Homeopathy

The word homeopathy is derived from two Greek words: homoios, meaning similar, and pathos, meaning suffering. The combination of these two words defines the practice of homeopathy. The main governing principle of this form of medicine is summed up by the Latin phrase simila, similibus curentur – like cures like.

This approach contrasts with the principles of conventional medicine, which are allopathic – the Greek word allos meaning different. An appropriate remedy produces symptoms different (or opposite) from those of the disease – for instance, the suppression of a fever by aspirin.

‘Like cures like’ means, simply, that a homeopathic substance producing certain symptoms in a healthy person will treat similar symptoms in an ill person. For example, the medicine Belladonna (deadly nightshade, atropine) causes mania and confusion, a flushed red face, dilated pupils, a high fever and a dry mouth. If a person had similar symptoms, for instance as a result of an infection, a homeopath would assume that a tiny dose of Belladonna could relieve the complaint. In other words, a homeopath can use the toxic effects as a symptom ‘picture’, to select the appropriate medication.

PRINCIPLES OF HOMEOPATHY

The basic principles of homeopathy were first defined by the German physician Dr Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843). He seems to have based many of his original thoughts on Hippocratic principles that suggested symptoms were an expression of nature’s healing powers. Another German physician,

George Stahl, also stumbled across and used homeopathic principles about a century before Hahnemann’s birth.

Hahnemann developed homeo­pathy by carefully observing in detail the effects of specific medicines, both in healthy people and in ill people. The first clearly defined by him was that of Peruvian cinchona bark (quinine). During the eighteenth century, this remedy was commonly used to treat many infections, including malaria and intermittent fever. On dosing himself up with cinchona bark, Hahnemann found that he was able to mimic many of the symptoms of malaria. It occurred to him that the bark reduced this febrile (fever­producing) disease by producing its own self-limiting fever. Similarly, mercury was used as a treatment for syphilis, and Hahnemann noted that mercurial fever was in many ways similar to the symptoms of early syphilis.

Hahnemann began to test other substances. He either took them himself or one of his friends or students took them. He made detailed records (drug pictures) of the mental and physical symptoms that occurred over the following week or two. It is important to understand that homeopathic prescribing is as much based on mental symptoms as it is on physical complaints.
Hahnemann slowly began to build a detailed ‘library’ of drug pictures, each drug being associated with a long list of symptoms. If you require any homeopathic treatment, a detailed history will be taken, so that your symptoms can be fitted into the most appropriate drug picture and the required remedy can be prescribed.

More recently, the prescription of homeopathic drugs has tended to be divided into two main approaches: the constitutional and the symptomatic. Constitutional remedies are designed to rebalance you as a whole – your body, mind and emotions. For instance, if you suffer from recurrent attacks of indigestion, you may be given a remedy based on your general manner and personality, with the idea of controlling both your symptoms and their cause in the long term. Symptomatic prescribing is based on your immediate presenting symptoms and is usually effective in controlling acute and minor illnesses such as colds.

Constitutional and symptomatic remedies are sometimes given together to obtain the best therapeutic results.

Homeopathic pharmacies (particularly in Europe) have also developed ‘complex’ homeopathic preparations. These are effectively mixtures of several homeopathic remedies, all of which may be indicated in different people for the same group of symptoms.

HOMEOPATHIC PREPARATIONS

Homeopathic medicines are made from naturally occurring substances and are so dilute that they frequently contain none of the original substance.

The manufacture of homeo­pathic medicines involves two techniques: dilution and succussion. The homeopath dilutes the medicines in two main ways – decimal or D (one drop of tincture in 10 drops of water) and centesimal or C (one drop of tincture in 100 drops of water). For example, 30C is the original mother tincture diluted one in a hundred, 30 times. Between each dilution, it is necessary actively to shake the medication for a period of at least 10 seconds. This agitation, or succussion, appears to be an essential part of what makes homeopathic medicines effective. Usually only a small drop of medicine is taken once or twice a day, the exact dose dependent on the dilution being used.

In conventional medicine, when you are prescribed a drug, you are usually given large doses. This tends to work on the principle that the bigger the dose the greater the therapeutic effect. Homeopathic prescribing, however, adopts the opposite view: the smaller the drug dose, the more potent its effect.

DOES HOMEOPATHY WORK?

There has been quite a lot of research into homeopathy and this can be divided roughly into three areas: animal studies, laboratory experiments and clinical trials.

An example of an animal study is looking at whether homeopathic medicines added to the drinking water of farm animals may stop recurrent miscarriage in pigs or mastitis in cows. There have been relatively few animal studies but most have been positive and suggest that homeopathy is of therapeutic value.

