How does homeopathy work, anyway?

While at my girlfriend’s place this past weekend, I was talking to her about these homeopathy teething tablets that I give my son (as opposed to Baby Tylenol). Immediately after I said the word “homeopathy” she wrinkled up her nose and snooted, “Homeopathy… what, some kind of hippie junk?”

Hippie, holistic, natural… what homeopathy actually is seems to be lost amongst most of us – myself included! In short, the word “homeopathy” refers to a method of treating ailments with diluted natural substances that mimic the condition being treated. This may sound like a crazy idea at first, but then consider that the vaccinations created by pharmaceutical companies that are stuffed full of poisonous toxins are created with that exact same idea.

Homeopathy follows four fundamental laws that set it apart from any other healing philosophy:

The Law of Similars

The idea is that the treatment for an ailment comes from similarity; so if similar symptoms are created within the ailing environment that is displaying the same symptoms, the cure will ultimately be produced.

The Law of Single Remedy

The single remedy stresses that each remedy for each unique individual is just that – unique. Of a group of 10 people, it is quite possible that – taking mental, emotional, environmental and physical factors into account – each one of those 10 people will have a different treatment for what is medically defined as the same ailment (such as high cholesterol or asthma).

The Law of Minimum Dose

Homeopathic preparations always involve a greatly diluted form of a substance and stands by the belief that the less of a substance one receives, the more effective it is (which is quite contradictory from modern Western medicine beliefs).

The Law of Direction of Cure

“Direction of cure” refers to observing symptoms and following them through the body as follows:

• The vital organs to the less vital organs
• From within, outwards
• From above, downwards
• In reverse order of appearance

Here’s a good example of how this works: One typically suffers from eczema for any period of time before developing asthma, after which point the eczema seems to be gone for good. When a homeopath treats someone who suffers from asthma, they often see the eczema return as the asthma begins to heal. This shows that the cure is moving the ailment from a vital organ (lungs) to a less vital organ (skin); that the ailment is being moved from within a person’s body outward to the skin; and it is moving in the reverse order of appearance. From that point, it can be expected that the eczema will move down one’s body and onto his or her extremities (fingers, toes) before disappearing completely.

So… DOES homeopathy work?

How homeopathy works as a science is still quite unclear, but as any expert will tell you, “You just have to try it first”. Though it works for most, homeopathy does not work for everyone. Next time you find yourself with a cold or an upset tummy, grab the homeopathic (and less expensive) treatment. Chances are you will be glad that you did.

photo by Tin Palace