FAQ

WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?
Homeopathy – pronounced “ho•mee•ahp’•eh•thee” – is a safe, effective system of natural medicine, used by millions of people worldwide. Thirty-nine percent of physicians use Homeopathy in their practice in France, 20% in Germany, 42% in the UK, and 45% in the Netherlands. It is the leading medical system in India.  In the US, 14% of physicians refer their patients for Homeopathic treatment.

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF HOMEOPATHY?
“Homeopathy” is derived from the Greek words “Hómoios” and “pathos” meaning “similar suffering.” It is a form of medicine founded by German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, who lived from 1755-1843.

The practice is based on the fact that natural substances that cause illness can also cause healing when taken in small doses.  For instance — Coffee (Coffea cruda) is known to cause sleeplessness due to a racing mind; when taken as a small homeopathic dose it helps calm the mind and relieve insomnia and restore the body to a state of balance. This is the “Law of Similars” originally discovered by the Greek physician, Hippocrates, and is known simply as “Like cures Like.”

It is interesting to note that Hippocrates discovered another law, “the law of opposites,” or Allopathy. Conventional medicine has it’s roots in the law of opposites and is often referred to as “allopathic medicine.
More on Samuel Hahnemann

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES
As stated above, conventional medicine is bases on the “law of opposites.” Let’s use allergies as an example. If a person is suffering from hay fever, with watery eyes and a burning nasal discharge, one would normal reach for an antihistamine to dry up the nasal discharge and watery eyes. An antihistamine suppresses or masks the allergy symptoms and may cause side effects such as dizziness or drowsiness. A homeopath might recommend a homeopathic remedy called Allium cepa, which is a tiny dose of a type of onion which has been specially prepared by a homeopathic pharmacy in accordance with FDA-approved guidelines. Allium cepa is a likely remedy because onions are known to cause watery eyes and a burning nasal discharge with no side effects. You may have experienced just these symptoms the last time you chopped onions while preparing a meal.

WHAT ARE THE MEDICINES MADE FROM?
Homeopathic medicines are made from tiny amounts of natural substances and are called remedies. One blossom from a rare, wild orchid can produce enough remedy to last for decades. Remedies are prepared by Homeopathic pharmacies in accordance with FDA-approved guidelines and cost pennies to produce when compared to conventional medicine.

ARE THE REMEDIES HERBS?
About 70% of the more than 3,000 remedies are from plant sources. Other sources are animal and mineral. The Latin names are always used as the name of the remedies, a scientific convention used throughout the world. There is no animal testing and no killing of animals. Homeopathic remedies are earth-friendly and are safe for infants, seniors, and animals. Homeopathy is truly a Green medicine.

WHAT IS POTENCY?
Potency refers to the strength of the homeopathic remedy according to the number of times the remedy is diluted and succussed (rapidly shaken) during it’s preparation. The process of dilution and succussion is called potentization. There are several potency scales, i.e. X, C, and M. These represent roman numerals for ten, hundred, thousand are the dilution rates and represent the number of drops used of the remedy substance in the form of mother tincture and diluting liquid, usually water or alcohol. As an example — after one 1-drop of mother tincture to 9-drops of water is succussed the potency is 1X. To achieve 2X 1-drop of the 1X is added to 9-drops of water and then succussed, and so on.

WHAT IS MOTHER TINCTURE?
Alcohol extract of a soluble substance not potentized, usually stored in 87% to 100% alcohol.

HOW DOES HOMEOPATHY WORK?
Homeopathy supports your natural self-healing capacity, stimulating a powerful, yet gentle, healing response. A homeopathic remedy liberates trapped energy so that you are able to self-heal on all levels, mental, emotional and physical.

Homeopathic healing is a bit like a spinning top. A person’s response to a remedy sets the top in motion, and health spirals out from the center. In my practice, I have seen amazing results. One client was able to say good-bye to 20 years of back pain in 4 months. Another was able to overcome a life-time of debilitating panic attacks in a year.

DO I HAVE TO STOP MY MEDICATIONS?
No. Homeopathy works alongside conventional medicine. It is not contraindicated.

HOW DOES HOMEOPATHY DIFFER FROM CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE?
Although conventional and Homeopathic medicines share a goal of relief of symptoms, the way in which Homeopaths view sickness and health is different. Homeopathy is a holistic medicine, meaning that it treats the whole person, not isolated symptoms. Also, Homeopaths use the least amount of medicine to stimulate the quickest restoration of health. They prescribe a single remedy once, then wait and watch for a response to determine the next course of action. Adjunct therapies, like dietary change, are also used to support a person’s healing response.

DO HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS? (link redirects away from this page to a separate article)

WHAT DOES HOMEOPATHY COST?
Remedies cost pennies when compared to conventional drugs. Homeopathy visits are typically 4-8 weeks apart, and are gradually further apart as you get better, less frequent than other modalities. Homeopathic services are often reimbursed through employee benefits such as a Section 125 Cafeteria or Flex-Spending Plan. I am a Healthways Whole Health Network Proivder. If your insurance company contracts with Healthways, you may eligible for homeopathy at discounted rates.

HOW DOES HOMEOPATHY HELP?
Homeopathy offers help for serious and chronic diseases such as depression, eating disorders, digestive issues, headaches, and chronic pain. It can also be used for common sicknesses such as colds and flus, allergies, aches and pains.

WHAT IS AN ACUTE ILLNESS VERSUS A CHRONIC ILLNESS?
A condition that is usually brief in duration and self-limiting. It either runs its course or he patient dies. A chronic illness is one that develops more slowly, last indefinitely and results in deterioration of the health, doesn’t resolve with some sort of healing intervention. Examples of acute diseases are colds, flu, and ear infections. Examples of chronic illnesses are arthritis, cancer, hypertension, thyroid disorders, and diabetes.

WHAT IS CONSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT?
Treating the whole person and not the presenting symptoms of the illness. Homeopaths do not rely on common symptoms – such as spots and swollen glands suffered by a person with measles – for finding the appropriate remedy. A homeopathy takes a broader approach and looks for the symptoms that unique to the individual who has the measles. An example of unique symptoms in a person with the measles might be if they to craved sour foods and wanted the window open, even if they were chilly.
Further explanation of Homeopathic Acute & Constitutional Care.

WHAT IS THE ORGANON?
Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), the founder of homeopathy, created a book in which he set down the principles and philosophy of homeopathy. This body of knowledge is called the The Organon of Medicine and is studied by homeopaths today.

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