Homeopathy

Homeopathy (a compound from the Greek ὅμοιος hómoios, “-like” and πάθος páthos, “suffering”) is a so-called alternative cure outlined by Samuel Hahnemann from 1796 onward. The cure is based on Hahnemann’s theory that “like cures like”. Accordingly, the substance that causes certain symptoms of the illness in the healthy can cure the ill in adequate dilution. Many scientists and intellectuals maintain that homeopathy is a pseudo-science. In their view, the principles explaining the effects of homeopathy cannot be reconciled with the known laws of physics and chemistry and there has been no single, original proof acceptable for them that could justify the effectivity of homeopathic cures. Despite this, many employ them in human and veterinary medicine and are satisfied with the results.

According to practitioners, the illnesses can be treated with so-called “potentized” substances, which trigger symptoms in the healthy similar to those of the illness. Potentization takes place through serial dilution and “dynamization” between each dilution (e.g., trituration, succession, and fluxion). It is said that the toxic effects of the substance can be eliminated in this way, while the vehicle substance (mostly water, alcohol, or sugar) takes over certain characteristics of the substance. The end-product is often diluted enough not to be differentiated from the pure vehicle substance.

Principles of homeopathy

• Cure means making the ill healthy and producing scientific theories.
• In the elimination of illnesses, the doctor is guided by the symptoms and their changes. The homeopathic doctor examines the totality of symptoms.
• Illnesses are based on the mistuning of the purely immaterial life energies.
• If a homeopathic substance is administered to a healthy person, the person will produce various symptoms characteristic for the substance. The phenomenon is the basis of proving.
• Like cures like: an illnesses is cured by substances that trigger symptoms in the healthy similar to those of the illness.
• In the process of dilution and dynamization (in general: potentization), totally new, before unknown healing characteristics open up.
• Healing evolves in that the homeopathic substance (through its dynamization and potentization) yields information matching the illness for the organism and the answer is the healing reaction.
• The illnesses are not to be treated locally only, but also with homeopathic substances administered internally (e.g., in case of skin symptoms).
• The drugs of official medicine often cause serious side effects, even they can often cause patients too much damage.