How does Homeopathy fit into the 21st century?
When Hahnemann discovered the homeopathic principle in
1790 the range
of illness and disease was quite different compared with the present.
At the time, 200 years ago, people suffered from the usual aches and
pains and injuries and they also had real diseases to worry about.
Cancer was rare, and AIDS not yet discovered. In fact,
the relationship
between bacteria and disease was not yet developed, and the microscopes
in use were too weak to see viruses. However, they had small-pox, TB,
diphtheria, cholera, typhoid, and venereal diseases.
Hahnemann invented homeopathy so that he could cure
these diseases
without injury to the patient. In those days, conventional medicine was
crude and relied on poisonous chemicals which often did more harm than
good.
Homeopathy is curing by similars: The onion can cause
symptoms similar
to a cold, therefore it makes a good homeopathic remedy for colds. It
is also possible to make a remedy from the cold virus. This is called a
nosode.
Hahnemann also discovered the basis of chronic diseases,
which despite
treatment continue to gradually get worse throughout the patient's
life. Often these patients have symptoms successfully treated in one
part of the body only for them to reappear in a different part.
Homeopathy is simple to apply:
Hahnemann was 73 years old when he published his huge
two-volume
treatise on the nature and cure of these Chronic Diseases. It is still
the only scientific study of its kind in existence.
The application of homeopathy is simple in theory: Take
the case (all
the patient's symptoms), then find a matching remedy (something that
could cause similar symptoms in a healthy person) and cure the patient.
In the real world it is more difficult, and from 30
years in practice
as a Homeopath I have learned that patients will not respond to the
homeopathic remedy if they are deficient in vital nutrients,
particularly minerals. This is seen, for example, in cases of Autism.
Hahnemann had his problems with patients over-dosed with
mercury, but
he didn't have to contend with junk food, and chemical pollution. Hair
analysis and muscle-testing have transformed our ability to know what
is happening inside the patient and still be able to prescribe the
similium remedy. I am sure that Hahnemann would approve.
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