The physician Samuel Hahnemann founded homeopathy more than 200 years ago and thus also laid the foundation for homeopathic remedies. Ingredients for homeopathic remedies and their mode of action are derived from the simile principle. This principle states that like is treated with like. Active ingredients that in concentrated form trigger the symptoms an organism faces during a particular illness in healthy people are considered to cure the mentioned symptoms in diluted or potentized form. Homeopathic remedies containing the active ingredient of the kitchen onion, for example, are used against allergies, as watery eyes are a characteristic in both cases.
Medical and health applications
Homeopathic remedies are particularly intended to stimulate the body’s self-healing powers. Homeopathic remedies to this day do not have a broad lobby in conventional medicine, because the principle of action can not be explained by the scientific means available. In naturopathy it is important to take an extensive anamnesis beforehand in order to use the right homeopathic remedy. The anamnesis serves to identify as holistic a picture as possible of the reasons, influences and circumstances for the disease, in order to achieve the best healing approach with the right homeopathic remedy. In particular, the homeopathic remedy should stimulate the body’s self-healing powers. Once the symptoms are clearly defined, the therapist tries to find out the right homeopathic remedy in the right potency. Homeopathic remedies can contain basic substances from plants, minerals, animals or pathological material in diluted form. In principle, many clinical pictures can be treated by homeopathic remedies. Especially chronic diseases such as skin eczema, allergies, migraine or rheumatic complaints, but also depression and thyroid problems are popular starting points for homeopathic remedies.
Forms, types and functioning
The principle of potentization for homeopathic remedies is the second pillar of homeopathy. This involves diluting a solution with alcohol in a ratio of 1:100 or rubbing it with lactose in the same ratio, resulting in the various C potencies for homeopathic remedies. D potencies are diluted in a ratio of 1:10. If the mother tincture of a homeopathic remedy so designated is taken as a starting point and diluted with 10 or 100 parts of alcohol or lactose, respectively, the next D or C potency level results. This diluted solution is then diluted again with 10 or 100 parts and again results in the next potentization level for the homeopathic remedy. This principle can lead so far that in principle no detectable active ingredients are left in the homeopathic remedy. In the case of a C5 potency, the dilution process was carried out 5 times in the ratio described. Contrary to the assumed mode of action, less active ingredient equals less effect, this behaves in the opposite way in homeopathy and higher potencies achieve higher degrees of effectiveness.
Risks and side effects
A known and quite desirable side effect to homeopathic remedies is initial worsening. This means that as soon as the homeopathic remedy is taken, the already existing symptoms first worsen. Often this is an indication to the therapist that the homeopathic remedy is working and has been chosen correctly. In rare cases, homeopathic remedies in low potencies, which still contain a higher proportion of active ingredients, can cause allergic reactions. Especially in cancer therapy, a balanced use of conventional medicine and naturopathy should be emphasized. Naturopathy can wonderfully support cancer aftercare through the use of homeopathic remedies, but the sole use of naturopathy can have fatal consequences. Due to the low concentrations usually used, homeopathic remedies are largely considered to be free of side effects.
