Although homeopathic medicine is now considered part of the alternative medicine field, it has a history dating back to the late 1700s. Still, critics claim that the highly diluted remedies work only as placebos. There seems to be as much evidence for as there is against its practice. But homeopathy remains a viable and safe alternative approach to medicine today.
History
Samuel Hahnemann, considered the father of homeopathy, was a German physician who was disheartened by the ill effects of the medicine of his time. He believed in Hippocrates' admonition, "first do no harm." Yet he found many of the surgical approaches invasive and dangerous, and the pharmaceuticals either harmful or ineffective. In the 1780s he gave up is regular practice to pursue studying alternatives to conventional medicine. This course lead him to a completely different theoretical approach, a course that ultimately ended in a new branch of medicine, homeopathy. He tested various substances and different preparations. His results were published in "The Organon of Rational Therapeutics" in 1810.
Function
Hahnemann's theory, called The Law of Similars, claims that substances that produce certain symptoms in their whole form will cure those same symptoms in highly diluted forms. It is often described as "like cures like." In fact, the term homeopathy means "similar suffering." He tested his remedies on healthy volunteers, including himself, and cataloged his findings in an extensive materia medica, which is the basis of homeopathic medicine today. His remedies are highly diluted preparations of medicinal substances, some of which are considered toxic in their full-strength state. These dilutions are believed to stimulate the body's natural healing response.
Science
Just because a substance is diluted does not mean it is homeopathic. Homeopathic preparations undergo a rigorous scientific process, called succussion. The more succussions a remedy goes through, the higher the potency of the final product. There are also scientific studies that support homeopathic medicine. One six-year study by researchers from the University of Bristol in Britain concluded that homeopathic "intervention offered positive health changes" in a substantially large number of patients with a "wide range of chronic diseases." The December 1999 issue of "The British Medical Journal" reports that evidence suggests homeopathy's effectiveness is not due to placebo effect.
Benefits
Unlike vaccines, which also trigger a natural immune response, homeopathic remedies have virtually no side effects. The preparations themselves are so highly diluted (many to the point where there is no detectable trace of the original substance), that there is little to no risk of overdose or toxicity. This leads many critics to claim that any healing response to the remedies is purely a placebo response. However, homeopathic medicine has been used successfully to treat infants as well as animals, both of which are considered immune to the placebo effect.
Considerations
Homeopathic medicine is practiced by licensed homeopathic medical doctors. If considering homeopathy, look for a trained professional. A homeopathic evaluation is extensive and typically lasts for an hour or more, covering a wide range of criteria. Selecting the appropriate remedy can be a complicated process. Although homeopathic remedies are available over-the-counter, individuals should seek professional advice and not attempt to self-diagnose.
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