Homeopathy

What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a naturopathic method that was discovered and developed by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843). In homeopathy, highly diluted and shaken (also: potentized) remedies are used for illnesses as well as physiological and psychological imbalances. It applies the principle of similarity ("let like be cured by like"). This means that substances are used in potentized form as medicines which, in unpotentized form, would cause the very symptoms in humans that the homeopathic remedies are supposed to help against.Homeopathic remedies are available only in pharmacies.

Further development of homeopathy in anthroposophic medicine

Since Hahnemann, many different branches of homeopathy have developed. Classical homeopathy (according to Hahnemann) works with single substances. Classical homeopaths therefore try to determine the so-called constitutional remedy for each patient by taking a detailed case history. A constitutional remedy is meant to match a person's lasting overall physical and mental picture.Rudolf Steiner (1861 – 1925) used and expanded the principle of similarity within his anthroposophic medicine. He included not only the similarity of the mode of action but also the similarity of the signatures of various natural substances. In this context, the signature means the appearance, i.e. the shape, for example the color and form. From this "exterior", conclusions are then drawn about the nature and the effect.

Homeopathy and Schuessler salts

The homeopath Dr. Wilhelm Heinrich Schuessler (1821-1898) believed that illnesses could often be traced back to a lack of minerals in the smallest units of the body, the cells. He therefore defined 12 mineral compounds (salts) to counteract this mineral deficiency. However, his concern was not that the body did not receive sufficient minerals from food, but rather that disturbances in the uptake or release of minerals could cause a shift in cell metabolism. For his 12 mineral compounds he used the homeopathic principle of potentization. According to his teaching, this can give the cells the necessary impulse to restore physiological metabolism.

What types of starting materials does homeopathy use?

Homeopathic remedies also differ, of course, according to their respective active substance. There are homeopathic remedies of plant, animal, mineral and even human origin.

What are homeopathic potencies? And which ones are there?

In homeopathy, there are different degrees of dilution. D potencies are each diluted step by step at a ratio of 1:10. "D" stands for decimal. For example, a D6 potency is diluted in 6 steps, each time by combining one part of the substance with 9 parts of solvent (e.g. water or alcohol). In the next step, one part of the first mixture is again diluted with 9 parts of solvent, and so on.C potencies are diluted according to the same principle at a ratio of 1:100. "C" stands for centesimal.Q or LM potencies (quinquagintamillesimal) are dilutions at a ratio of 1:50,000.

Dosage forms of homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies are available as globules, drops, lactose tablets, ointments and suppositories.

Well-known homeopathic remedies

For legal reasons, we are unfortunately not permitted to attribute any effect to homeopathy, as there is still no scientific evidence for it. Nevertheless, we would like to name some well-known homeopathic remedies. Please consult other sources for information about the properties of the following remedies:

• Aconitum

• Apis

• Arnica

• Arsenicum album

• Belladonna

• Calcium carbonicum

• Chamomilla

• Ferrum phosphoricum

• Nux Vomica

• Pulsatilla

• Staphisagria

• Sulfur

• Thuja

• and others

Complex remedies (combinations of several homeopathic remedies):

• Argentum nitricum comp.

• Infludoron

• Lymphomyosot

• Traumeel

• and others

Does homeopathy work?

No homeopath disputes that, owing to the repeated dilution, most homeopathic remedies no longer contain a single molecule of the starting substance. People who believe in homeopathy therefore attribute the mechanism of action to the information that the starting substance is said to have passed on to the water. That water acts as such a carrier of information has not yet been scientifically proven.In 1988, it was believed that such proof had been found: an employee in the laboratory of the Frenchman Jacques Benveniste had accidentally diluted an allergen very strongly. Nevertheless, blood cells treated with it reacted to it.The experiment was repeated several times with the same result. To verify it, a group of researchers was granted access to the laboratory. They found that the employee had not "blinded" the experiment. In other words, she knew whether she had treated the blood cells with the diluted allergen or with the control liquid. The researchers repeated the experiment "blinded", after which the effect could no longer be demonstrated. The only remaining explanation was that the employee must have influenced the experiment, knowingly or unknowingly.Only those forms of therapy whose efficacy has been proven in placebo-controlled double-blind studies are considered scientifically proven. Homeopathy does not meet this so-called "gold standard". In particular, reproducibility could not be shown in studies. However, this does not surprise any convinced homeopath, since he assumes from the outset that the remedy used, as well as the individual's reaction to it, are individual and not reproducible.

Homeopathy at our Natura Heilpraxis

In our practice, we use anthroposophic complex remedies as well as classical homeopathic remedies to accompany all therapies.Since, from the perspective of conventional medicine, homeopathy cannot be effective and there is so far no scientific proof of its efficacy, we are also not permitted for legal reasons to attribute any effects to it. If you still have any questions, please feel free to contact us. You can also obtain further information on homeopathy from purely editorial websites.

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