What is Homeopathic Medicine?
Homeopathic Medicine
Homeopathy is a therapeutic system of healing developed by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in the 19th century. It utilizes minute amounts of botanical, mineral, and other substances to stimulate the body’s self-healing abilities in the treatment of specific ailments.
Conventional medicine believes that symptoms are caused by illness, whereas homeopathy sees them as the body’s natural reaction in fighting the illness, and seeks to stimulate rather than suppress them. Homeopathy’s theoretical base is the concept the “like cures like” and means that a substance given in large crude doses will produce specific symptoms, but the same substance when administered in minute doses will stimulate the body’s reactive processes to remove those same substances.
Homeopathic Remedies
There are over 2000 homeopathic remedies available. Any substance can be used homeopathically but most remedies are taken from natural sources. Remedies are created by breaking the crude substances down into minute quantities by dilution and then shaking them vigorously to activate them. These work within the body to stimulate the immune system and natural defenses of the body. Homeopathic remedies do not cover up or suppress symptoms and they have no toxic side effects.
Homeopathy was first used in America in 1832. The American Institute of Homeopathy was established in 1844 and by 1910 there were 22 homeopathic medical schools, 100 homeopathic hospitals, 1,000 homeopathic pharmacies, and 4,000 homeopathic physicians. Unfortunately, homeopathy did not continue to flourish due to the growth and bias of the American Medical Association. By the end of WWI, homeopathy had been largely replaced by allopathic (traditional Western) medicine. However, homeopathy has continued to grow worldwide. India, Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa all sustain numerous homeopathic practices and each year it becomes more popular in the US. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II is an active supporter of homeopathy. She is a patron of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital.
Homeopathy: Portland Oregon
Homeopathy works effectively in a wide variety of acute and chronic problems, including infections, allergies, gynecologic difficulties, digestive problems, etc. It also helps to prevent future trouble by increasing the individual’s strength and resistance to disease.
Please speak with your physician if you have any additional questions. Homeopathic remedies are a wonderful way to stimulate healing and are incredibly effective medicines. Pacific Clinic of Natural Medicine can help you understand how homeopathic medicine could play a role in supporting and promoting your health and well being.