Homeopathy

What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy tackles the cause of ill health rather than suppressing the symptoms – it treats the person not the disease.

Remedies are selected on the basis of all aspects of the patient and his or her symptoms. Each treatment – like each person – is unique.

How does it work?

The principles of homeopathy

The “like with like” principle

• A substance that causes a symptom in a healthy person will cure that same symptom in an ill person.

• Example of “like with like”: Allium cepa

Like with like: what do the sceptics say?

• Conventional medicine is geared towards suppressing the symptoms of disease. Some conventional practitioners do not agree with giving more of the responsible agent of the illness to the patient.

The minimum dose: what do the sceptics say?

• In homeopathy, the substance is diluted to such a high degree that none of the original material is present in the medicine. Sceptics claim the effect must be a placebo response.

Evidence in favour of homeopathy

• 60 positive randomised controlled trials (RCTs)

• 9 positive meta-analyses of RCTs• Clinical outcome studies

• Laboratory studies

• Veterinary studies

The history of homeopathy

• Ancient Greeks• Hippocrates 2,500 years ago:“through the like, disease isproduced and through theapplication of like, it is cured”

The history of homeopathy• Dr Samuel Hahnemann• General Physician 200 years ago• Organised homeopathy into

modern science• Observed “like with like”

phenomenon• Developed concept of dilution of

medicines to prevent adverse toxic effects

• Coined the term “succussion”

Homeopathy can also help:when conventional medicine is ineffective or non-

existent

when conventional medicine is unsafe

when conventional medicine has side-effects that are unacceptable

to complement conventional medicine

to provide symptomatic relief in untreatable or terminal conditions

Where homeopathy cannot help:

• Cannot reverse irreparable damage or replace absent body hormones

• Cannot replace surgical procedures

What are the advantages?

Safe

No side effects

Not addictive

• Only used while problem present

• No adverse interaction with conventional medicines

The homeopathic consultation

• Duration: Usually 1 hour

• Objective: to discover the overall picture –“the whole person”

What the consultation will focus on

• General features - sleep, appetite, thirst

• Mental features - temperament, emotions, general sense of “well being”

• Particular symptoms – physical characteristics related to the complaint

Following the consultation

• Case analysed by homeopathic practitioner

• Homeopathic medicine prescribed

Dosage of medicine

• Regular or single dose

Strength of medicine

• Range of potencies

• x range• c range

• Examples - 6x, 30c, 200c

Review of treatment

• Four weeks after first consultation

• Usually 20-30 minutes long

• Practitioner will assess how the treatment is progressing

Response to medicine

• Practitioner will observe whether symptoms have been alleviated and to what degree. Onset and duration of improvement will be noted

Outcome of review

• No further medicine• Repeat original medicine - at

same or different dose• Prescribe new medicine

What is homeopathy used for?

Some common examples

Indigestion

• Nux vomica 30c three times per day until better and then as needed.

Joint pain – Osteo/Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Rhus tox 30c three times per day until better and then as needed.

Bruising – acute trauma• Arnica 30c every

15 mins in first hour; hourly for rest of day; then four times per day until better.

Leg / calf cramps – especially nocturnal cramps

• Cuprum metallicum 30c three times per day until better and then as needed.

Insomnia

• Coffea 30c at bedtime and every 30 minutes if still awake.

Eczema • Sulphur 6c three times on

one day only.• If no worsening / flare up

of eczema continue twice daily until better.

• Beware worsening of eczema / aggravation reactions, especially in children.

Chilblains

• Agaricus muscarius 30c three times per day until better and then as needed.

Warts / Verrucae• Thuja 6c twice a

day until a change in the wart is noticed. Then stop.

Teething

• Chamomilla 6c four times per day until better and then as needed.

Infantile colic • Ensure that medical

diagnoses have been excluded.

• Colocynth 6c three times per day until better and then as needed.

• An alternative is Chamomilla 6c• If no better after 2 days stop

medicine and seek medical advice.

Car / motion sickness

• Cocculus 30c on the morning of the journey and upon leaving home. Repeat the dose if feeling nauseous during the journey.

Hay fever• For acute symptoms - Combination

remedy containing Allium cepa / Euphrasia / Sabadilla 30c. Give four times daily as needed.

• For prevention - Mixed Grass and Pollen 30c twice daily. Start four weeks before season and continue throughout.

Five reasons to choose homeopathy:

1. It is often successful where other treatments have failed and can reduce the need to take conventional treatments

2. Not addictive and no dangerous side-effects3. You are treated as a whole person – emotional and

environmental factors also affect your wellbeing4. It tackles the cause rather than suppressing symptoms5. People often say homeopathy makes them feel better

in themselves

Find out more...

info@cybermed.edu.mysuriya@cybermed.edu.myCyberjaya University College of

Medical Sciences