Homeopathy is a medical science introduced by a German scientist Dr Samuel Hahnemann, MD, in 1796 and it has been in use all over Europe, the US, Australia, most parts of Asia, the middle and far East, and India. It is the most practiced Alternative System of Medicine in the world today, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
Homeopathy works effectively especially for Chronic and Recurring diseases. Homeopathy is also effective in acute diseases. However, it is not the best suitable for critical conditions.
Homeopathy is strongly recommended for chronic and reducing diseases such as auto-immune diseases, skin diseases, allergies, various forms of arthritis, asthma, metabolic diseases, psychosomatic diseases, psychiatric disorders, hormonal diseases, cancers, and many more. homeopathy is not suggested for critical conditions such as severe infections, critical heart and brain diseases, accidental damages, etc.
Homeopathy stands out distinct as compared to other modes of treatment by its fundamental principles directed towards treating diseases at the root level, by addressing the multiple causative factors such as genetic, immunological, metabolic, hormonal, emotional and the like. As a result, the diseases are treated in totality rather than in parts or as entities separate from the 'whole' of the individual patient. In that sense, homeopathic science believes in the 'holistic' approach.
Interestingly, the homeopathic medicines are also prepared in such a sophisticated way that rather than using harsh chemicals for treating humans, homeopathy uses attenuated and 'potentized' medicine substances which are in the form of nanoparticles, which have been found to be effective in treating the diseases at a much deeper level.
And, needless to say, the homeopathic medicines are absolutely safe and free from adverse effects. They are safe for even new-born babies as well as during pregnancy, and for elderly patients.
One of the myths about homeopathy is that it is a cure for all, a panacea. It is not. Homeopathy enjoys all the joys of the scope of its application, as well as the limitations of the science. No medical science can be a panacea. Homeopathy can cure early stages of Rheumatoid arthritis but not the deformities, which go with it, as an example.
One of the hardest concepts about homeopathy is that homeopathy is based largely on the understanding of the mind. The homeopathic fraternally is also not fully saved of this misbelief. The study of the mental attitudes, emotions, and the mindset is one of the important aspects of patient-study in homeopathy. However, it is not the sole determining factor.
Many homeopaths, especially in the western world, have a delusion that homeopathy is almost identical with mind-medicine. Homeopathy study encompasses, actually, the disease, the nature of pathology, the kind of immunological or hormonal changes, the physical components (perspiration, thermal preference, sleep, etc) and the mental sphere; all or most of them put together, depending on the case.
Many homeopaths tend to relate disease or pathology in patients to some emotional parameter, almost always as cause and effect phenomenon. For example, diabetes due to stress in relationship or arthritis due to grief due to the death of a loved one, etc. Psychosomatism is profoundly comprehended and valued in homeopathy; however, not necessarily as a causal phenomenon, but more as a part of the totality. There is no need to forcibly connect major emotions as the cause for the development of every disease in all patients.
Since homeopathy is based on the potentized (incredibly minute) dose of the physical substance, which cannot be measured with the current scientific methods, many have theorized and connected homeopathy with spirituality. It seems interesting to read some correlation between the two; however, it may be detrimental for the growth of homeopathy if taken away from science and towards spirituality. Comparing ‘vital force’ with ‘sole’ and miasms with ‘Buddhism’ will take homeopathy away from scientific growth.
Homeopathy is not-yet-fully-understood science, so, to some, it might look like some form of spirituality.
The skeptics have always criticized homeopathy as placebo therapy, due to lack of adequate research as per modern medicine guidelines. Since the results using homeopathic medicines are fairly reproducible, measurable and documentable, I would strongly say that homeopathy is far beyond placebo therapy.
Next label from skeptics is that homeopathy is nothing but faith healing. Homeopathy has worked million times for those who did not believe in it. Also, babies, domestic and wild animals, respond to homeopathy; proving homeopathy to be more than placebo therapy. Cases of Hepatitis C, for example, where objective parameter such as a drastic reduction in viral load after homeopathic medicines; is very hard to achieve with faith healing. The skeptics should try out homeopathy, I suggest.
The homeopathic professionals have been taught to be dogmatic about the use of ‘single remedy’ at a time, for all patients, all the time. It is very hard to break this fixity and evolve from this rigid shell; which even the father of homeopathy, Dr Hahnemann, could not outgrow in his time. The homeopaths tend to be either emotional when it comes to talking about the use of more remedies in a given case or shy away from discussing it. The profession has yet to enter into a scientific discussion about so-called poly-pharmacy (multiple medicines).
No complex case be cured using a single remedy forever, barring only a few exceptions.
