Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who benefits from homeopathy?
Homeopathy is safe for everyone. The way homeopathic remedies work in the body is different from conventional medical treatments. Homeopathic remedies stimulate the body to HEAL ITSELF and there are no contraindications (risk factors) in taking it. Homeopathic medications contain miniscule doses of active substances that are natural in origin. They are not harmful in any way. In the USA, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not restrict or regulate the sale of homeopathic remedies. This shows it is considered to be a safe alternative.
2. Is it effective to treat children with homeopathy?
Absolutely! Homeopathic treatment of children often brings even quicker results than in adults, therefore it is strongly recommended. The reason is that homeopathy works using our natural vital force. Children usually have strong vital force because they have not taken as many unnatural drugs (hormones, antibiotics, etc.) as adults have during their lives. Also, children are often more healthy psychologically than adults. If one is healthy inside (psychologically and spiritually), external problems can be treated easily. Generally, the treatment of children with homeopathy is highly effective and gives good results.
3. What kinds of diseases can be cured with homeopathy?
The essence of homeopathic treatment is to stimulate the body to heal itself, as is written in the article “Classical Homeopathy – What Is It?” Therefore there are no lists of diseases indicating which diseases can be treated with homeopathy and which cannot. Homeopathy can be a benefit for any health situation, although one should use common sense. If irreversible abnormal changes in the tissues have already taken place, homeopathy seldom can reverse these changes. For instance, if a patient has had diabetes for many years and took insulin injections since childhood, his pancreatic cells are already destroyed, and it is unlikely they will completely regenerate. At the same time, homeopathic treatment for such a patient is worthwhile. The patient will feel better in general and the potential to develop complications can be lowered.
4. What advantages does homeopathic treatment have
over conventional treatments
Homeopathy considers a person as a whole unit, rather than a set of separate organs and systems. Homeopathy awakens our innate vital force for self-treatment. Therefore, the individual recovers naturally by oneself. Conventional medicine deals with external aspects and symptoms of disease. The result of such “treatment” is the suppression of the disease. The symptoms, against which the drugs are directed, disappear and instead another, often more complicated disease, may develop. It appears there is no connection between these two diseases, but they ARE CONNECTED.
In one case, after years of treatment of atopic dermatitis with hormonal ointment, the dermatitis finally disappeared, but the individual acquired bronchial asthma instead. It was a clear case of the suppression of the disease bringing about a more serious problem later.
In addition, conventional drugs have many side effects. Treatment with conventional drugs does not improve one’s general health, but rather weakens it. The treatment of disease with homeopathy, on the contrary, is not only healing the disease, but strengthening the whole organism of the human body. Therefore the body itself can have more ability to cope with any problems which may arise.
5. Does homeopathy help in every situation?
How effective is homeopathic treatment?
Anyone who guarantees that his treatments will give you 100% perfect health is probably a fake. This is true of all areas of conventional or alternative treatments including homeopathy. The effectiveness of homeopathy is no less than that of conventional medicine. Regarding chronic illness, homeopathic treatment far exceeds that of conventional medicine.
In the book “The Logic of Figures or Comparative Results of Homeopathic and Other Treatment”, published in 1900 in Philadelphia, one can clearly see great results in the homeopathic treatment of cholera, yellow fever, pneumonia, typhus fever, diphtheria and other very serious diseases. A few facts from this book:
* General Reports of Pneumonia
Glasgow Infirmary, the general hospital in Vienna, and in the practice of Drs. Walsh, Taylor and Peacock, of London, reported by Dr. Routh
Out of 1,522 patients treated homeopathically, there was only a 5.7% mortality rate, as compared with 24% mortality rate for patients treated with conventional medicine.
* Diphtheria
Dr. Bird says that in Cedar Rapids, during the year ending April, 1879, there were 1,033 cases of diphtheria.
Treated with homeopathy - 405, Mortality – 6%
Treated with conventional medicine (allopathy) - 635, Mortality – 17%
This book is available online on books.google.com
In the National Center for Homeopathy website, there is a list of articles describing scientific, pre-clinical and clinical studies showing the effective results of homeopathy: http://nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/
6. How can one make homeopathic treatment more effective?
For success, good cooperation between the patient and the homeopathic practitioner (“homeopath”) is essential. As it is written in the article “Homeopathic Treatment”, the goal of the homeopathic practitioner is to find the exact remedy to match the patient’s whole pattern, including his psychological and physical characteristics. The success of homeopathic treatment depends on how openly and objectively the patient can describe himself and his problems.
7. What do you think about homeopathic sprays,
ointments, and other externally applied items?
Some drug-producing companies label their products “homeopathic” in order to avoid the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) certification process. It’s important to note that a homeopathic practitioner considers the patient as a holistic system, keeping in mind all diseases, complaints, physical and psychological characteristics. Applying a remedy locally just to improve skin condition, for example, does not correspond with the basic principles of homeopathy. Therefore the effectiveness of such products has dubious benefit, from the homeopathic viewpoint.
8. What does “Classical Homeopathy” mean?
Does another type of homeopathy exist?
“Classical Homeopathy” means homeopathy based on the “Law of Similars” (“Like cures like”) that Samuel Hahnemann discovered in the year 1796. This fundamental principle remains unchanged even today. Classical homeopathy includes remedy selection based on the individualization of every case, infrequent intake of the homeopathic medicine, and use of only one ingredient. Repetition of a remedy or a new remedy is prescribed only after close observation of the body’s reaction to the remedy.
9. Can homeopathy effectively treat acute conditions?
Yes. However, in acute conditions, a homeopathic practitioner’s consultation is strongly recommended. In less complicated acute cases, education in homeopathy may be appropriate (short courses where one can learn how to use homeopathy for oneself or one’s family). Treatment can be much more effective if the patient is already undergoing homeopathic treatment for his chronic disease, and some acute condition appears. If the homeopathic practitioner meets and talks with the patient in person, it is more effective than a phone call. It is very important to evaluate the urgency of the situation. In some cases, you can take homeopathic medicine with successful results. Always call 911 in an emergency.
10. Is it true that if one learns homeopathy for a few months
he will be able to treat his whole family?
It is just partially true. Actually, you can learn homeopathy without attending long courses. That gives you the tools to treat yourself and your family members in simple cases. However, to treat serious and chronic diseases and to get the best remedies prescribed, you should consult a qualified homeopath. In America, if a homeopath is certified by the Council for Homeopathic Certification, you’ll know he or she is well-trained and knowledgeable.
11. Can I take homeopathic medicine for the prevention of disease?
Homeopathic medicine is not usually recommended as a preventative, unless there is an epidemic or highly contagious outbreak of a disease. The medical establishment regularly recommends that healthy people get vaccinations, and they prescribe drugs to correct test results that are only a little out of standards. Homeopaths believe that healthy people do not need such aggressive intervention.
12. I am healthy, and if I get a disease I prefer to treat it with homeopathy.
What should I do now to maintain this healthy condition as long as possible?
To prevent disease, live a healthy lifestyle, eat healthy food, exercise, avoid smoking, caffeine, alcohol, and recreational drugs. Enjoy the benefits of the spiritual side of life. Goodness, tolerance, forgiveness, acceptance, service, gratitude and love of others - these inner aspects of life all contribute to creating the environment for a healthy body. God and the universe will support you.