Homeopathy

A homeopath searches for the medicine that will result in a fundamental shift in the person from disease to health. To that end, it is essential to use the principle of "like cures like": to match the state of the person’s disease with precisely the substance from nature that would cause such an imbalance in a healthy person. Thus homeopathy’s aim is to stimulate the onset of a genuine healing process.

Once the homeopath is able to perceive the uniqueness of the person and his or her symptoms, the next step is to select a single homeopathic medicine made from the natural substance that is known to cause those same symptoms. This medicine, paradoxically, can treat what its parent substance causes. A very highly diluted, specially prepared medicine (called a homeopathic remedy) is made from the original substance, and stimulates the body to heal itself.

There are over two thousand homeopathic remedies made from substances in the plant, animal, and mineral kingdoms. Any substance that you can possibly think of has either been made into a homeopathic remedy or could potentially become a remedy. Each substance in nature possesses its own unique traits.

For example, iron is prepared homeopathically as the remedy Ferrum metallicum. Just as iron has the properties of being strong and unbending, becoming molten, and being used to make armor, people needing the remedy Ferrum tend to be red-faced, irritable, and strong willed, and tend to engage in battles with other people. They conversely might be unable to stand up for themselves or suffer from physical ailments such as weakness or anemia.

Any substance in nature can be made into a homeopathic remedy. Homeopaths and homeopathy students continue to do this all the time by participating in new remedy trials called provings. During a proving, healthy individuals take a remedy and record their symptoms. The remedy can then be of great benefit in relieving similar symptoms in a person who is ill. Most of the remedies in use today have been in use since Samuel Hahnemann (the founder of homeopathy) and his many students proved them in the 18th and 19th centuries. Once you are familiar with symptoms and with the remedies that treat them, finding the needed remedy for a person is like recognizing a friend you have met many times before.

When you see a homeopath for the first time, you will be prompted to speak at length about whatever illnesses or other disturbances you are experiencing in your life. In addition, a homeopath needs to get to know you a bit as a person. Having an understanding of your nature is crucial to the selection of the best remedy for you. After you have taken your remedy, you will be asked to return every 2 months or so to check on your progress and to monitor for when the remedy needs to be repeated.

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