Homeopathy
Homeopathy, aka homeopathic medicine, is a medical practice in which a patient is given a unique treatment using a minute amount of a diluted natural substance to treat numerous ailments. It is an alternative medical practice aimed at stimulating the body’s healing by administering a specific medicine that causes noticeable symptoms in the patient.
According to the World Health Organization, homeopathy is regarded as the second-most extensive treatment in the world. It is very prominent in Europe, South America, and India. Non-prescription homeopathic medicines are primarily available in health food stores and high-end groceries.
History of Homeopathic Medicine
Samuel Hahnemann, a revered German doctor in the 18th century, developed the practice of homeopathic medicine, based on the theory that a small dose of a particular toxin can heal a larger dose of the same pathological agent in the body.
This notion later found a similar application in immunization and vaccination. Hahnemann’s treatment was considered safer than other practices, such as bloodletting.
Furthermore, the ‘microdose’ is the other principle apart from ‘like cure like.’ The first principle is based on the belief that the body shows symptoms of illness as a natural way of fighting the disease and is regarded as a vital response. A similar medicine helps to initiate quick natural healing. We use the principle of the minimum dose to stimulate vitality from within. We introduce a small dose to stimulate the body’s vital response.
Compared to conventional medication, homeopathic medicines do not cause any side effects.
Homeopathy is both a method and a philosophy.
Homeopathy is one of the most popular branches of alternative medicine. Homeopathy is regarded as a modern form of treatment that promotes healing from within. The term “homeopathy” comes from the Greek words “homios” and “pathos,” meaning “similar suffering.” “Homeopathy” was coined in 1824 by the German physician and philosopher Samuel Friedrich Hahnemann (1755–1843). Hоmеораthу is a philosophical ѕуѕtеm оf mеdісіnе that аррrоасhеѕ individuals’ hеаlth bу tаіlоrіng trеаtmеnt to their ѕресіfіс nееdѕ. Homeopathic treatment considers physical health, lifestyle, emotional and mental states, and other factors. Hоmеораthу uѕеѕ mісrо-dоѕеѕ оf natural ѕubѕtаnсеѕ, which hеlрѕ ѕtіmulаtе аnd ѕtrеngthеn the body’s natural defensive аnd hеаlіng сараbіlіtу.
The rеmеdіеѕ аrе mаdе from nаturаl sources: аnіmаls, рlаnts, аnd mіnеrаls. They undergo a series of dilutions and succussions to become potentized. A point of interest is that the higher the dilution, the more potent the remedy becomes. A homeopath selects one or more specific homeopathic remedies from thousands available for each patient; homeopathy does not prescribe actual pharmaceutical drugs. Consequently, there are no harmful side effects from the homeopathic remedies, which is an important safety factor. Being the oldest Western alternative form of medicine, it originated in the far-flung country of Germany almost 250 years ago.
Homeopathy and natural resources
Some of the homeopathic medicines that have been made with plant extracts are quinine, belladonna, aconite, and more. Homeopathic medicines are considered very effective and have been claimed to be the safest option among alternative medicines. It is a proven fact that synthetic or allopathic medicines have some side effects; however, with homeopathy, the risk is virtually nonexistent. Homeopathy uses its key ingredients in such small amounts that side effects are impossible.
The main job of a homeopathic practitioner is to thoroughly evaluate the patient, analyze their medical history, categorize their overall health, and understand how their symptoms have changed over time. Then, a homeopathic practitioner would work on selecting a proper treatment plan for the patient that would match the patient’s complaints and constitution. Occasionally, we observe cases where a specific symptom or disease appears immediately after a patient begins homeopathic treatment. This “deterioration” of symptoms is not dangerous for a patient, and it is known as the body’s initial reaction to “very similar” homeopathic medicines. This response was regarded as the first step toward achievement.
How does homeopathy work?
