HOMEOPATHY

Awakening the Process of Healing

Homeopathy is a safe, effective, and inexpensive approach to healing. It is widely used in the treatment of most modern acute and chronic illnesses and psychological imbalances. Homeopathic medicine is also especially helpful in treating childhood illnesses. Homeopathy is true preventive medicine because it helps the practitioner to recognize and treat functional problems before pathological disease changes occur.

Homeopathy operates on the principle that there is a therapeutic correspondence between processes in nature and illnesses in people. Homeopathy discovers this correspondence through what is called “The Law of Similars.” The clinician takes an extensive history, much more than is seen in mainstream medicine. After having put together a composite of the patient’s symptoms and signs, in a process that sometimes requires two hours, the practitioner then strives to discover what substances in nature will produce this similar composite picture when given to a healthy person. These substances are then administered in a potentized form to the ill person to promote healing. The idea is that every illness has a counterpart in nature that will awaken a therapeutic process.

The focus of homeopathy is not just the relief of symptoms, rather the healing of illness. This is accomplished by awakening a patient’s latent inherent capacities to heal. The homeopathic practitioner seeks to understand and develop a picture of the intricate relationship between symptoms and the client’s totality of being: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. The extensive initial interview helps the practitioner to acquire this necessary insight into a client’s illness and its biographical circumstances.

After this in-depth evaluation, how does the homeopathic practitioner arrive at the remedy program that will awaken a healing process? As the biography unfolds, the homeopathic practitioner strives to perceive the similarity or correspondence between the patient’s illness and the homeopathic remedy that best fits that patient. Homeopathic remedies are most often prepared from the specific remedial capacities of particular plants or minerals.

These capacities are released from natural substances by qualified homeopathic pharmacies through a process of what is called potentization—the dilution and succussion, or repeated rhythmic motion, of a substance from nature. This preparation process releases latent forces that have been held inactive in the chemical bonds of that substance. These dormant or sleeping forces, which we are now able to measure scientifically, are brought to life in this process of potentization. They are then turned into a pellet or liquid that may be taken safely.

When correctly prescribed, homeopathic remedies bring into activity the forces of healing that lie dormant in every person. This often results in an enhanced sense of well-being, vitality, and capacity for clear thinking.

Many of the homeopathic remedies used in the United States are imported from Europe. In certain countries in Europe, homeopathic remedies must meet strict government criteria in order to be sold. These European remedies are made from preparations of fresh, whole plants, rather than dried plants or parts of plants. This makes them more effective. They are picked at different times of the day and different seasons of the year, according to when their alkaloid or active component is strongest. Special equipment, including thin-layer chromatography, is used with each batch of many of these remedies to ensure that alkaloids are still present and that the specimens are not contaminated with heavy metals.

Homeopathic remedies are not prescribed for the purpose of symptom relief. Unfortunately, many people take supplements, herbs, and homeopathic remedies with this goal in mind. Many people believe that if they take a certain remedy and their uncomfortable symptoms disappear, then the remedy was a success. This may sometimes be true, if the underlying disease was healed at the same time. However, it is possible for symptoms to disappear with natural medicines, while the underlying imbalance in the body’s chemistry remains and worsens. Keep in mind that homeopathic remedies and other therapeutic modalities are prescribed to help the body heal, not just to alleviate symptoms.

Classical Homeopathy

In the Unisys or classical approach to homeopathy, a classical homeopath will, over several hours of a patient interview, find the single best one remedy for the patient. Experienced classical homeopaths have had very good results. The reader may refer to my book Rhythms in Time: The Homeopathic Future for more in-depth descriptions of both classical and drainage/combination homeopathy.

Homeopathic Combination Remedies

These are most often combinations of remedies from plants and minerals, and they may also be derived from animal and even occasionally human tissue. They are generally of low potency, which means they will be gentle, yet still effective.

Many people are ill because of years of suppressive therapy and a buildup of toxins in the body. Repeated courses of antibiotics, other pharmaceutical drugs, surgeries, inadequate coping with stress, chemical exposures, heavy metal accumulation, inadequate eliminations, and poor nutrition are all contributors to illness.

Combination remedies encourage a process of detoxification by opening biological eliminatory pathways that may have been closed for many years. These remedies reactivate dormant enzyme systems in the body and encourage the organs of elimination—especially the liver, kidneys, skin, and gastrointestinal system—to function better in their role of eliminating toxins from the body. The term for improving this function is called drainage. Many combination homeopathic remedies are either low-potency drainage remedies from herbs or minerals or combinations of both that increase the circulation to specific organs. By increasing the circulation, these remedies improve the metabolic function of the organs of elimination.

A remedy program is highly individualized, depending on many factors and taking into account the individual’s history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Combinations of remedies are suggested to provide slow and gentle improvement over several months. The combinations often change monthly or every six weeks.

The purpose behind prescribing these combination remedies is to promote detoxification and drainage of toxins from key body organs. The subtle energetic effects of the remedies induce biochemical changes in ways that are gentler and more effective than is often the case with conventional medicine.

Elimination of parasites is typically part of an initial program. Most people have parasites in their systems. Viruses and other microorganisms may hide within the parasites and be very difficult to eliminate without first treating the parasites. This is especially true in many chronic diseases. At the same time, parasites will always be with us. They digest decaying tissue in the body. So it is important to work toward eliminating the toxic material in the body that, when it decays, becomes food for parasites and other microorganisms. Unfortunately, many stool tests for parasites do not find parasites even when they are present. And, many of the natural herbal approaches are not always effective, especially in eliminating parasites that are hiding in places in the body other than the intestines.

The signs that combination remedies are working are increased bowel movements, increased urination, and a general sense of feeling better.

Acute Remedies

Acute remedies are prescribed for acute conditions such as sore throats and bronchitis. Though single remedies may be taken for these conditions if there is a clear picture of the remedy, often combination remedies are also very effective. Acute remedies are safe to use and do not suppress illness. Symptoms improve because the remedies strengthen the immune system. Take as directed.

To learn more about Homeopathy, please read Dr. Zieve's book, Healthy Medicine: A Guide to the Emergence of Sensible, Comprehensive Care.

Directions for Taking Homeopathic Remedies:

Three general directions:

1. Hold all remedies in your mouth for a minute, preferably under the tongue;
   
2. Take the indicated drops of the remedy two times daily or as directed. Most of the time you will have three or four remedies to take, morning and evening, or three times daily;
   
3. The homeopathic remedies are taken one right after the other. Please leave the remedies in your mouth for a minute, then swallow, and then take the next remedy;
   
4. If you are on more than one combination of remedies, leave a minute between remedies. You may take these remedies either directly into the mouth or mixed in water. If you mix with water, have a small glass for each remedy, and swirl the liquid in your mouth for a minute before swallowing;
   
5. Wait a good half hour before taking any supplements or eating. Take the remedies at least 30 minutes between meals.

What to avoid while taking remedies:

1. Camphorated products. These neutralize homeopathic remedies more than anything else, and need to be avoided;
   
2. Coffee, tea, mint, and caffeinated foods. These are believed to make it more difficult for the correct remedies to work (there is some disagreement about this). In any case, avoiding caffeine improves the function of the heart, stomach, and other body tissues in their capacity to eliminate toxins, and thereby helps remedies to be more effective;

There are homeopathically compatible toothpastes available in stores.