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Answers to frequently asked questions
What is homoeopathy?
How does homoeopathy look at health, disease and cure?
What kind of diseases can homeopathy treat?
Do Homoeopathic medicines have any side effects?
Why are homeopathic remedies slow to act?
Is Homoeopathy a cure-all medicine?
How can I find a good homeopath?
How can I know that a homeopath is competent?
What should I expect at the visit to a homeopath?
What is homoeopathy?
Homoeopathy is a medical system of treatment that uses natural remedies to
arouse and strengthen the natural capacity of the body to overcome disease.
Homeopathic remedies come mainly from plant, animal and mineral sources. The
most important aspect, however, is not the source of the remedies but the
special method of their preparation which involves a repeated process of mixing,
diluting and shaking till the chemical properties of the substance to be used as
remedy are totally eliminated. This systematic and calculated process of remedy
preparation, introduced by a German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, about two
centuries back, has dual advantage: i) it arouses the deeper therapeutic
power of the remedy which remains latent in the presence of chemical
properties and ii) it renders the remedy totally safe as with the
washing away of the chemical properties, there remains no chance of
chemical toxicity.
The concept of health, disease and cure revolves around the presence and
governance of a self-regulating force within the body. This force is responsible
to maintain health and keep the body, its organs and systems in a perfect
working order. In health, it functions at its optimum and ensures that all the
organs and systems perform harmoniously so that the individual may work towards
the fulfillment of the high purpose of his creation. In disease, it attempts to
restore the normal state. Disease is seen as the central disturbance of this
force caused or excited by its failure or inability to cope with external
disease producing factors such as bacteria, virus, environmental or medicinal
pollution, extremes of weather, etc. Disease is recognized through signs and
symptoms which are termed as body’s effort at self-healing. The object of
treatment is to bring this force to its former state of normal functioning
through homoeopathic doses.
How
does homoeopathy look at health, disease and cure?
Health is a balanced state where all organs and systems of the body perform in a
harmonious way and the individual has a sense and feeling of wellness – both
physically and mentally. Disease is a departure from normalcy in functions and
sensations. Each one of us has the natural capacity to overcome disease. We fall
ill because this natural capacity becomes subdued due to a number of factors
such as stress, bacteria, virus, environmental or medicinal pollution, extremes
of weather, etc. The energized homoeopathic doses provide a light stimulus to
our defense system and it once again becomes active. As a result, we return to
health.
What kind of diseases can homeopathy treat?
Homeopathy can treat a wide range of diseases including acute, infectious,
chronic and in some cases even those diseases where surgery seems to be
imminent. Some of the areas where homeopathy has helped avoid surgery are
diseases of nose, throat, eyes, tonsils, spine, digestive organs, kidneys,
gall-bladder, prostate gland, female reproductive organs, etc. Cases of
arthritis, asthma, migraine, allergies, etc. respond well. In brief, all
diseases without irreversible pathological changes can successfully be treated
with homeopathy.
Do
Homoeopathic medicines have any side effects?
Single homeopathic remedies prescribed and taken appropriately are 100% safe,
even if taken for a longer period. The same cannot be said about
multi-ingredient medicines (loosely called mixtures, combinations, compounds and
also Homoeopathy by Numbers) as there is no dependable scientific study to show
their safety though claims by the manufacturing companies abound. Good
homoeopaths avoid prescribing multi-ingredient medicines.
Why
are homeopathic remedies slow to act?
Homoeopathic remedies are NOT slow to act!
Just try to see, what type of cases come to a homoeopath; chronic cases of long
standing; the cases that have defied all modes of conventional treatment; the
cases that have been overdrugged and declared “incurable”. In such cases, if
homoeopathy takes a few months to effect a cure or to provide a long lasting
relief, that, in all fairness, should not be misconstrued as “slowness” of
homoeopathic remedies. There is a difference between a “prompt but temporary
relief” and a “cure” (permanent removal of disease). Homeopathy does not try
to suppress or cover up symptoms to provide “prompt relief” rather addresses the
underlying cause so that the disease is radically cured wherever it is possible.
Is
Homoeopathy a cure-all medicine?
No, it is not. Homoeopathy can cure almost all acute diseases in a shorter
period than any other system of medicine. It is highly effective in a number of
chronic diseases. It can safely cure several such cases where surgery seems to
be imminent. But, like any other science, it has its scope and limitations.
Cases with advanced tissue changes usually do not respond well to homoeopathic
treatment, though, in such cases too, a temporary relief can be obtained.
How
can I find a good homeopath?
The best way to find a good homeopath is to get referred to one through
recommendation of a satisfied patient. Ask your friends and acquaintances. One
of them may be able to refer you to a good homoeopath.
How
can I know that a homeopath is competent?
That is very difficult but the following hints will be helpful.
First, see what does he prescribe: single remedies or multi-ingredient medicines
(i.e. combinations and mixtures) or both? Good homeopaths usually do not
prescribe combinations and mixtures. Secondly, see how many single remedies he
prescribes for a patient. A competent homeopath will prescribe one or two
(single) remedies. Suspect his competence if he prescribes more than two single
remedies. Thirdly, be wary if he uses lengthy initials or titles with his name.
The only legal qualification recognized by the National Council for Homeopathy
is D.H.M.S. Those with a qualification of D.H.M.S. are registered with the
National Council for Homoeopathy and entitled to use initials “R.H.M.P.” that
stand for Registered Homoeopathic Medical Practitioner. Other initials or titles
are just showpieces meant to attract and impress patients. Fourthly, see how
much time does he give to each patient. Initial visits to experienced homeopaths
may take from 20 minutes to an hour in chronic cases. Subsequent visits may take
10-30 minutes. In acute cases, he may take 5-15 minutes. It is possible to
schedule less time than the above under some extraordinary circumstances but
that is the exception not the rule.
What should I expect at the visit to a homeopath?
Since homeopathy is a highly individualized treatment, focusing on the patient
as a whole, the homoeopath would be interested not only in your present illness
but would also like to know about your personality characteristics and traits,
your habits and moods, likes and dislikes or preferences for certain food items,
your achievements and disappointments, your reaction to weather changes, to
stressful situations, to warmth and cold, … the list is long. You will feel, he
wants to know all about you - at times even to the extent of your routine in 24
hours. Well, such a deep probing may appear disturbing to you but it is
essential in order to have a thorough understanding of YOU and your medical
problems.
The first interview can last from 20 minutes to over an hour depending upon the
nature of your disease and the skill and experience of the homoeopath. During
all this period, you will find him extremely attentive, listening, asking
questions and taking notes of essential points. Once the interview (case-taking)
is over, he will go over the notes and may ask you a few more questions to
clarify some points. Then, after analyzing the data so gathered, he will write
out a prescription, keeping in view your personal particulars and specific
problems.
P.S.
Some homoeopaths have a printed questionnaire. The patient is asked to provide
detailed answers to the questions set out in the questionnaire to save time. The
information provided by the patient is held in the strictest confidence.
Patients ask.
Why do most of the homeopaths in Pakistan refuse to give names of the medicines
they prescribe?
What
should I give to my son, Belladonna 30 or Bapatisia 30 for fever?
What
is the best medicine for arthritis?
A
disappointing experience about homoeopathy!
Are
Combination Numbers really effective?
What
is the difference between single and multi-ingredient medicines?
What
do health, disease and cure mean from homoeopathic point of view?
Do
homoeopaths recognize the findings of laboratory tests?
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