Homeopathy is one of the alternative medical philosophies and treatment approaches, and the mechanism of this treatment is still not completely clear. If you’re frustrated with ineffective treatments, homeopathy may be a good option. Homeopathy is likely to treat your condition as severe and not dismiss it as nonexistent or irrelevant. Fundamental causes often trigger allergies, necessitating attention before addressing the issue. Using a band-aid approach to treat strange infections and diseases is unlikely to provide relief for those who struggle to cope with their pain. It is essential to know how it works.
Understanding the principles and mechanism of homeopathy is crucial.
Homeopathic treatment may start with a minor preliminary deterioration. In most cases, this preliminary deterioration is harmless, a prominent part of the healing process, and is always considered a positive sign.
Science is one of those subjects; it must be devoid of partiality and prejudice. Among the different branches of science, the most practical branch is health science, which deals directly with life through health education, health care, and the prevention of pathological conditions. Several different systems of medicine exist in the world, called allopathy, homeopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, etc., based on other principles. Among these systems, homeopathy is considered the most controversial system for the so-called scientific community, as it is a little challenging to understand materialistically. Because it is a little different from the usual path, do you generally consider it a pseudoscience and placebo effect?
We are conducting this research from a neutral perspective, not leaning toward any drug system, to explain the most controversial question of the century: What is the mechanism of action of homeopathic medicines? Many people say that I do not believe in homeopathy, allopathy, Ayurveda, etc., but to be obvious, any scientific phenomenon does not require belief in it; they work in their way spontaneously, without worrying about someone else’s belief … or disbelief. In this study, we are focusing on a selection of drugs and diseases because it is nearly impossible to cover all medications and conditions in a single research project.
Each system of medicine has its aims and limitations; therefore, it is useless and immaterial to declare any method unscientific without a clearly defined reason based only on personal preference or a particular commercial purpose. Is it not just the fault of a few scientists or people? Instead, the responsibility lies with homeopathic researchers and doctors, as they do not feel compelled to demonstrate how homeopathic remedies work, contrary to the aphorism in the Organon of Medicine. Dr. C.F.S. Hahnemann wrote that knowledge of the modus operandi of homeopathic medicines is not critical apart from helping the suffering society. We selected several patients with different diseases as a control group, applied the necessary homeopathic remedies accordingly, and conducted various pathological and clinical examinations without considering each patient’s sensations, as these feelings may be influenced by the placebo effect for some individuals. Finally, we tried to understand the mechanism of action for homeopathic remedies in a simple and clearly defined way.
The dilutions and the memory of water theory
Some people find it doubtful that homeopathic medications are often—though not always—diluted to the extent that no molecules of the original substance remain. Water can store the properties of substances it has recently contacted, which is one of the main recommendations for how “ultramolecular dilution” works.
The structure of water
Late research on hydrogen bonds in water provides some insight into this memory theory. The Swiss scientific expert Louis Rey found that the structure of hydrogen bonds in homeopathic dilutions of salt solutions differs from that in pure water. He concluded at the end that the marvelous results from the incredible shaking of solutions that occur amid homeopathic ‘succussion.’ In addition, utilizing the spectroscopy lab strategy, different researchers have discovered that diverse homeopathic meds and various dilutions of a similar medication can be distinguished from one another, even though all should contain only water.
Molecular clusters
The results of research from South Korea recommend an alternative mechanism. Studies on molecular clustering in water solutions demonstrated that as a solution is increasingly diluted, very steady and bigger ‘crumbs’ of material are created in diluted solutions instead of progressively concentrated ones. Such behavior implies that lingering sub-molecular clusters of the unique substance may very well be available in homeopathic dilutions. Succussion may likewise be responsible for making extremely tiny bubbles (nanobubbles) that could contain vaporous incorporations of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and conceivably the homeopathic source material.
