Homeopathic medicine

WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?

THE HISTORY:

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that was developed in Europe approximately 250 years ago.

It was developed in opposition to the medicine of the late 1700s and into the 1800s, where most of the treatments used included large doses of toxic herbs and other toxic substances plus included bleeding people to supposedly make them healthier. In contrast, the main focus of Homeopathy was to help, whenever possible, to bring about the end of disease and do so without unwanted effects or damage to the person.

As it was developed, it incorporated nutrition and focus on healthy lifestyle (including good sleep, access to fresh air and many other features) as well as early acknowledgment of the need to focus, also, on mental health. To treat problems that weren’t helped by treating lifestyle and mental health alone, very low doses of various medicines and other substances were used to minimize unwanted effects.

Within a few decades of its inception, Homeopathy spread throughout Europe, then to the Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia. It was practiced widely throughout the world beginning in the mid-1800s and continues to be used around the globe by both medically trained and lay providers. In the US, it was a form of mainstream medicine in the 1800s and early 1900s, and is still practiced in the US, even if it is relegated to the alternative medicine fringe.

A few facts about homeopathy not many people know:

Homeopathic medicine developed the idea of drug trials to determine the effects of a medicine (both wanted and unwanted) on a population of people, in the very early 1800s.

Homeopathic medicines are regulated in the US by the United States Pharmacopeia to meet standards of safety.

Homeopathy is a system of medicine. It includes acknowledgement that good health is based on the need for regular exercise, healthy eating, good sleep, access to fresh air and clean water as well as good social and mental health support. It is actually the foundation for much of the philosophy of Naturopathic medicine.

While it is known for using very low doses, the foundation of treatment with homeopathic medicines (“remedies”) is actually selected by matching the set of symptoms of the person being treated to the medicine selected. The low doses are used primarily to minimize any chance of unwanted (“side”) effects. The low does are not the primary way Homeopathy works, and sometimes larger (“material doses”) can also lead to improvement based on this principal (although sometimes not as effectively and with a higher likelihood of unwanted effects). However, the low doses are the main reason for controversy since the doses used are usually so low they are infinitesimal.

Homeopathy can be used safely with other medicines including nutrition, herbs, pharmaceuticals as well as surgery. It does not interfere with the action of these types of treatments.

Homeopathic medicine was the first “modern” western medical tradition to acknowledge the role of mental health in the overall health of an individual. And that medicines could also affect people’s mind and emotions.

WHY I DECIDED TO PRACTICE HOMEOPATHY:

First of all, I do believe in the scientific method, which is founded on the combination of the application of observation, repeatability and rationality. People may feel homeopathy is at odds with that. I don’t think that’s the case, although I absolutely understand why people feel that way.

In my decades working in medicine & in my daily life, I’ve seen it help both people and animals in ways I don’t believe is related to a placebo effect. In a significant number of cases I’ve seen this type of medicine be the difference between people having lasting improvement in their symptoms versus the perpetuation of either acute or chronic complaints.

Ultimately, I am most interested in using any tool which can help people improve their health with the least risk of harm and the most potential for benefit, whether that is diet change, exercise, a supplement, a pharmaceutical medicine, or surgery. Homeopathy is one option that is low cost, has low potential for harm and, in my experience, high potential for benefit.

There is a lot of confusion and misinformation about homeopathy that comes both from opponents and proponents of homeopathy. Much of what you read on the internet, from all perspectives, is either based on confusion, myth or conjecture.

MY PATH to USING HOMEOPATHY:

All Naturopathic doctors learn about homeopathy in school and I took several courses during my medical training. However, many NDs don’t use it and I didn’t, as well, for the first decade after graduating. This was partly because I didn’t understand how to use it, and also because of the controversy and confusion around Homeopathy.

However, as I continued to practice medicine, I saw some of my patients improve significantly while using homeopathy as well as having some dramatic personal experiences. I decided to study it further.

While continuing to practice medicine, I spent several years studying with several excellent practitioners, including MDs, NDs and other homeopathic providers. Eventually I became a student of the New England School of Homeopathy, where I’ve currently been studying for five years pursuing advanced clinical training. I’ve now had more than a decade of additional training and clinical experience.

What I’ve found with lengthy study and clinical practice is that homeopathy is easy to do poorly and hard to do well. Especially in these modern times. This is, in part, because a person’s level of health is even more complicated by many options for assessment and treatment in both mainstream and alternative medicine. And while this can be a benefit, at times it can complicate the work of any doctor and particularly a person using homeopathy, given the holistic nature of this type of medicine.

One more word about all this: I am absolutely understanding of doubt about homeopathy. As a person who respects the scientific method, I constantly question what I’m observing both in homeopathy and in medicine, in general. I am happy to discuss any questions or concerns with you should you choose to use this type of medicine.