similar signs and symptoms, it is seen that health is restored through the rebalancing of energies.

History of Homeopathy

Homeopathic theory began in 469—399 BC with the Greek physician Hippocrates. He believed that by observing the individual symptoms and reactions to a disease he could prescribe a remedy that would draw upon the patient’s own powers of healing as well as the power of the remedy itself. This was in contrast to the conventional thinking of the time, which taught that the gods were the main force behind a disease and that a cure could be found by treatment with a substance that had an opposite effect in a healthy person the complete reverse of the homeopathic principle.

The German doctor Samuel Hahnemann (1755—1843) was the modern-day founder of homeopathy. His experiments with quinine proved to him that ‘like cures like’. Quinine was known to be an effective treatment for malaria so for several days he took doses of quinine Although he was not suffering from malaria, after several doses of quinine he began develop symptoms of the disease. The symptoms would begin after he had taken a dose of quinine and last for hours afterwards.

To further develop his theory he began to test other substances used in medicine at the time in the same way. This time he used groups of volunteers. He recorded the effect of each substance on the individual, noting any reactions. This was called ‘proving’ the remedy. At the end of this process Hahnemann had listed many substances which could be used to treat a variety of conditions. It was important, however, to understand the nature of each person receiving the treatment, as he found that particular ‘types’ of people showed different symptoms for the same disease and therefore needed to be matched to the remedy closest to their type.

Hahnemann also believed the remedies acted on the person’s ‘vital force’ (this is the body’s own healing potential). He believed that the remedies helped to activate the body’s vital force and trigger a reaction to fight a certain disease or condition. The type of remedy given would be the key to triggering the right reaction and stimulating the vital force to combat the disease or ailment. The remedy should therefore not only mirror the symptoms of the disease, but also the type of person taking the remedy. During his lifetime Hahnemann proved over a hundred homeopathic remedies. In 1811 he published The Organon of Rationale Medicine, which set out his theories and listed the many proved remedies.

American doctor James Tyler Kent (1849—1943) dedicated himself to homeo­pathy, continuing Hahnemann’s work. He further developed the idea of types of people and that a remedy must be matched according to the emotional and physical characteristics of a person. These types became known as ‘constitutional types’. He went on to write the Kent Repertory. The information in the repertory is stored under remedy headings, with emphasis given to mental and emotional symptoms.

Potentization – less is more!

Hahnemann believed in the vital force as a healing source and therefore wished to use the minimum amount of a substance to bring about the healing effect; this would also cause as few side effects as possible (known as aggravations). He discovered that if the substance was diluted it achieved a far better result. Thus the less the original substance remained in the remedy, the greater its potency. In order to get less of the original substance it must be diluted, so the greater the dilution, the more potent the remedy. This leads to the practice of potentization.

Remedies are potentized in the following way. An alcoholic/water extract is made from the material in question (called the mother tincture). The extract is then diluted to the required potency. The main potencies are: x = 1 in 10; c = 1 in 100; m = 1 in 1000. So a ic potency is diluted 1 part mother tincture in 99 parts water. A 2c would take 1 part of the previous dilution and dilute again in 99 parts water and so on. The terms ‘c’, ‘x’ and ‘m’ therefore denote the degree of dilution of a particular remedy.

Before each dilution the mixture is shaken vigorosly this is known as succussion. Once the potency is reached, a few drops the substance are then applied to lactose (milk sugar) tablets and the tablets are placed in an airtight, dark-glass bottle and stored away from direct sunlight.

Sources of homeopathic remedies

There are over 3000 remedies worldwide. This book covers the most used, useful and easily available remedies for common ailments. Further detailed study of remedies can be undertaken by reference to Boericke’s Materia Medica with Repertory.

I believe that the worst that can happen with homeopathic treatment is that the remedies do not work; that is to say, they do not achieve an effect. It is also prudent to state that homeopathic treatment is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment and that patients should always consult a doctor for treatment of any serious medical condition (although homeopathy can, of course, work alongside conventional medicines).

A remedy can be made from virtually any source using the above method, but the most common sources are plants, trees, poisons and minerals.

Modalities

Modalities are influences which worsen or improve the symptoms of the patient. They are an invaluable guide to the choice of a homeopathic remedy. Modalities can be in several forms, depending on the associated remedy:
· Physical modalities: movement, position” of the body, touch, rest, exertion, noise and smells.
· Temperature modalities: hot, cold, warm, wind, season of the year, damp. Time modalities: day or night, morning, afternoon or evening; hourly (e.g. 10 a.m., 1 a.m., 3 p.m.).
· Dietary modalities: foods, drinks, stimulants, alcohol.
· Localized modalities: left-handed, right­handed, left worse, right worse.


Homeopathic Aggravation

An ‘aggravation’ is the term given to a temporary worsening of the condition, which is viewed as a positive sign, meaning the remedy is working and has stimulated the vital force into the action of healing. For an acute condition the aggravation may last several hours; for a chronic case it may last up to two days. An improvement should follow after the aggravation. If an aggravation is experienced the remedy should be halted to allow the vital force and immune system to fight the condition. If the original symptom(s) begins to return the remedy should be taken again to provide further stimulation to the body’s vital force.

Not everyone experiences an aggravation, and it is not necessary to experience one for the remedies to work; many people’s conditions improve without an aggravation. If there is no improvement in the symptoms or condition, with or without an aggravation, this is an indication that a different remedy may be needed.

The vital force

This refers to the body’s own subtle energy. The vital force may be run down by many factors, for example stress, poor diet and nutrition, hereditary conditions or lack of exercise. Homeopathic remedies stimulate the vital force to enable the body to heal itself by energizing it and enabling it to return to optimum health.