The law of similarity:
- The law of similarity is the core principle of homeopathy. This law of similarity states that a homeopath should choose a remedy for each patient based on the idea that a healthy person will exhibit the same symptoms as those the patient is experiencing. More similarity between the treatment and symptoms guarantees a better result. Thus, the treatment process for different patients has to be different and individualized. Medicinal treatments for two people with similar health issues can be entirely different. For example, if I have two patients with similar symptoms of a severe dry cough, one of them experiences a headache during the cough episodes. Still, if the other one becomes nauseous, I would prescribe Bryonia and Antimonium tartaricum to these individuals.
- A single medicine has the power to cure all ailments. Unlike allopathic practitioners, who prescribe multiple drugs (one or more medicines per symptom), homeopaths treat using a single remedy at a time. Therefore, a homeopathic physician can see and document the effectiveness of each prescribed remedy—moreover, the patient’s constitution dеtеrmіnеѕ the ѕtrеngth аnd dоѕаgе оf hоmеораthу medicines.
- Microdosage law. Homeopathy often requires a small dosage to achieve the desired results. Homeopathic medicines are very potent, and by definition, they exert their healing effects on the fundamental core of the disease.
Highly diluted substances exert an effect on homeopathy.
However they work, there is cumulative proof that homeopathic dilutions affect living organisms analyzed under lab conditions. Germany’s scientists have watched an ultra-diluted compound’s inhibitory impact on the bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Additionally, important research from a group of European labs shows that very high dilutions of histamine can significantly affect the white blood cells involved in the immune response.
Homeopathy and natural resources
Quinine, belladonna, aconite, and other plant extracts are some examples of homeopathic medicines. Homeopathic medicines are considered very effective and have been claimed to be among the safest options in alternative medicine. It is a proven fact that synthetic or allopathic medicines have some side effects, but with homeopathy, the risk of side effects is virtually nonexistent. This is because the key ingredients in homeopathy are used in small proportions, which eliminates the chance of any side effects.
The main job of a homeopathic practitioner is to thoroughly evaluate the patient, analyze their medical history, categorize their overall health, and understand how their symptoms have developed. Then, a homeopathic practitioner selects a proper treatment plan that matches the patient’s complaints and constitution. Sometimes, particular symptoms or diseases appear shortly after a patient begins homeopathic treatment. This “deterioration” of symptoms is not dangerous for a patient, and it is known as the body’s initial reaction to “very similar” homeopathic medicines. This response was regarded as the first step toward achievement.
Depending on the patient’s constitution, homeopathy heals using different remedies. For instance, if a patient is skinny with greasy hair, homeopathy can treat most skin problems with the remedy Sulfur. If, however, I see an obese or just puffy patient with skin problems, I will prescribe Graphites.
- The primary goal of this alternative medical system is to eliminate disease by pinpointing the root symptoms. If these tasks are accomplished, an illness usually stops unless the chronic disease has already altered the physical constitution of the significant structures of the body. In acute or subacute phases of the diseases, suppressing or controlling the symptoms is not the goal of homeopathy. The goal is to cure.
- Homeopaths also put special emphasis on a patient’s diet. During the treatment, the doctor may restrict a mixture of coffee, raw onions, camphor, and other irritating substances.
Homeopathy influences the whole system, not just specific symptoms or organs.
Homeopathic medicines help the system to bring back the lost balance. Administering the right homeopathic medicine stimulates the body and produces an initial reaction. As mentioned, the initial reaction is a minor “deterioration” of the symptoms. It happens because homeopathic remedies initiate “similar” symptoms. Then, in the second phase of the homeopathic healing process, the body system will take care of the disease.
Homeopathic medicines act at the psychoneuroendocrine level of the patient’s organism and bring the imbalanced disease state back to a balanced state of health.
In chronic phases of disease, the administered remedy acts at an intense level and helps the body system to fight a disease. Good results can be achieved if the case is properly managed and if the patient reports the illness at the beginning and provides an original, unmodified picture of it. Administering a medication for acute conditions restores health quickly and gently, without causing any complications.
