Homeopathy

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a holistic medicine that uses substances known as remedies to treat and cure disease. The science
of homeopathy was founded by the German doctor,
Samuel Hahneman, in the late 1700s. Dr. Hahneman
was dismayed by the brutality of the actions of the crude medicines of his time. Many patients became sicker or died when treated for their illnesses. He set out to find a new way in which to treat his patients in a kinder and gentler manner. He observed that quinine, a substance extracted from cinchona bark, produced fever and chills when given in its crude form, but would cure a patient with those symptoms when the medicine was administered in a diluted form. Hence, the science of homeopathy was born, which simply means like cures like.

A homeopathic remedy is prepared by diluting and succussing (or gently shaking) any plant, animal, or mineral substance. For example, we can take the onion, allium cepa, dilute and succuss a piece of it, and produce a homeopathic remedy that will take away the symptoms of a runny eye and nose, such as that produced by a head cold. Another homeopathic remedy, natrum muriaticum, or table salt, will treat diseases whose symptoms include an increase in thirst.

The remedies do not physically resemble the crude substance. After the dilutions, they are added to sugar coated pellets and sold in small vials. You cannot tell one homeopathic remedy from another other than the label on the bottle, so great care is taken in their manufacturing.
The dilutions determine the potency. The more diluted,
the greater the potency and the more powerful the action
of the remedy.

Homeopathic remedies are prescribed based on the totality of the patient’s symptoms. Typically, a traditional western medicine diagnosis is not part of the prescribing; however, we often use the results of medical tests to help elucidate a total health picture. Remedies are typically very gentle and safe although high potencies can produce reactions or aggravations (as they are known in homeopathy), so high potencies are not available over-the-counter.

Homeopathic workups differ from traditional medical visits, as we must carefully extract the necessary symptoms of the patient’s history for an appropriate prescription. A visit is often an hour long in veterinary settings, and often longer with human patients. A careful and thoughtful analysis of the symptoms is performed, either by hand or with the aid of a homeopathic computer program. In classical homeopathy, one remedy is chosen to give to the patient. The remedy is frequently given just one time and not repeated unless it is indicated to do so.

Homeopathy can treat and cure many of our modern day ailments. Our four-legged friends can be cured of their allergies, skin ailments, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. How this gentle form of treatment produces its results still remains a mystery. Although we do not know precisely how homeopathic remedies work, we do know that their actions are precise and move the body into a greater state of health and well being. For a more in-depth look at homeopathy, visit the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy.