Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that is based on the Law of Similars. The truth of this law has been verified experimentally and clinically for the last 200 years.Let’s look at an example: If your child accidentally ingests certain poisons, you may be advised to administer Syrup of Ipecac to induce vomiting. Ipecac is derived from the root of a South American plant called Ipecacuanha. The name, in the native language, means “the plant by the road which makes you throw up.” Eating the plant causes vomiting.

When a group of healthy volunteers took this substance to determine the effects of this drug, they found that the drug induced other symptoms as well. The mouth retained much saliva. The tongue was very clean. There was a cough so severe that it led to gagging and vomiting. There was incessant nausea. While it is expected that vomiting would usually relieve the nausea, this was not the case.

Such an experiment, using healthy volunteers, is called a proving, and it is the homeopath’s source of information about the action of a drug.

Of what use could this plant be? If a person were suffering from a gagging cough after a cold, or a woman were experiencing morning sickness with incessant nausea that is not relieved by vomiting, then Ipecacuanha, administered in a minute dose, especially prepared by a homeopathic pharmacy in accordance with FDA approved guidelines, can allay the “similar” suffering.

Samuel Hahnemann described this principle by using a Latin phrase: Similia Similibus Curentur, which translates: “Let likes cure likes.” It is a principle that has been known for centuries. Hahnemann developed the principle into a system of medicine called homeopathy, and it has been used successfully for the last 200 years.

Definition provided by The National Center for Homeopathy

 

How I got into Homeopathy

In May 1993, I flew to Toronto, Canada to donate my bone marrow to my youngest brother, who at that time, was suffering from acute leukemia.  Before I left, a friend of mine told me about Arnica montana and Hypericum perforatum.  I really didn’t know what she was talking about, but because I was naturally averse to conventional medicine, I decided to look for the medicines she mentioned and take them with me. Anything to stay away from the narcotics the hospital was going to pump into my system!

To make a long story short, the bone marrow harvest went well; I refused the codeine and morphine suggested by the doctors for the post-surgery pain and took only a combination of Arnica and Hypericum in 30X!  (More on this drug strength later.) I was up and about halfway through the day after and I was ready to go home even before the day was done.  Pain free!  I was so happy NOT to have to take all those nasty tasting drugs.

When I got back to California, I visited my friend to thank her. She told me about the homeopathy school she was in that met 20 minutes away from where I lived.  The next class opens that October. I was determined to be in that class. I knew nothing of homeopathy, but everything my friend said made sense. I bought a book on it. I don’t remember now which one. Probably one of those designed for use at home. I started to look at everything around me as potential medicine. 

My brother survived the bone marrow transplant. Within months of the procedure, he survived one of the coldest Canadian winters. He was back at work during that time and the worry was that his immune system may not be strong enough to hold off the effects of any infectious disease ravaging the neighborhood. He did get a cold. His doctors wanted him on antibiotics. By this time, I was a few months into homeopathy school. I told him no antibiotics.  I gave him a homeopathic remedy instead.  Probably a bit foolhardy on my part, but he was out of it in a couple of days! He was back at work braving the bone-chilling Canadian winter.  I was convinced the medicine I gave him carried him through that time. He proceeded to have another child within a year of the procedure!  I thought that was awesome.