(NaturalNews) Homeopathy is a form of medicine that treats the whole person, not just a specific symptom. It is based on the theory that "like cures like" which means treatments are similar to the illness it is designed to cure. While the roots of homeopathy go back as far as the 5th century BC and the Greek physician Hippocrates, modern homeopathy dates back around 200 years to physician, chemist, and author Samuel Hahnemann.
Hippocrates is known as the father of modern medicine and was the first person to propose treating disease by using a remedy that will produce similar symptoms to what you are trying to cure. In the late 1700's and early 1800's, Samuel Hahnemann developed a system of medicine that teaches that a substance and a disease, which cause similar symptoms, can cancel each other out. He called his system of medicine Homeopathy based on the Greek words homios and pathos that mean like and suffering.
Many of the sources of homeopathic remedies are themselves poisonous like bee stings or rattlesnake venom. The key to making them useful as a homeopathic remedy is dilution. Remedies are diluted to the point that very little of the original ingredient is present in order to be safe and effective.
Homeopathy believes that each person has an energy or vital force. This vital force can be weakened by lack of exercise, poor dietary habits, pollutants in the environment, and even hereditary problems. Remedies are designed to let the body heal itself by stimulating a person's vital force.
Homeopathy sees symptoms as a positive sign that the body is fighting a disease. Treatments do not seek to stop the symptoms; instead, they are designed to support the healing process. In some cases, the symptoms may get worse before getting better.
There are three principles that are used when prescribing homeopathic remedies. The principle of similars states a substance in large doses that causes symptoms similar to the disease being treated will negate or cure the disease when taken in minute doses. The minimal dose principal states that multiple dilutions allow a substance that causes similar symptoms to the disease being treated to be effective without having any side effects itself. The concept of prescribing for the individual means the whole person is treated not just a specific symptom so different remedies will be prescribed for different people that may have similar symptoms.
When you consult with a homeopath, the first visit will last much longer than a typical doctor's visit. The homeopath will ask many questions to determine your overall health and how best to treat your symptoms. After a remedy is prescribed, follow up visits will be required to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.
Homeopathic treatment facilities are becoming more common around the world so you should be able to find one close to where you live. The homeopathic remedies they prescribe can be highly effective at treating conditions that traditional medicine has been unable to cure.
Resources:
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy/http://www.homeopathic.org/The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies by C. Norman Shealy MD, PhD
About the author
David Victor is a health and fitness enthusiast who enjoys learning about all aspects of health and sharing that information with others through writing. He maintains a
health and fitness website called Sassafras Station and an associated blog at
http://www.sassafrasstation.com/blog
Have comments on this article? Post them here:
people have commented on this article.
Email this article to a friend
Share this article on: 
Now Available from 