Homeopathy differs significantly from modern Western medicine in that it breaks down the body into various parts and organ systems. Thus, modern medicine does not often consider the illness’s mental, spiritual, and emotional signs. Homeopathy, however, considers a patient’s body as a whole system, functioning not only as a combination of its parts but also as a “spirit,” a “soul,” or a “life force.” Therefore, homeopaths put weight on all three components: mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. Each person is an individual. Homeopaths match a patient’s “state” with the remedy’s ” state.” By analyzing the totality of symptoms, they find the best remedy for that individual based on a law of similarity.
Homeopathy vs. Allopathy
Herbal and other natural medicines establish a crucial share of all the legitimately acknowledged healthcare methods in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
There are principally two kinds of approaches to healing disease. Homeopathy and Allopathy. Both principles follow a mutual objective to treat and possibly cure an illness. However, each develops a diverse foundation and different healing strategies.
HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathy is a healing approach that advances based on the belief of “Similia Similibus Curentur.”
It can be translated as “like cures like,” which may further describe the” similarity between homeopathic medicine and the patient’s constitution.”
Homeopathic medicine is a comprehensive healing system invented in the last quarter of the eighteenth century.
The term “homeopathy” originates from two Latin words, “homeo” and “pathology,” which signify “similar to a disorder.” The method is based on the impression that elements that produce symptoms of illness in healthy individuals may be cured if administered in tiny doses to sick people with similar symptoms.
Based on the theory of homeopathy, the remedies stimulate the organism’s self-healing mechanism. Homeopathic physicians use the word “allopathy” to refer to the use of medicines in modern Western medicine to fight the symptoms of the disease. Homeopaths strive to treat patients in both physical and psychological stages, and each prescription is personalized to a patient’s necessities. Homeopathic medicine is generally considered safe because it utilizes extremely small quantities of remedies. The low toxicity of homeopathic remedies makes them a treatment of choice in a pediatric clinic. An additional advantage of homeopathic medicine is the price of drugs. Usually, the cost of homeopathic remedies is comparable to that of pharmaceutical drugs, making them reasonably priced.
Homeopathic medicines are effective for the treatment of different medical conditions. For example, simple colds and/or influenza may be successfully cured with low dilutions of Aconite, Belladonna, and Bryonia. In a double-blind clinical study, influenza patients treated with homeopathic remedies were twice as likely in 48 hours compared to regular cold medicines and painkillers. The British Homeopathic Association’s journal has published these results, confirming the efficacy of a homeopathic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Homeopathic medications are helpful in healing infections, blood circulation illnesses, lung diseases, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other emotional disorders. Homeopathic medicine also successfully cures different forms of headaches, migraines, allergic and autoimmune reactions, joint diseases, endocrine disorders, and many more medical problems, especially if the condition is in its initial stages and has not severely damaged the human system yet.
Patients widely use homeopathic remedies to stimulate the healing mechanism after surgical intervention or to increase body tolerance during chemotherapy.
ALLOPATHY
Allopathy, in general, is a modern Western medicine spread all over the planet. Its linkage is very longstanding. Around the world, allopathy enjoys widespread acceptance. This method is drug-oriented, and the following components principally determine it:
- Hypothesis:
- Experimentation
- The experiment yields a result.
This system ultimately depends on experimentation. Allopathic physicians heal disease, not a patient, and the remedies selected for treatment are linked to symptoms instead of the alteration in organs that causes these symptoms.
The clinicians chose the drugs for the patients based on the results of their clinical tests, such as the diagnosis of a bacterial infection. An allopath sends the patient’s blood to a lab, checks it for the type of bacteria, and administers the medicine for the particular bacteria to this patient. All patients with the same bacteria will get the same drug, with no room for uniqueness. As a result, we have multiple side effects and adverse reactions to treatment. Another beneficial example is the administration of “birth control pills” to all female patients with hormonal instability.
OB-GYN physicians prescribe these pills to 13- to 14-year-old girls with amenorrhea and 55- to 60-year-old women in menopause. Does it sound right? Of course not. The issue is that allopathy lacks alternative resources. Pharmaceutical companies, rich enough to invest in the future of their products, still support this medical system.
