Homeopathy

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What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a method developed by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843). For diseases and physiological and psychological imbalances, it works with highly diluted and shaken (also: potentized) remedies. It applies the principle of similars ("let like be cured by like"). This means that substances are used in potentized form as medicines that, in unpotentized form, would cause the same symptoms in humans that the homeopathic remedies are meant 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 through a detailed medical 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 similars 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. This "exterior" is then used to draw conclusions about the nature and effect.

Homeopathy and Schüssler salts

The homeopath Dr. Wilhelm Heinrich Schüßler (1821-1898) believed that diseases can 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 minerals were not available to the body in sufficient quantities through food, but rather that disturbances in mineral uptake or release can 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 a physiological metabolism.

What kinds of source 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?

Homeopathy uses different degrees of dilution. D potencies are each diluted step by step in 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 in a ratio of 1:100. "C" stands for centesimal.

Q or LM potencies (quinquagintamillesimal) are dilutions in 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 this. Nevertheless, we would like to name some well-known homeopathic remedies. Please consult other sources for information on 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 (combination of several homeopathic remedies):

• Argentum nitricum comp.

• Infludoron

• Lymphomyosot

• Traumeel

• and others

Does homeopathy work?

No homeopath disputes that, due to repeated dilution, most homeopathic remedies no longer contain a single molecule of the source substance. People who believe in homeopathy therefore attribute the mechanism of action to the information that the source substance is said to have passed on to the water. It has not yet been scientifically proven that water is such an information carrier.

In 1988, it was believed that such proof had been found: an employee in the laboratory of the Frenchman Jacques Benveniste had accidentally highly diluted an allergen. 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 effectiveness 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 demonstrated in studies. However, this does not surprise any convinced homeopath, since they assume from the outset that the remedy used and the individual's reaction to it are individual and not reproducible.

Homeopathy at our Natura Heilpraxis

In our practice, we use anthroposophic complex remedies and 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 evidence of its effectiveness, we are not permitted for legal reasons to attribute any effects to it. If you still have questions, please feel free to contact us. You can also obtain further information on homeopathy from purely editorial websites.

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