I deal with very severe pathologies such as Ulcerative colitis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Nephrotic Syndrome, etc. where it is not possible to administer a single remedy and wait. Every delay could be detrimental and not justified.
‘Single remedy, single dose’ is the magic phrases found in homeopathic textbooks; no more relevant in today’s medical practice. I have practiced the said phrases very religiously for over a decade and a half; and have evolved from the dogmatism.
Sticking to the idea of a single remedy and single dose could even lead to criminal intransigence.
Some teachings have led to creating a cloud of delusion amongst some homeopaths, which believe that the practice of homeopathy can be based on the understanding of patient’s dreams. Study of dreams is one of the twenty-odd parameters in homeopathy; one of the most unreliable, indeed. Its importance should not be overemphasized.
Over importance to the theory of suppression of diseases in homeopathy is misleading, very often. Yes, use of immunosuppressive medicines such as corticosteroids, etc. leads to suppression of the immune system, eventually taking the disease to deeper levels. This is very well understood in homeopathic philosophy. However, an extension of the concept of suppression, whereby some believe that anti-fever (paracetamol, Tylenol), painkillers, antibiotics, always lead to suppression; and must always be avoided. This is not true, in my opinion. This calls for scientific debate.
The proponents of homeopathy claim that homeopathy is not slow. Actually, this is partly true and partly not. Homeopathy is not slow in chronic diseases. It relatively slow in acute diseases and could be very slow in the treatment of critical diseases.
Homeopathy is not very fast, either. Let me be honest. Homeopathy is neither very fast nor very slow. We need research to make homeopathy faster, I would say.
Any contradiction to the concept of constitutional medicine is a potential trigger for third world war, amongst homeopaths at least. After twenty-five years of intense homeopathic practice, I believe that the ‘constitutional medicine’ is a hype created in the profession. It calls for a review and re-evaluation. It is a huge topic, cannot be discussed in length here. In brief, I would say, all cases may not find a constitutional medicine and can still be treated with success.
One school of thought is that homeopathy can cure each every acute and critical disease such as cerebral malaria, bacterial meningitis, acute renal failure, severe pneumonia, acute myocardial infection (heart attack), and the like. I strongly opine that it is not true. Homeopathy is a science having a limitation whereby severe acute and critical disease situations cannot be consistently treated with success. Please read the word ‘consistently’ with emphasis. Success with some cases, on some occasions, may not be enough. The results have to be comparable with modern medicine; in order that we ethically claim the success of homeopathy in severe acute and critical illnesses.
Many people and some homeopaths believe that if symptoms of the patient match with some medicines, every disease becomes curable. In other words, if the medicine selection is perfect, the cure is certain; irrespective of the nature of the disease. This is not true. The curability of any disease depends on several factors such as 1. Nature of the disease. For example, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) may be curable; while cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver is not curable. 2. The extent of pathological change. For example, fewer patches of Alopecia Areata (hair loss patches) are curable; but total hair loss (Alopecia totalis) is not curable. 3. Reversibility of the disease process and outcome. Inflammatory arthritis can be helped but Osteoarthritis (bony overgrowth) cannot be reversed. 4. Selection of the correct homeopathic remedies.
The well-evolved medical knowledge acquired by medical science is very much required for the evolution of homeopathy. Homeopathy does not claim to be beyond the modern medical science. In fact, it is high time to understand that homeopathy and medical science are not distinctly different as far as the ‘medicine’ is concerned. They are not contrary but complementary and collaborating; belonging to the same medical science.
Some may believe that ‘modern medicine’ and homeopathy against each other, contrary; kind of enemies! I have always wondered, how such concepts have grown in the minds of medicos, homeopaths, and lay-people. Homeopathy is just a science; a part of medical science. If we look at the evolution of engineering sciences, do we believe that computer engineering is contrary to the electronics; mechanical engineering opposing electrical or civil engineerings? Not really. They all are complementing each other. Why don’t we have maturity when it comes to medical sciences?
One of the myths among laypeople, modern medicos, as well as the surgeons is that homeopathy is against surgery. Surgery is a part of homeopathy. Surgery is a science and art by itself. Surgery is neither a property of modern medicines nor of homeopathy. It has to be understood that homeopathy is a therapeutic method of treating diseases in a certain manner. Surgery is a method of treating diseases in a different manner, without medicines. Both are complementary to each other. Precisely, therefore, the homeopathic training in India trains every homeopath for basic surgery, at the undergraduate level, as much as it trains a modern medico. Every qualified homeopath in India is a physician and a surgeon. This is not a case in the western world, though. While evaluating what homeopathy is all about; it would be equally important to understand what homeopathy is not. I hope this piece of article will stimulate many.