All You Want to Know About Homeopathy

Beginnings

Even if the beginnings of homeopathy can be found with the ancient Greeks, it is directly linked to the German doctor Samuel Hahnemann. In the 18th century he was not satisfied with the medical developments of his time. Thus he began his search for a means of healing patients which was gentle, fast and safe. He believed that the human body was capable of healing itself. For him the symptoms of the illness were simply the visible signs of the body fighting to overcome it. So instead of suppressing the symptoms he found it more sensible to stimulate them in order to aid the healing powers of the body.

In his famous experiment on himself using China bark, used at that time for the treatment of Malaria, he discovered something astonishing: he, being healthy, by regularly drinking a brew from China bark, developed symptoms of disease which also occur in persons suffering from Malaria. He concluded that China bark does not only aid in the betterment of symptoms of Malaria, but with a high dosage also causes the same symptoms in a healthy person.
“Similia similibus curentur” – the principle of homeopathy – was born: like can be healed with like! This means that a substance that causes disease symptoms in a healthy person can be used to heal an ill person who suffers from the same of similar symptoms. Two remedies of homeopathy demonstrate the similarity principle very clearly: the regular household onion (Allium cepa) and the honey bee (Apis).

Progression

In the following years, Hahnemann and his successors undertook many more experimentations with diverse plant, animal and mineral substances, so-called drug tests, tested on themselves and other test persons. All symptoms caused by a substance were carefully documented. Summarized these symptoms resulted in the drug description. If a patient showed symptoms, the corresponding remedy was prescribed.
With this means of healing, Hahnemann had sensational successes during this time. In 1813 during the typhoid epidemic in central Europe, he treat 183 typhoid patients, of which only one succumb to the disease. This means a death rate of only 0.5%! In comparison, the death rate of the conventionally treated patients was 50%.

Potency

In order to be able to use highly poisonous substances without danger of poisoning or side effects, Hahnemann developed a special method of dilution, the so-called potentiation. It was discovered that the higher the potency the gentler, safer and faster the remedy would work.

How it Works

Homeopathic treatment is not just according to the diagnosis, i.e. cough, runny nose or bladder infection, but also according to the symptoms, meaning in which way each person reacts to his/her illness. So it becomes evident why for example for a cold there are many homeopathic remedies (not every cold has the same symptoms) and why one remedy has many applications.
The homeopathic remedy stimulates the body’s self-healing process and strengthens the body at the same time. In contrast, conventional medications – i.e. antibiotics – aim only to kill the pathogens. When taken, the immune system may also be weakened. Such drastic measures should be reserved for severe, dangerous or highly contagious illnesses and should not be used for ordinary infections.

In Summary

Homeopathy is based on the basic rules:
Firstly, a substance that causes particular symptoms on a healthy person can be used on an ill person to relieve the same or similar symptoms.
Secondly, the potentiation of a homeopathic remedy increases the healing effect of the substance and prevents unwanted side effects.
Lastly, homeopathy does not only treat the disease, but also each person individually based on his/her symptomatology.

Which Potency to Choose?

Experience shows that for the most common ailments and for most remedies available on our website, the potency D12 is most favorable. Generally the potency C6 is also highly recommended.

The multitude of potencies in homeopathy can easily lead to confusions. There are D-, C- and LM- (Q-) potencies, each having dilutions from one to two hundred and higher. “D” stands for decimal, meaning a dilution of 1:10 parts. “C” stands for centesimal – a dilution of 1:100, and “LM” or “Q” stands for a dilution of 1:50 000.
To produce a remedy with a C potency, one drop of the concentrate (primary substance) is diluted with 99 drops of alcohol, agitated (vigorously shaken to activate) ten times. This corresponds to the potency C1. From this C1 one drop is once again diluted with 99 drops of alcohol, agitated ten times over. This equals the potency C2. Thus a remedy with the potency C6 has been diluted 6 times at 1:100 parts, agitating the remedy after each step.
Only a qualified homeopath knows exactly how to work correctly with the potencies. Depending on type and strength of the potency he can target each case specifically.
But for the treatment with homeopathic remedies the potencies are only secondary. It is much more important to find the right remedy. If you should take a wrong remedy the condition will not improve. If the correct remedy is applied, the patient will get better, regardless of the potency.

The Right Dosage

The homeopathic remedies are available as drops, tablets and globules (beads). Take as follows:

For an adult and adolescent:
5-10 globules, 5-10 drops or 1-2 tablets

For a child:
5 globules, 5 drops or 1 tablet

For an infant or toddler:
3 globules, or ½ tablet dissolved in water

IMPORTANT:
Drops for toddlers and infants should be avoided due to their alcohol content. The tablets should not be taken if lactose intolerant because they contain lactose.

The homeopathic remedies get absorbed immediately in the mouth by the oral mucosal membrane. In order to achieve the best-possible result, it is advisable to keep the remedy in the mouth for a minute or respectively allow the globules or tablets to dissolve in the mouth. Do not take immediately before or after eating, drinking, smoking or brushing your teeth. The oral mucosa should be free of any external tastes since the remedy can become less effective

Frequency of Use

In highly acute cases the remedy can be taken every 5-10 minutes – but not more than five times in a row.
In acute cases the remedy can be taken every two hours. Do not take these 2-hours dosages for more than 24 hours, after than you may take it three times a day.
Three times daily is the regular dosage for non-acute ailments. Please observe after each intake if the symptoms change. As soon as there is an improvement lengthen the time between intakes (rather than every two hours only every three to five hours). Once back to a healthy state, only take the remedy for two more days with the normal dosage – three times a day, after that stop taking the remedy. Only begin use if the original symptoms present themselves again.

In summary:
In highly acute cases:
Every 5-10 minutes (no more than five times)

In acute cases:
Every two hours (no longer than 24 hours)

In normal cases:
Three times daily (regular dosage)