What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a system of natural healing that is nearly 200 years old. The word homeopathy is derived from the Greek words homeos—“similar” and pathos—“suffering.”

Homeopathy is based upon a principle that was first described by Hippocrates and later rediscovered in the early 1800’s by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician. This principle, as developed by Hahnemann, has come to be known as the Law of Similars—“let likes be treated by likes.” This means any substance that can produce specific symptoms when given experimentally to a healthy person, can cure those same symptoms in a sick person. Hahnemann found that a tiny amount of any substance, prepared according to the homeopathic method, could act as a potent stimulus to the healing process when its experimental symptoms were similar to those described by the patient. Most of the 2000 homeopathic medicines in use today are of plant or mineral origin. Homeopathy has a distinguished record in the treatment of an extensive range of problems, which includes first aid situations, acute illnesses, and all manner of chronic conditions.

In homeopathic treatment we give the specific homeopathic medicine that best matches the total symptom picture. Thus, an essential part of our task as physicians is to gather as much relevant information from the patient as is necessary to thoroughly understand his or her condition.