This guide is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of homeopathy including:
The definition of homeopathy – an alternative medicine based on the idea of treating “like with like,” in order to activate the body’s natural defenses. For example, watery eyes are a common symptom for allergies, so allergies might be treated with tiny doses of onion, which also makes your eyes water.1
Homeopaths prescribe natural substances that create similar reactions to a patient’s symptoms, to alleviate them. Before being given to a patient, substances are mixed in a solution of water or alcohol, weakening them substantially, and transferring the substance’s healing essence into the solution.
Classical homeopathy is the original system of alternative medicine developed in the 18 century. For practitioners of this system, the diagnostic process can take much longer than the contemporary approach, while not necessarily being more effective. The complex and multifaceted health needs of today are better met with contemporary homeopathic treatment.15
In homeopathy, the term “antidote” is used to describe a substance that counteracts or neutralises a homeopathic treatment. Homeopathic antidotes were once considered common, but recent studies have shown otherwise, with many remedies being unaffected by antidotes such as coffee, drugs, geothermal baths, or acupuncture.12
Homeopathy was created in Germany in the mid 18th century, by physician Samuel Hahnemann. After taking regular doses of cinchona tree bark, he experienced characteristic symptoms of malaria, which lead him to the belief that substances that evoke similar reactions to diseases can also help to cure them.2 The idea is loosely similar to modern vaccines such as smallpox, which builds immunity by injecting a patient with a small amount of the disease. Hahnemann refers to this phenomenon as “like cures like,” or the “principle of similars.”
Today, it is practised in countries all over the world, and is popular in Australia. Even Queen Elizabeth II has her own personal homeopathic doctor.
What’s the difference between homeopathy and naturopathy? While the two may seem similar, naturopathy is a lot broader, encompassing a wider range of treatments. A naturopath is more likely to prescribe multiple treatments such as supplements, herbs, and dietary recommendations, whereas a homeopath will only ever prescribe homeopathic remedies.3
Naturopathy can encompass a wide range of natural therapies, such as herbal medicines, massage, nutrition, iridology, and more. Its philosophy is “nature cures,” which has similarities, but is much broader.
Homeopathy is used to treat a range of ailments, including the following:
Rheumatoid arthritis
A study at the University of Southampton in the UK showed that 83 people with rheumatoid arthritis benefited from homeopathic treatment, with significant improvements to swollen joints, reduced pain, and improved mood.8
Acanthosis nigricans treatment
Homeopathy aims to treat acanthosis nigricans by addressing the underlying cause, such as diabetes. Diabetes can be treated in the early stages with homeopathy, and complements the treatment of a diabetologist. It might also help by slowing the spread of the disease, and reducing hyper-pigmentation.4
Androgenic alopecia treatment
There’s strong clinical evidence to suggest that certain homeopathic remedies can help with androgenic alopecia, such as amino acids, garlic, and marine proteins.5
Dry cough
A range of homeopathic treatments are available for dry cough, including aconitum, bryonia, pulsatilla, phosphorus, rumex, spongia, and more.13
Azoospermia
If sperm is absent from a patient’s semen, it’s believed to be caused by a blockage in the reproductive tract, due to infection, surgery, cysts, or injury. Homeopathic treatments may help to improve a patient’s fertility by increasing their sperm count, and helping them to conceive children with their partner.6
Indigestion and flatulence
A range of homeopathic treatments are available for indigestion and flatulence, including carbo vegetabilis, lycopodium, natrum carbonicum, nux vomica, and pulsatilla.14
Blepharospasm (eye twitching)
A range of homeopathic treatments are available for blepharospasm, including agaricus, zincum met, physostigma, euphrasia, and magnesia phos.
Acid reflux
A range of homeopathic treatments are available for acid reflux, including carbo vegetabilis, lycopodium, natrum carbonicum, nux vomica, and pulsatilla.7
Homeopathy uses a huge range of natural substances to treat patients. Some of the most common include:
Onion causes the eyes to water, so it is a common homeopathic remedy for colds, hay fever, or any other conditions that cause water discharge from eyes or nose.
In homeopathy, aloe is used to treat issues with the digestive system, particularly the large intestine.9
Arnica is a common remedy for sports injuries, particular shock and trauma. It’s believed to reduce injury pain and encourage healing.11
Chamomilla is known for aiding sleep, and is a common homeopathic treatment for children who have trouble sleeping.11
Hypericum is used to treat nerve pain or injury, particularly for areas of the body that are rich with nerves such as our fingers, toes, and back. It’s often prescribed for shooting nerve pain.11
Ignatia is used to treat psychological issues such as grief, anxiety, and depression.11
Rather than treating particular symptoms, pulsatilla is prescribed to people with certain characteristics such as people who prefer the outdoors, don’t enjoy heat, and are gentle, mild, and yielding.11
Nux vomica affects the nervous system, and is used to treat a wide range of conditions such as digestive problems, infertility, colds and flus, allergies, back pain, irritability, headaches, hangovers, menstrual problems, and insomnia. Studies have shown that nux vomica can protect you against cell-damaging chemicals in your body.10
Choosing a homeopath can be challenging, especially if you have never received homeopathy treatment before.
Here are some guidelines to follow:
Homeopathy is a holistic treatment, which means that it takes the entire health of the body into account, rather than just treating individual symptoms. For this reason, your first appointment is likely to be extensive, covering your physical, mental, and emotional health. Depending on the complaint being addressed, they may also ask about your energy levels, sleep habits, dreams, fears, how the weather affects you, and more. They might ask you to provide specific descriptions of the sensations or pain that you’re experiencing.