A number of laboratory studies have also been performed looking at whether homeopathy can increase the excretion of toxic substances (for instance, arsenic) from poisoned plants and animals. Some studies have looked at the effect of homeopathy on specific reactions produced by enzymes in test tubes. Others have looked at the potential for homeopathy to inhibit or excite the growth of plants in certain specific conditions. These studies largely suggest that homeopathic preparations, even though they may be too dilute to contain any actual molecules of the original substances, have clear effects on biological systems.
Clinical trials have been conduct­ed among patients being treated for certain conditions. People are allocated treatment at random and neither the patient nor the doctor knows who receives homeopathy and who receives a pill (placebo) that looks and tastes exactly the same. It does appear from these studies that homeopathy has an effect that is greater than a placebo (dummy treatment), although there’s not enough clinical research to state categorically that homeopathy works in any specific condition.

Homeopathy cannot be recom­mended for any specific conditions. However, it is, in general, used to manage long-term chronic condit­ions as well as some acute self-limiting conditions like colds and flu. Recent studies suggest that, although homeopathy may be fairly comparable in effectiveness to conventional treatments for acute respiratory problems, the rate of side effects that occur in homeopathically treated patients is far lower.

HOW DOES HOMEOPATHY WORK?

Most conventionally trained doctors find it difficult to imagine how homeopathy works. Indeed if homeopathy does work, then the mechanism involved challenges science’s whole understanding of the body’s biochemistry and physiology. So, as a consequence, homeopathy has, over the last 200 years, been the subject of intense and often hostile debate within medicine.

There have been suggestions that the process of serial dilution and succussion creates a ‘memory of the substance’ in the diluted water and alcohol mixtures. It is this ‘memory within the water’ that seems to contain the active therapeutic principle, but such suggestions are speculation rather than hard scientific evidence.

WHAT DOES TREATMENT INVOLVE?

At your first session, a homeopath will take a very detailed history from you to establish a complete picture of your symptoms. Not only will they want to know your state of mind and the exact nature of your symptoms, they will also want to know what makes your symptoms better or worse. Having obtained a complete picture, the homeopath will then try to match your symptoms to a particular remedy. A prescription for a simple acute problem can sometimes be done over the telephone or in a very short period of time.

In chronic (long-lasting) condit­ions, it will usually be at least a month before the homeopath will review your situation. This is because homeopathic remedies take time to act. Sometimes, there will be an initial aggravation or healing crisis – this is frequently a good sign and indicates that the homeopathy might be effective. Usually the homeopathic remedy or remedies will need to be changed on several occasions during your course of treatment. You should allow at least a six-month period to elapse before you decide whether homeopathy is effective for you – particularly if you are seeking advice for a chronic condition.

While it is impossible to be specific about the type of conditions that can be helped by homeopathy, most homeopaths treat a wide range of problems. This includes allergic conditions (such as eczema and asthma), irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, gynaecological problems (such as painful periods and premenstrual syndrome), psychological problems (such as depression and anxiety) and arthritis.

The most important initial step before considering homeopathy is to make sure that you have, as far as possible, obtained a clear diagnosis from your doctor. You should also understand what conventional treatments are available to you so that you can consider whether homeopathy is an appropriate and reasonable approach to your condition.

IS IT SAFE?

Homeopathy can cause a flare-up of your original condition and this is usually considered by homeopaths to be part of the healing process. There is no evidence that homeo­pathy itself can cause serious or permanent adverse effects.

However, some homeopaths may suggest that you stop your conventional medicine as they say that this can interfere with the homeopathic treatment. This can be extremely dangerous in some conditions – so you should make sure you consult your own doctor before stopping any conventional medicines on the advice of a homeopath.

The essence of good integrated care is communication between those treating you, so that treatment does not put you at any risk.

WHOM SHOULD I SEE?

There are about 1,000 doctors practising homeopathy in the UK. Most of them are GPs and many will offer homeopathy as part of their general practice. The Faculty of Homeopathy of the General Medical Council is responsible for training and keeping a register of medically qualified homeopaths. Doctors may be Associates, Members or Fellows.

There are about 1,500 non-medically qualified homeopaths who work largely within the private sector. Training for homeopaths without a medical degree varies greatly but some do four years part-time and a few three years full-time. Some training courses leading to university degrees in homeo­pathy have recently been intro­duced. Non-medically qualified homeopaths can be contacted through the Society of Homeopaths (see Useful addresses).