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How to Keep Your Family Healthy Using Homeopathy

Introduction to the Series

You’ve probably heard of homeopathy. Maybe your friend or neighbor has used homeopathic medicines with great success. Or perhaps, you’ve heard someone talk about homeopathy in terms of herbal medicines and/or other natural alternatives. I have found that most people believe that homeopath encompasses everything: herbology, naturopathy, etc.

This is not true. Homeopathy is a very specific system of medicine. We will discuss it briefly in this introduction to homeopathy, and will follow up with several blog posts about how to treat specific common ailments that you might see in your family. This series will teach you how to keep you and your family healthy using homeopathy.

Disclaimer: I am not a physician and this is not to be considered medical advice. Always consult with your physician or homeopathic practitioner before using any homeopathic medicines. 

What is Homeopathy

Homeopathy. The definition of homeopathy from the Miriam-Webster Dictionary is:
a system of medical practice that treats a disease especially by the administration of minute doses of a remedy that would in larger amounts produce in healthy persons symptoms similar to those of the disease

Law of Similars

This system of medicine is based on the Law of Similars, meaning that the medicine used to treat the symptoms, if given in high doses will actually cause the symptoms.

The idea of “like curing like” is not new. The idea dates back to Hippocrates who in 400 BC discovered that certain herbs given in low doses cured the same symptoms that the herb actually caused in higher, toxic doses.

“Any substance which can produce a totality of symptoms in a healthy human being can cure that totality of symptoms in a sick human being.”~~Samuel Hahnemann

Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, took this idea further and began this system of medicine known as homeopathy by “proving” these remedies (medicines). He decided to test out his theory on himself, taking more and more of a potentially toxic substance and recording the symptoms as they occurred. Hahnemann studied different remedies over the years and meticulously recorded the symptoms he experienced from ingesting these substances. These recordings later became the Materia Medica.

Whole-Person Approach

Homeopathy takes into account the total person, not just the physical symptoms a person might be experiencing. Since it is a holistic system of medicine, in order to find the most efficacious medicine for you, a homeopathic practitioner will want to know about your emotional state, temperament, your physical symptoms, your likes and dislikes, your sleeping patterns, and even the odd, quirky things about you that other medical practitioners might overlook. To a homeopath, everything is important. Homeopathic medicine is never one-size-fits-all.

Potencies

A trained homeopathic practitioner knows what potencies are needed for serious conditions. The Law of Minimum states that the medicines are to be given in very minute doses. These medicines are increasingly more powerful in smaller doses. There are hundreds of homeopathic medicines which are prepared in different dilutions and come only from homeopathic pharmacies.

For household use, homeopathic medicines in a 30C or 200C are considered safe to use. You can purchase homeopathic medicines in 30Cs in most health food stores, Whole Foods, other places where you’ll find natural health products, and here on Amazon. To purchase medicines at other potencies, you will get these from a homeopathic practitioner or directly from a pharmacy. (I highly recommend all families have a homeopathic kit on hand.) I travel with mine, and am never far from it.

Homeopathic Hospitals & Pharmacies

It is a little-known fact that the hospitals in the US were originally homeopathic hospitals, meaning that the system of medicine taught and practiced in hospitals was homeopathy. Homeopathy quickly gained a wide following among educated physicians. Many of the initial practitioners and proponents of homeopathic medicine graduated from the most prestigious medical schools of the day. The first medical society formed in the United States was the American Institute of Homeopathy, a society still in existence today.

These physicians had graduated from conventional medical schools and eventually a new group was formed which tried to take over with “new” conventional medicine. This new medical society named itself the “American Medical Association” (AMA).

Homeopathic pharmacies are still in existence today. You don’t see advertisements for them on television (who can complete with the major drug companies in terms of advertising budgets?) but they are still going strong.

Suppression

Suppression is something that happens when you mask symptoms or try to treat them with things like over-the-counter medicines or topical solutions. The idea is, that if the body is trying to rid itself of something (and our bodies are beautifully designed to do this), you really don’t want to push this disease or symptoms deeper into the body; you want to be able to help the body purge itself of whatever is causing symptoms. Have you ever gotten a rash only to run to the store, purchase some Benadryl, or other topical or systemic medicine in order to “treat” it? Have you noticed that the “cure” is almost always temporary?

Homeopathic medicines seek to help the body bring itself back into balance gently while allowing the body to release anything that is out of order. In homeopathic terms, rashes are good: you want things coming out of the skin. It’s your body doing its job.  Homeopathic medicines can assist, but they do not suppress (unless taken incorrectly.)

Cost-Effective

Homeopathic medicines range in cost from approximately $5 to $40, depending on what you need. One vial of medicine will last you several years, since at a 30C or 200C potency, you will only need a few small pellets to get the desired dose. Once you find that a remedy is working, you will likely not need it again for quite a while. Generally, you only take one dose (unless you are under the care of a homeopathic practitioner who advices otherwise and/or prescribes different potencies.)

It Works

Homeopathy is a fascinating system of medicine which is very misunderstood at best, and derogated at worst, simply because it has not been studied properly. While complex, it a system of medicine that is simple to use, is gentle on the person, and it works!

This series is designed as an introduction to homeopathy for those who are new to it, and is not at all intended as medical advice. I am not a medical doctor. I do have a certification in treating acute conditions with homeopathy, however, I am writing this series as simply someone who has used homeopathic medicines with great success for both myself and my family.

Further Reading:

Websites/Articles

The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Homeopathy in the United States

Samuel Hahnemann, Founder of Classical Homeopathy

What is Homeopathy?

Books

Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy – a great book with many great stories

The Complete Book of Homeopathy: Safe and Effective Ways to Treat Fevers, Coughs, Colds and Sore Throats, Childhood Ailments, Food Poisoning, Flu, and a Wide Range of Everyday Complaints – my “go to” – and it’s complete with a Materia Medica and rep chart (more on that later)

Homeopathic Medicine At Home: Natural Remedies for Everyday Ailments and Minor Injuries – a good starter book

The Family Guide to Homeopathy: Symptoms and Natural Solutions – a good book for those just learning

Homeopathic Kits

Starter Kit – this has many of the basic remedies you will need for every-day use.

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