Conventional western medicine (Allopathy):

Using this treatment philosophy we might decide that these symptoms are caused by the body's release of

Histamine, an early defense mechanism to trigger the immune system. We might then decide the best way to

relieve these symptoms is to block the release of Histamine using an Antihistamine. This will work by blocking

the release of Histamine, reducing mucous secretion, resulting in drying of eyes and nasal passages. We

would then make a decision regarding dosage based on your age, weight, etc.

Homeopathy:

In contrast, using the philosophy of Homeopathy we might choose a substance which would normally

trigger those same symptoms, say, Red Onion, or Allium cepa (the Latin name for Red Onion).

Based on the severity of your symptoms, we might decide that Allium cepa C30 granules

(C30 refers to the Dilution factor of the remedy- more on that later) is the right remedy for you.

We would tell you to to dissolve 5 granules under the tongue very frequently at the beginning

of symptoms, say every 20 minutes for 2 or 3 doses, and reduce frequency with the resolution

of the symptoms.

Note the difference in philosophy:

Using conventional western medicine, you chose a product based on it's ability to block the symptom.

With Homeopathy, you Chose a remedy made from a substance that, if not diluted, would have

made your symptoms worse. Rather than simply blocking the body's immune process from occurring,

you aid it by giving it something that it can recognize. It is also important to understand the difference

in dosage. With western medicine, the decision regarding a safe and effective dose based on age and

body weight. With Homeopathy, you choose a dosage based on the severity of the symptoms. It is

interesting to note that you would give the same remedy and dosage regardless of your age and weight.

 

Red Onions? So Homeopathy is like Herbal Medicine, Right?

Not so! Homeopathy should not be confused with Herbal medicine, or Naturopathy as it is often called,

although the two are often used together. Herbal medicines, by definition, are medicines derived from plant

extracts. They are generally concentrated in form and contain measurable amounts of physiologically active

substance. Homeopathic medicines can be derived from any material; plant, animal or mineral but are almost

always diluted in a special way that preserves the basic essence of the original substance while eliminating

the possibility of side effects which can be caused by Allopathic and Herbal medicines.

 

Diluted Essence-How do they work?

Homeopathic remedies are prepared using a very special process. The first step is to collect the material from

which the remedy is to be made. This could be a plant, animal or mineral (or might be one specific part - a

root extract might have different uses than a leaf extract, for example). The original material is then soaked,

or macerated (steeping or soaking), in a solvent (usually alcohol and water) for a specified period of time

to extract the active compounds from the original material.

 

This creates the Mother Tincture or MT. The mother tincture is then further diluted according to one of two

common dilution scales; 1 in 10 (X, D or DH dilutions), or 1 in 100 (C or CH dilutions). In naming a remedy,

one uses the Scientific or Latin name of the original substance. This is followed by a number and letter(s).

The letter tells us the dilution factor used at each step of the dilution (X/D is a 1 in 10 dilution, C is a 1 in 100

dilution and a M is a 1 in 1000 dilution etc.) and the number represents the number of times the dilution

process was performed.

 

In our example above, we chose Allium cepa C30. This means the remedy was derived from from the MT

Red Onion (Scientific name: Allium cepa). It further tells us the remedy was made using a 1 in 100 dilution

scale. So, using the Allium cepa Mother Tincture, we took 1ml of MT and diluted it in 99ml of alcohol/

water solution (total volume 100ml). This mixture would be shaken vigorously, a process called Succussion,

and created a 1C or 1CH dilution. The H refers to Samuel Hahanemann, considered the father of modern

Homeopathy. To create further dilutions, one would take 1ml of the C1 tincture and dilute it with 99ml of

alcohol/water solution and shake vigorously. This would create a C2 dilution. To make a C3 dilution, one

would take 1ml of the C2 tincture and dilute it with 99ml of the alcohol/water solution and so on. This

special dilution method is important because studies have shown measurable differences in the activity

between a Homeopathically diluted product and the same product diluted to the same degree using a

one step dilution (e.g., a C2 dilution is, in essence a 1 in 10,000 dilution, but if you took 1ml of Allium

cepa Mother Tincture and diluted it with 9,999ml of alcohol/water it would work like a C2 dilution).