Am I saying allopathy is the wrong treatment system and has no right to exist? Of course not! What would we do without allopathic medicine for a patient with type one diabetes when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin? Homeopathic medicine is impractical when physical damage to the systems and organs is severe.
In the diabetes example above, the pancreas is dead, and there is nothing to stimulate using homeopathic remedies. The only reasonable, effective, and life-saving treatment is an allopathic approach with external insulin replacement therapy.
Additionally, the effectiveness of allopathic methods in urgent care clinics is a significant reason for the global recognition of allopathy.
The problem is that most of the pharmaceutical medicines administered by allopathic physicians cause side effects.
As a result, once allopathic drugs cure the disease, a new prescription is necessary to treat side effects.
I can give you a perfect example. Antibiotics are treating a patient for bronchitis. As a result of this treatment, the candida grows because antibiotics kill not only bronchitis bacteria but also essential microorganisms that generally live in the mouth, stomach, and intestine. In the next step, the allopath administers Nystatin, which kills candida. However, the flora in the GI tract is no longer vigorous enough to provide normal digestion.
To summarize everything, both homeopathic and allopathic approaches have the same goal of helping ill people.
Allopathic remedies can save patients’ lives when necessary. However, the distinctive homeopathic methodology makes this medical system solid and demanding. The most important fact is that homeopathic medicine treats the organism in a fundamentally different way, unlike allopathic medicine, which only alleviates the severity of symptoms.
Positive outcomes of Homeopathy in 75% of studies
Looking at the evidence in general, there is some exploratory possibility that ultra-atomic homeopathic dilutions may have remarkable physical properties and can have physiological impacts. A systematic review assessed 67 in-vitro tests on homeopathic dilutions in 75 research publications. Most of the papers revealed quantifiable effects from highly diluted substances. Nearly seventy-five percent of all repeated studies yielded positive results, but none were consistent enough for all investigators to replicate.
If you’re sick of hearing that your illness or condition stems from your mind, consider homeopathic treatments. Allergies and other diseases often stem from an imbalance in the body, which prevents it from coping with the daily pressures it faces. Homeopaths will listen to you and help you find the root of your issue before acting. In conclusion, people must find the right treatments to restore their bodies’ balance.
REFERENCES
- Brack A., Strube J., Stolz P., and Decker H. The study looked at how very diluted amounts of 3,5-dichlorophenol affected the light produced by the bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Biochim Biophys Acta, 2003; 1621: 253–260.
- Belon P, Cumps J, Ennis M, et al. Histamine dilutions modulate basophil activation. Inflamm Res, 2004; 53: 181–188.
- Witt CM, Bluth M, Albrecht H, and others also contributed to this study. A systematic review of the literature provides in vitro evidence for the impact of high homeopathic potencies. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2007; 15: 128–138.
Why Is Homeopathy the Right Treatment?
The homeopathic treatment stimulates the body’s healing ability and well-being. The treatment is unique to each and not the general procedure done in conventional medicine.
An individual’s spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental well-being is treated with the help of Homeopathy therapy using ‘like cures like.’
Usages of homeopathic drugs are non-addictive and are mild but powerful remedies.
How Homeopathic Medicines Made
The process of making homeopathic medicines involves dilution and mixing. The typical dilution levels are 6x, 12x, 30x, 6c, 12c, 30c, 200c, and 1M printed on the medicine bottle. For a homeopathic medicine with a dilution level of 30x, x represents 10, and one part of a toxin is mixed with ten amounts of water or alcohol. The mixture was thoroughly shaken, and one part was added to 10 parts of either water or alcohol. Repeat this process thrice.
