by Dr. Vladimir Schmitsman M.D. H.D
Homeopathy is a medical approach that respects the wisdom of the body. It utilizes medicines that stimulate the body's own immune and defense system to initiate the healing process. It is an approach that individualizes medicines according to the person'
Physical, emotional and mental symptoms. It is an approach that is widely recognized to be safe.
The study of homeopathy was founded in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann (1753-1843), a German physician and chemist who had become disillusioned with the conventional practice of medicine. Hahnemann based his innovative medical treatment on the healing power of good diet, exercise, fresh air, and minimum does of natural medications.
To understand the science and art of Homeopathy, it is necessary first of all to define some important has about healing.
The Similimum or Law of Similars
This basic law of homeopathy is similia similibus currentur: 'let likes be cured with like'. The first homeopathic principle states that any substance that can make you ill can also cure you - anything that is capable of producing symptoms of disease in a healthy person can cure those symptoms in a sick people.
By 'symptoms' the homeopath means those changes that are felt by the patient (subjective) or observed (objective), which may be associated with a particular disease.
Conventional medicine is aware about this "law". Immunizations are based on the principle of similars. Conventional medicine also uses homeopathic- like therapy in choosing radiation to treat people with cancer (radiation causes cancer), digitalis for heart conditions (digitalis creates heart conditions). Modern allergy treatment utilizes the homeopathic approach by the use of small doses of allergens in order to create an antibody response.
But although these conventional treatments utilize the homeopathic law of similars, they do not follow other fundamental principles of homeopathy.
The law of similars is also a basic principle of physics. Do you remember magnets and how opposite poles attract while similar poles repel. If you place similar poles of a weakened magnet next to each other, the magnet will be recharged and will again repel itself from the other. As in homeopathy, like recharges/regenerates/heals like. The law of similars is one of nature's laws that, when used properly can be one of our highest technologies.
The Whole Person
The concept of treating the 'whole person' is an essential element of classical homeopathy. The basis of this belief is that symptoms, diseases or pains do not exist in isolation, but are a reflection of how the person as a whole is coping with stress. The whole person that counts - not just the physical body but also the mental and/or emotional 'bodies'.
Constitution and Susceptibility
Often people say enviously about a friend, 'He smokes like a chimney, drinks list a fish, works like a maniac and has never had a day's illness in his life. It's not fair. I struggle constantly to stay healthy and need nine hours sleep a night, otherwise I get sick. Why?'
Well, the answer lies in the constitution. George Vithoulkas, in The Science of Homeopathy defines the constitution as 'the genetic inheritance tempered or modified by our environment', that is, a person's fundamental structure - their state of health and their temperament. Basically, a strong constitution is one that can withstand considerable pressure without falling ill. A weak constitution is one that has an increased susceptibility to illness.
Susceptibility is simply the degree to which a person is vulnerable to an outside influence. It may help you to think of your constitution as a huge energy bank. At birth some people have vast reserves, both on deposit and in their current account. Others have only a nominal amount in the current account and need to be paying into that account constantly throughout their lives in order to 'stay in the black' - in order to stay healthy.
And that is where alternative medicine comes in. Many people come to a homeopath for 'constitutional treatment' - in other words to improve their general health rather than wait until they fall ill.
Vital Force
Homeopaths believe that there is a balancing mechanism that keeps us in health. This balancing mechanism Hahnemann called the 'vital force' and he believed it to be that energetic substance that literally gives us life and is absent at our death.
Homeopaths believe that the vital force produces symptoms to counteract the various stresses we experience, and that it makes adjustments moment by moment throughout our lives to keep us healthy and balanced. These symptoms then are simply the body's way of telling us how it is coping with stress.
Obvious examples are shivering when cold, perspiring when overheated and eating or drinking when hungry or thirsty. Homeopaths believe that disease 'attacks' only when this vital force is weakened.
Vital force conception has Eastern roots as well. The Chinese view energy "chi" as a vital force of a human body and Meridian System as energetically channels of vital bioenergy. Different blockages and imbalances in meridian system are believed to cause minor and major illnesses and ailments. Yogis view Chacra System as a center of biological energy of human body. "Prana" is a vital energy that circulates through the Chacra System and is responsible for the human well-being.
Homeopathic medicines act as a catalyst, the energy of the remedy stimulating the body's own vital force (its immune system or defense mechanism) to heal itself. They do not weaken the defense mechanism by suppressing it, as do many orthodox medicines. The correct homeopathic treatment not only alleviates the symptoms but also enables the patient to feel that life is once again flowing harmoniously.