What Exactly Is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is an alternative field of medicine, which has been around for centuries now. It is a holistic approach to treatments, and people use it for several chronic and acute illnesses.

Definition of Homeopathy

Homeopathy is an ancient kind of therapy for disease control. It follows the concept that a human body can heal itself. It works by the oral administration of different chemicals and their dilutions.

Background

In 1796, Samuel Hahnemann was studying the work of some medical professionals. He was working on the treatment of malaria. At that time, doctors used to believe that Cinchona can cure this disease.

A black and white drawing of Samuel Hahnemann

To check its efficacy, he ingested some bark to monitor its effects on a healthy person. As a result, he began to feel some symptoms. And surprisingly, all of those reflected the signs of malaria. Hence, Samuel concluded that the causative agent of any disease is itself the cure of it.

This is how he came up with the theory of “like cures like.” This became the basis of homeopathic medicine.

The Concept behind It

As discussed, this therapy follows the theory of “like cures like” – When you visit a homeopath for any disease, they give you some solutions or tablets that you have to take orally. These drugs are inert substances with no active ingredients.

The experts use different plants and other chemicals like ethanol. The process involves vigorous shaking and stirring to produce the final drug. They mix it all up and dilute it simultaneously. The result obtained is a diluted chemical with no trace of the parent ingredient.

When the Father of Homeopathy, Samuel, was coming up with different drugs, he found out that a concentrated formula produces side effects, but the diluted versions do not. Not only that, but these also prove to be effective. Thus, this approach was accepted for future treatments.

How It Got Famous?

Back in the days, medics used to do some weird stuff to treat patients. It was brutal, and most of the time, ineffective. People used to find rest much more beneficial than the treatment. They used to believe that medicines had more side effects than benefits.

Because there was no concept of antibiotics, amputation was very common. All of this produced a sense of fear in the patients. As a result, they avoided visiting professionals and, instead, tolerated the pain.

So, in such circumstances, when homeopathy was introduced, people found it quite helpful. It proved to be a better source of cure than medicine. More and more patients visited the homeopaths. And just like that, it got famous among the locals.

Diseases That Can Be Cured with Homeopathy

The approach of homeopathy is used to treat many diseases. Some of them are discussed below:

  1. Chronic Fatigue
    Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is common in teenagers and middle-aged people. In this disorder, patients suffer from an unusual amount of lethargy and stress. Even if they sleep for long hours, they wake up tired. And no matter how hard they try, they cannot focus on anything. Apparently, allopathy has no cure for this disease. But homeopathic treatments prove to be highly effective.According to many patients, they improved within days after the administration of homeopathic formulas.
  2. Rheumatoid Arthritis<
    This is an autoimmune disorder with severe symptoms. People with this disease suffer from joint pain, fatigue, and stiffness. In the medicine field, this condition is considered controllable but, sadly, not curable.According to different studies, homeopathic treatment is effective for this problem. Patients taking homeopathic formulas seem to feel better in a short time. It reduces pain, swelling, and reduces the number of flares. Along with all this, it also decreases the severity of morning stiffness.

    For a good amount of people, homeopathy is the primary treatment of this condition.

  3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    It is one of the most stubborn disorders. There is no definite treatment for it. Its signs and symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. It has been observed that homeopathic remedies are largely preferred for this problem.These instantly help with bloating and other symptoms. They are considered an easy and less dangerous way of treatment among the patients of IBS.
  4. Premenstrual Syndrome
    Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS is a common problem observed in women. The homeopathic line of treatment is vastly used to reduce the symptoms of PMS. It is also observed that these medications do not mess up the menstrual cycle as opposed to other traditional pills. It has proved to be beneficial for the condition. Also, it is less harmful to the body.
  5. Chronic Depression
    The condition of Chronic Depressive Disorder is seen in people who take a lot of stress. Instead of antidepressant drugs, a lot of the patients prefer homeopathic treatments because they tend to have very less or no side effects at all.Homeopathic formulas are known to elevate the patient’s mood. These also help them in coping up with anxiety. It is believed that it even aids the patient in getting back on their feet and increases their self-confidence.
  6. Allergies
    Homeopathic medications have been used to treat allergies for a very long time. From minor allergies like rhinitis to severe ones like hypersensitivity reactions, Homeopathy is used to treat them all. People who believe in this line of treatment find it extremely useful.
  7. Migraine
    Migraine is one of the most common medical conditions of all time. People suffering through it get severe headaches and nausea. It mostly induces due to some triggers. Homeopathic remedies are considered to be an effective treatment of migraine, and that too, without any side effects. According to patients, their headaches seem to get in control very quickly after the homeopathic therapy.

Benefits of Homeopathy

Homeopathy has a lot of benefits. Some of them are listed below.

  • This line of treatment is extremely safe. It has little to no side effects at all.
  • Patients of all age groups can use this therapy.
  • Pregnant and nursing women can also use this mode of treatment without any restriction.
  • It is effective for many chronic diseases that are otherwise incurable.
  • It is all-natural. Thus, it boosts your immune system and also promotes self-healing.
  • It is pocket-friendly. Everyone can afford it easily without breaking the bank on expensive medications.
  • The treatment of every patient is tailored, specifically for them. As opposed to traditional medicines that are general for all.

Side Effects

According to many studies, there are commonly no side effects of homeopathic treatments. But, in very rare cases, adverse reactions may be seen. Some of those are given below.

  • It makes the hair brittle.
  • Some patients following the therapy find difficulty in sleeping.
  • Some patients get muscle pain and cramping during the treatment.
  • In rare cases, it causes stomach pain after the ingestion of homeopathy medicine.

Is Homeopathy Just A Placebo?

When modern medicine evolved, people started to question the concepts of homeopathy. Professionals started some research to check the potency of homeopathic drugs and got shocking results.

According to most of the studies, these drugs have no effects on the body. They simply work as a placebo and trick the body into thinking that it works. Basically, it does nothing. But one cannot blindly follow these studies. While, on the one hand, these suggest that homeopathy does no wonders. On the other hand, they cannot explain the positive effects that the therapy has.

Thus, it is controversial. There is no sufficient evidence that homeopathy does not work. But there is also not enough proof to call it a proper field of medicine.

Hence, it is only a matter of choice. Those who believe in it find it helpful. Those who don’t, never consider it.

Conclusion

Homeopathy is a safer and cheaper way of treatment without having any side effects. It has been used since the early days of medicine. Now, there are not many homeopaths, but it is still considered a respectful therapy.

The best thing about homeopathy is that it is one hundred percent natural. This is why people who believe in it, swear by it. This therapy is used to cure many conditions. From autoimmune disorders to chronic infections, homeopathy has a treatment for everything.