by Steve Taormina August 15, 1996 First in a series RESOURCES: Homeopathic Educational Services Introduction to homeopathy, specific remedies, and how to find professional homeopathic care. Bastyr University Bastyr University in Seattle offers courses on homeopathy, and takes a scientific approach to naturopathy. Homeopathy Home Page This site is a great jumping off point — it lists homeopathic Web sites, newsgroups, faqs, book lists, mailing lists, and worldwide addresses for locating homeopathic care. Usenet: misc.health.alternative	Homeopathy (ho-me-op-a-thy) is a system of healing that is practically at odds with modern medicine. Its methods are strange, its results strangely effective. You've heard of "hair of the dog," right? The theory that a stiff drink in the morning is a sure-fire cure for a hangover. It's probably the oldest homeopathic remedy in the book. "Homeopathic medicine is based on the principle of similars," explains Dana Ullman, M.P.H., author of "The Consumer's Guide to Homeopathy." "Whatever symptoms and syndromes a substance causes in large or toxic doses, it can heal when given in specially prepared, exceedingly small doses." The principle is similar to immunization, which uses minute doses of dead bacteria to stimulate the body to produce antibodies that fight off specific illnesses. Here's how I explain it: Let's say my stomach hurt from something I ate. One thing that would make me nauseous is the plant poison nut. If I ate a lot, I'd get pretty sick. But if I ate only a tiny bit, my body would react as if it were about to feel ill, setting into motion its natural digestive defenses. So, by ingesting an "exceedingly small dose" of poison nut, or homeopathic "Nux vomica," I would get my body working to correct a nauseous stomach. Modern medicine, on the other hand, prescribes we take medications which mask or suppress the symptoms our bodies exhibit. This does nothing to treat the cause of the problem. Homeopathy, through the principle of "like cures like," aids the body into healing itself -- something at which it's quite adept. For example, some homeopathic remedies are... Apis (honey bee) for insect bites and stings Coffea (unroasted coffee bean) for insomnia with great mental activity Capsicum (chili pepper) for inflammation of the nose, throat and ear Arsenicum (arsenic trioxide) for inflammation and pain with burning that's worst around midnight The word "homeopathy" can be traced back the Greek words "homeo" (similar) and "pathos" (suffering or disease). The homeopathic system of medicine and healing was developed at the turn of the 18th century by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. He personally tested many homeopathic preparations to discover their effects.
Homeopathy aids the body to heal itself.	Homeopathic medicines are very specific, meaning one remedy is taken for a set of particular symptoms. However, that remedy may be indicated for many different types of illness. If your symptoms change, then a different remedy is taken. This is "classical homeopathy," and it differs from what you are likely to buy at a health food store today. The combination remedies commonly marketed include three or more different homeopathic medicines in one tablet. These combination formulas are meant to address a broader range of symptoms, since diagnosing your specific condition and which remedy best suits it is sometimes challenging. How Are Remedies Made? To make a homeopathic remedy, a plant, mineral or animal substance is mixed in alcohol to obtain a tincture. One drop of that tincture is then mixed with 99 drops of alcohol (a ratio of 1:100), and the mixture is shaken. The shaking process is called "succussion." The bottle of this mixture would be labeled "1C" (for example, Nux vomica 1C).
Homeopathic remedies are more potent when further diluted.	One drop of 1C is then mixed with 99 drops of alcohol, and the process of succussions is repeated to make a "2C" remedy. The entire dilution and shaking process is again repeated to make a "3C" remedy -- a dilution of 1 part in 1 million. Small globules made from sugar are then saturated with the liquid dilution. These globules constitute homeopathic medicine. Homeopathic remedies are more potent when further diluted. No one has been able to explain this, but no one has been able to disprove it either. It's a common stumbling block for doctors and scientists who approach homeopathic medicine. Who Uses Homeopathy? By 1900, one in five doctors in the United States used homeopathy. However, as science moved toward a more mechanical understanding of the body and disease, homeopathy began to lose acceptance, and by the late 1940s, no courses in homeopathy were taught in the United States.
Today, homeopathy is undergoing a renaissance as a healing philosophy.	Today, homeopathy is undergoing a renaissance as a healing philosophy, and several naturopathic colleges offer courses in homeopathy. (Check Resources for more information.) Steve Taormina is Web developer for Wild Oats Markets. This information is not medical advice. © 1996 Tripod, Inc. All Rights Reserved.