Risk in Homeopathy
Using and administering FDA-regulated homeopathic drugs is safer, as all may be unsafe. For instance, in 2009, a homeopathy remedy for the cold called Zicam was barred from the market after the loss of sense of smell was reported among users. Zicam was found to contain a percentage of zinc gluconate, and zinc is known to be responsible for hyposmia (a reduction in sensitivity to smell) and anosmia (total loss of smell).
Such an outcome calls for the careful use of homeopathic drugs and the need for them to be administered by a qualified practitioner for the safety of lives.
What Can Homeopathy Treat?
Homeopathic treatments require the analysis of a patient’s case notes to determine which medicine is suitable for a particular illness. You can safely take it alongside conventional medicine.
Homeopathy can successfully treat the following conditions:
| Mental/Emotional Instabilities | |
|---|---|
| Anxiety/Panic attacks | Depression |
| Insomnia | Eating disorders |
| Grief/stress | Fear of flying |
| Other restricting fears | Cancerophobia |
| Dermatological (Skin) Problems | |
|---|---|
| Eczema | Vitiligo |
| Prickly heat | Herpes |
| Hair loss | Cold sores |
| Acne | Psoriasis |
| Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) | |
|---|---|
| Hay fever | Vertigo |
| Tinnitus | Otitis |
| Laryngitis | Rhinitis |
| Sinusitis | |
| Internal Illnesses | |
| Asthma/Bronchitis | Gastritis/peptic ulcers |
| Circulatory disorders | Thyroid disorders |
| Kidney/liver dysfunction | Irritable bowel syndrome |
| Ulcerative Colitis | Crohn’s Disease |
Homeopathic treatments require the analysis of a patient’s case notes to determine which medicine is suitable for a particular illness. You can safely take it alongside conventional medicine.
Homeopathy can successfully treat the following conditions:
| Indigestion | High blood pressure |
| Migraines | Obesity |
| Palpitations | Side effects of medicines |
| Musculoskeletal Diseases | |
| Aches, pains, and stiffness | Fibromyalgia |
| Sprains | Arthritis/Rheumatism |
| Gout | Back pain |
| Bell’s Palsy | Sports Injuries |
| OBGYN | |
| Premenstrual tension | Irregular periods |
| Amenorrhea | Dysmenorrhea |
| Menopause | Cystitis |
| Thrush | Vaginal discharges |
| Endometriosis | Infertility |
| Pelvic inflammatory disorders | Fibroids |
| Men’s Conditions | |
| Impotence | Low sperm count |
| Premature ejaculation | Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) |
Homeopathy can also treat conditions that are not necessarily diseases. Conventional medicine cannot diagnose conditions like vague disorders or chronic fatigue, but homeopathy can treat them. Homeopathy can treat other everyday stress related to the midlife crisis, parenthood, emotional stress in a relationship, and work-induced stress that affects our health in many ways. A homeopathic practitioner treats most illnesses based on “like cures like.” Below is a list of health conditions that homeopathic remedies can successfully treat. Dr. Victor Tsan has practiced OB-GYN since 1977, when he graduated from the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Moldova. During this period, Dr. Tsan began seeing the insufficiency of Western medicine and energetically discovered an assortment of holistic treatment modalities for himself, his family members, and his patients.
Homeopathy in Philadelphia
Philadelphia was historically known as the city of American homeopathy. Hahnemann University Hospital was named after Samuel Hahnemann, the author and developer of classical homeopathy. In the past 30 years, Dr. Tsan has expanded his holistic practice after pursuing advanced education in various holistic subjects, including acupuncture, homeopathy, and clinical hypnotherapy. He studied traditional homeopathy for five years at the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy and attended professional conferences and colloquiums with worldwide-recognized homeopaths. In 2000, Dr. Tsan founded the Philadelphia Homeopathic Clinic. The medical director of the Philadelphia Homeopathic Clinic, Dr. Tsan, has extensive academic and clinical experience and is recognized worldwide as one of the best homeopathic practitioners in the US. To schedule an appointment for a homeopathic evaluation, contact our clinic at (267) 403-3085 or use our online booking application.