 

It is interesting to note that the more times a remedy has been diluted, the more Potent and generalized

the effect of the remedy. So, in general, one uses low dilutions (e.g. C12 to C30) for localized problems

like a sore ankle and higher dilutions (e.g. C200 to M or higher) for more problems which are either

more widespread or which are more severe in nature (e.g. Severe anxiety or panic attacks).

 

Sounds like Smoke and Mirrors?

Admittedly, the philosophy of Homeopathy is hard to explain adequately in a brief article. But

variations of Homeopathy have existed in most cultures with centuries of use to support them. Even in

North America, where many people mistakenly think Homeopathy is something new, many are surprised

to learn that Homeopathy was very popular until the turn of the century (1900, that is) at which time

many doctors began to switch to regulated patent medicines.

 

Skeptics say that Homeopathy only works if one has 'faith' in it, i.e. it is merely a sort of placebo. The

fact that it works dramatically on animals and infants dispels the myth.

 

Is it Slow?

Homeopathic remedies work very rapidly in acute inflammation and infections such as Tonsillitis or

otitis, often a lot faster than Antibiotics, provided the correct remedy and correct potency is prescribed.

Diseases that may have existed over a long period of time will understandably take a longer time to cure.

 

Is it Safe?

Homeopathic remedies by their nature are exceedingly safe. They can be used during pregnancy, for children

and people with various medical conditions. They cannot and should not be used to replace or avoid other

medical treatment without direct medical supervision. The only precaution recommended is to use higher

dilutions (C15 or higher) for highly allergenic materials such as Rhus toxicodendron (Poison ivy extract) or

Apis mellifica (Honeybee venom). A dilution of C15 insures the substance has been diluted to the point

where it cannot cause an allergic reaction. This is one important way in which Homeopathy differs from

Herbal medicines.

 

Another note of caution is that self-diagnosis can be tricky. You must remember that Homeopathy should

complement regular medical advice and monitoring, not replace it. Your Pharmacist can recommend a

Homeopathic practitioner to properly assess your particular requirements.

 

Homeopathic medicines can have astounding results!

When you find the right remedy for the right person, you can be truly amazed at the results. It is important

to understand fully the Homeopathic principle that one looks at symptoms as a sign that the body recognizes,

at least partially, what is wrong and is attempting to correct it, and you must work with that principle, not

against it, Further, you must consider not only the symptom, but the underlying cause and personal history

of the person in order to select the appropriate remedy. Put another way, you do not simply treat the

symptom but try to assess what caused the symptom, and you might use different remedies in different

people who seem to have the same symptoms.

 

In our example above, we looked at two ways to treat sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes. Using

conventional western medicine, we chose an Antihistamine to relieve these symptoms by blocking the

reaction for a period of time. We might add other ingredients to control other specific symptoms and we

might recommend you take this same medicine continually to prevent or control the symptoms if you typically

suffer then for extended periods of time. Conversely, using Homeopathic principles, we chose Allium cepa

to control the short-term symptoms of Allergy. If we determined you suffered longer term seasonal allergies,

we might also recommend you try Histaminum C30 or Mixed pollens C30 which is a mixture of common

pollen allergens used to reduce your sensitivity to these common allergy causing plant pollens.

 

In the past few years, some Homeopathic remedies have been tested using western scientific study

techniques (e.g. Blind or double blind trials). This is particularly interesting because some medical

practitioners have traditionally scoffed at Homeopathic remedies as placebos. In these studies, there was

a measurable difference between the Homeopathically diluted product, the standard method diluted

product and the placebo (no remedy present).

 

Homeopathy, however, has been practiced in one form of another since Hippocrates' times and in it's

current form for more than 200 years. It has developed based on individual experience and not in the

standard western method of tightly controlled clinical trials. One should probably try Homeopathy on

minor, self-limiting (not life threatening) conditions first to become familiar with the proper use and

expectation of results.