What is Classical Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a holistic system of medicine aimed at stimulating our own internal healing mechanism. With the use of naturally occurring remedies from the planet we live on, homeopathy is effective for treating a wide range of ailments from traumatisms and acute infections, to more long term chronic conditions such as mental and emotional problems, hormonal conditions, digestive problems, migraines, CNS disturbances, etc. This modality is a complete holistic system of medicine with applications ranging from infants through geriatrics. It is and excellent alternative to antibiotics and chronic medication. Homeopathy shares many principles with holistic therapies throughout the world.
All diseases affect the entire person and any therapy must treat the whole if lasting results are to be expected. It is the whole person that needs to be brought back to health, not just a part. As the goal of the homeopath is to enhance a persons healing force, it is then necessary to find a remedy that will cause symptoms similar to the ones a person is experiencing. This is known as the Law of Similars, or “like treats like”. The work of the homeopath consists in finding a single remedy for the entire individual, the remedy that best resonates with the unique healing force of that person.
Homeopathic remedies are derived from natural substances such as plants, minerals and animals. A special process called potentization prepares them. This process has been found to enhance the healing potential of the substance as it captures the essential aspect of the substance while reducing it’s toxic effect. Homeopathic remedies have been given special status by the FDA. Most remedies are available over the counter at pharmacies and natural food stores. Each homeopathic remedy has been tested on healthy people to determine the symptoms it can produce. Through the Law of Similars the symptoms a remedy produces in healthy people are matched to those of the patient.
Classical Homeopathy denotes the treatment of chronic disease with one remedy at a time, selected on the Law of Similars. Combination remedies ( remedies with multiple substances) or remedies aimed at specific organs or limited symptom pictures is not, by definition, homeopathy, even though they are considered Homeopathic remedies by the FDA. Any substance can be potentized into a remedy but unless the remedy is given according to homeopathic principles (treating the totality of symptoms of the individual as one illness with a similar remedy, and by giving the least amount of the remedy necessary to establish a healing reaction) a remedy can not be truely called homeopathic.
For the most part Classical Homeopaths have had in excess of 500 hours of training in homeopathy where they have a deep understanding of the mechanisms of health and disease on all levels, mental, emotional and physical. They also have an in depth understanding of remedy action and how and when to apply remedies.
Even though it is possible for the lay person to find a remedy for many types of acute situations on their own, the consult of a professionally trained Classical Homeopath for all other health conditions, or conditions that don’t resolve in a reasonable amount of time, is recommended.