Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine system based on the theory that certain diseases can be treated with minute doses of a natural substance that can produce symptoms similar to those of the illness; effectively stimulating the body's own defenses against the illness resulting in a healthier balance of internal chemistry.

Homeopathy is a therapeutic method that uses highly diluted natural substances to relieve symptoms. Homeopathic medicine is an alternative form of healthcare that involves making use of the body’s natural defenses along with utilizing plants and other naturally occurring elements to prevent and sometimes heal a health condition. In general, this use of natural remedies while under the care of a trained homeopathic physician is considered a natural way to deal with many different ailments and restore general wellness, without making use of medicine that is composed all or in part of artificially created elements.

Homeopathic remedies are derived from substances that come from plants, minerals, or animals, such as red onion, arnica (mountain herb), crushed whole bees, white arsenic, poison ivy, belladonna (deadly nightshade), and stinging nettle. Homeopathic remedies are often formulated as sugar pellets to be placed under the tongue; they may also be in other forms, such as ointments, gels, drops, creams, and tablets. Treatments are "individualized" or tailored to each person it is not uncommon for different people with the same condition to receive different treatments.

One of the underlying concepts of homeopathic medicine is that making use of carefully measured doses of various natural elements will provide relief from a number of ailments by helping to stimulate natural defenses. The body’s immune system generates antibodies in response to the medicine that attacks the bacteria or virus which causes the health issue, curing the condition without the need for medications that could cause a range of undesirable side effects. Interestingly enough, these same homeopathic medicine options are likely to cause the same ailment to develop in a healthy person if administered in larger doses.

While many people rely upon homeopathic medicine along with the use of herbal remedies, this alternative school of healthcare is usually not considered valid by proponents of Western nuclear medicine. The lack of testing conducted in controlled settings is cited as one reason. At other times, even if the homeopathic medication is somewhat effective, critics point to the fact that the use of nuclear medicine often produces results in a shorter period of time.

What is homeopathy used for?
Historically, people have used homeopathy to maintain health and treat a wide range of long-term illnesses, such as allergies, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. They have also used it to treat minor injuries, such as cuts and scrapes and muscle strains or sprains. Homeopathic treatment is not considered appropriate for illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, major infections, or emergencies.

Benefits of Homeopathic Medicines
1. Natural - The active ingredients in homeopathic medicines are diluted plants, animals and minerals that relieve the same symptoms they cause at full strength (i.e., a micro-dose of coffee bean helps nervousness).

2. Scope of Use - Similar to other over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, homeopathic medicines can be used to relieve symptoms of a wide range of acute health conditions such as allergies, coughs, colds, flu, stress, arthritis pain, muscle pain, and teething.

3. Efficacy - Homeopathy has been used for more than 200 years, building a remarkable safety record and generating a great body of knowledge.

4. Quality - controlled - Homeopathic medicines are manufactured according to the highest standards, complying with specifications of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) and Drug Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

5. Safe - Homeopathic medicines are one of the safest choices for self-treatment.
- No known side effects such as drowsiness
- No interactions with conventional medications or herbal remedies
- No contraindications with pre-existing conditions
- No masking of symptoms

6. Forms - Like other OTCs, homeopathic medicines are available in a variety of dosage forms such as gels, ointments, creams, syrups, eye drops, and suppositories.

How does homeopathy differ from conventional medicine?
Homeopathy is based on a rule of nature called the Law of Similars. This law states that "like cures like," or that a medicine can cure a sick person if it can cause a similar sickness in a healthy person. For instance, if you peel an onion, your eyes burn, itch and water. You might also have a runny nose and begin to sneeze. If you had similar symptoms during a cold or allergy attack, such as a runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing, a homeopathic micro-dose of the remedy Allium cepa (red onion) would help your body heal itself.

The homeopath regards symptoms as the body’s healthy attempt to restore itself to balance. That is why a homeopath will choose a remedy that supports the symptoms rather than opposing them or suppressing them as in conventional medicine. In conventional medicine, a cold or hayfever sufferer is given an antihistamine to dry up the runny nose and watery eyes artificially. But this medication often comes with unpleasant side effects like sleepiness and constipation. With the correct homeopathic remedy, however, there are no side effects and a person is restored to health naturally.

Homeopathy also recognizes that each person exhibits his or her disease in a unique and slightly different way. That is why two people with the same disease will not necessarily receive the same homeopathic remedy. A cold sufferer with a stopped up nose and dry eyes would receive a different remedy than one with a runny nose and watering eyes. Unlike the “one size fits all” approach to prescribing often used in conventional medicine, a homeopath chooses a remedy that matches the unique symptom profile of the individual. Conventional medicine seeks to control illness through the regular use of medications; if the medicine is withdrawn, the person’s symptoms return. For example, the daily use of drugs for asthma (or any chronic disease for that matter) alleviates the symptoms but does not cure the underlying problem. In homeopathy the ideal is that a person needs just enough of the homeopathic remedy to stimulate their healing response. In other words, homeopathy seeks to cure a person so that they do not need any medications - homeopathic or otherwise.

Positives and Negatives of Homeopathy
• Homeopathy basically is considered to be one of the safest forms of treatments like Ayurveda. • Homeopathic medicines are aimed at improving the body's own healing powers to be able to fight the disease. Homeopathic medicines are safe without any harmful ingredients. These medicine do not suppress the pain, rather it strengthens the immune system and treats the cause of the disease.
• Homeopathy medicine is relatively safe for children, adults and even pregnant women. These medicines do not have any side effects.
• The homeopathy medicines are also natural and therefore more suitable for the human body. These medicines are based on natural ingredients.
• Another advantage of homeopathic medicines is that they are easy to use. These medicines generally come in the form of tiny sugar pills and these are convenient to carry and also very easy to take at the necessary time prescribed by the doctor.
• Homeopathic treatment is also cost-effective as compared to other forms. This treatment does not involve large expenditures. Besides, they can also complement allopathic medicines in many cases.

As for the disadvantages of homeopathy goes, it would depend largely upon the physician who is giving you the treatment. Perhaps one would notice the dearth of professional homeopathic doctors. There is also a shortage of institutions that conduct these professional courses. This would mean there are not many genuine homeopathic medicines being prescribed by authentic doctors. Also, one cannot rely on homeopathic medicines for emergency situations.

Since the middle of the 20th century, training programs for homeopathic physicians have become more common. Today, many metropolitan areas will include at least one physician who makes use of homeopathic medicine. However, practitioners of this alternative healthcare option are rarely welcomed into the wider medical community even in metropolitan areas.

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