1. What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a specific type of holistic medicine, which restores the body’s natural ability to heal, creating strength and resilience that lasts. Remedies are chosen according to individual needs of the person and typically come in pills that dissolve on the tongue.
2: How are homeopaths and naturopaths different?
Homeopaths have been specifically trained in homeopathy for several years and use homeopathy as the basis for all healing, whereas naturopaths have general training in various areas that may use different tests and products. Naturopaths who have additional homeopathy training often work similarly.
3. Can homeopathy help me?
Homeopathy revitalizes the body’s natural ability to heal, creating balance which allows you to stay healthier longer. Remedies can be used acutely when home remedies are needed (to boost the immune system during mild infections, influenza, injuries, pain and inflammation) or constitutionally, when nagging problems recur or will not resolve on their own: to balance hormones, reduce susceptibility and build health overall for instance. Children often respond well to homeopathic remedies and parents find them indispensible for those middle-of-the-night problems and to prevent recurrences.
4. How do remedies work?
Remedies work according to the like heals like principle, which means that a remedy which causes symptoms in a healthy person will heal similar symptoms in a sick person. Coffea, made from coffee beans, is an important remedy for insomnia and Allium cepa, made from onion, is a leading remedy for hay fever. Belladonna, a plant which produces fever-like symptoms in a healthy person, is used in homeopathic form to heal fever. This may seem counter-intuitive, but vaccines work similarly.
5. Do I have to believe in it for it to work?
Homeopathic remedies have been used successfully for over 200 years on children as well as adults, whether or not they believe in it. Scientific trials have been published in medical journals including the British Medical Journal, Lancet and Pediatrics. In 2011, The Swiss government reviewed the evidence on homeopathy and published its conclusion—that homeopathy is not only effective, but also cost effective. The NationalCenter for Homeopathy website is an excellent resource for more information.
6. Are there side effects?
Because homeopathic remedies are uniquely prepared, they have no toxic side effects and can safely be used by pregnant women, babies and the elderly. Nonetheless, homeopathic remedies should never be repeated indefinitely or used carelessly.
7. Do homeopathic remedies conflict with conventional medicines?
Homeopathic remedies do not interact with medications, making it possibly the perfect complementary medicine. Homeopathic care should never replace good conventional medical care.
8. Can homeopathy be an alternative to vaccines?
There is no evidence that homeopathy can provide the same protection as vaccines. Homeopathic remedies can be used to help the body recover more quickly after vaccination and should be used as a complement rather than an alternative to conventional medicine.
9. Why choose homeopathy?
In homeopathy, the ultimate goal is a stronger, healthier body that is less susceptible to nagging health problems, feels more vital and resilient, and recovers more quickly and easily from acute illness, requiring less rather than more treatment over time, naturally and without side effects.