The Consumer's Guide to Homeopathy: The Definitive Resource for Understanding Homeopathic Medicine and Making it Work for You 0874778131, 9780874778137

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The Consumer s Guide to

Homeopathy The

Definitive Resource for

Understanding Homeopathic Medicine

and Making

It

Work JorYou

DANA ULLMAN, coauthor of Everybody's Guide

to

M.P.H.

Homeopathic Medicine

The Consumers Guide

to

HOMEOPATHY

Also by Dana Ullman Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants Everybody's Guide

to

(with Stephen Tlte

Homeopathic Medicines

Cummings, M.D.)

One- Minute

Discovering

(or

So) Healer

Homeopathy

The Consumer's Guide

to

HOMEOPATHY The Definitive Resource for Understanding Homeopathic Medicine

and Making

It

Work for You

Dana Ullman,

A Jeremy

P.

M.P.H.

Tarcher/Putnam Book published by

G. P.

Putnam's Sons New

York

Notice: The

(

lonsumer'i

(

luide to

Homeopathy

will

inform readers of the most recent develop-

homeopathic medicine, the research and experience using these natural medicines, and the homeopathic approach to understanding and treating a wide variety of health problems. This book, however, is not meant to replace the need for medical care. Readers are ments

in

encouraged

to seek

out the best medical resources available so that well-informed decisions

can be made.

A Jeremy

P.

Tarcher

/

Putnam Book

Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons Publishers Since

1838

200 Madison Avenue

New York, NY Most Tarcher/ Putnam books purchases for Special

For

details,

sales

10016

are available at special quantity discounts for

books or book excerpts

also

can be created to

write or telephone Special Markets,

New York, NY

200 Madison Avenue,

Copyright

©

All rights reserved.

may

bulk

promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. fit

The Putnam

specific needs.

Publishing Group,

10016: (212) 951-8891.

1995 by Dana Ullman This book, or parts thereof,

not be reproduced in any form without permission.

Published simultaneously in Canada

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ullman, Dana.

The consumer's

guide to homeopathy

pathic medicine

the definitive resource for understanding

:

and making

P.

work

for

you

Tarcher

/

ISBN 0-87477-813-1

Homeopathy

—

Popular works.

2.

and index.

(acid-free paper)

Homeopathy

— Materia medica and

therapeutics.

RX76.U45

1996

95-18442 CIP

615.5'32—dc20 Design by

Mauna Eichner

Cover design by Susan Shankin Cover illustration © by Don Weller Printed in the United States of America

3579

1

This book

is

printed

homeo-

Dana Ullman.

Putnam book."

Includes bibliographical references

1.

/

cm.

p.

"A Jeremy

it

10

8642

on acid-free/recycled paper.

@

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

xi

Introduction

xiii

PART ONE

Introduction

I

Homeopathy:

to

Homeopathic Medicine

A Modern View

The Wisdom of the Body

•

The

Principle of Similars:

3

The

Homeopathic Medicine

•

The Experimental

of Every Homeopathic Medicine

•

Individualization of Care:

Basis for

Basis

• The Small Doses of Homeopathic The Wisdom and Wonder of Small Doses •

Designer Medicine

Medicines

•

How

Homeopathic Medicines Work

TWO

Healing Disease Versus Suppressing Symptoms

• •

17

The Healing Process Susceptibility to Disease • Suppressing Symptoms Immunosuppressive Treatments Versus Immunoaugmentive

Defining Health and Disease

Homeopathic Understanding of Chronic Homeopathic Constitutional Care

Treatments Disease

THREE

•

•

•

The Homeopathic Renaissance

Homeopathy in North America, Then and Now • Homeopathy in Europe • Homeopathy Throughout

FOUR

Scientific

Clinical Research

Evidence •

for

32

the

Homeopathic Medicine

Laboratory Research

World 41

CONTENTS

What

five

"It can't

any

Skeptics

Say and

work because

scientific

How to

Respond

the doses are too small."

foundation."

•

'it's

•

Them

to

"It's

62

without

not taught in medical schools.

"Consumers need to be protected from quackery." • What Does It Take to Change the Mind of a Skeptic? • The Changing Face of Medicine It

S

must be quackery."

The Interface Between Homeopathy and

X

I

•

Conventional Medicine

When

Integrative

Medicine

Medicine

Isn't Possible

•

SEVEN

Homeopathic

•

to

Make

Work

How to

for

to

Use

It

and

You

85

Find the Correct Homeopathic Medicine

and Dosage

Homeopathic Medicine Doesn't

What

When

Should Homeopathic Self-Care Be Considered?

Select the Best Potency

EIGHT

Integrative

Concerns of Consumers

Self-Care: It

When

for Alternative/

Reducing Health Care Costs

•

Common

II

How When

Possible

Is

The Demand

Complementary Health Care

PART

75 •

•

What

to

Do

•

How to

If a

Work

Seeking Professional Homeopathic Care

98

Homeopathic Care Offers • When Is Professional Homeopathic Care Appropriate? • Who Exactly Are Homeopaths? • What Training Do Homeopaths Professional

Receive? Practiced?

What Are

•

•

How Do

the Different I

Find

a

Ways That Homeopathy

Homeopath?

•

Is

How Do Know I

Homeopath Is Good? • When Should I Consider Changing Homeopaths? • How Much Does Professional Homeopathic Care Cost? • Will Insurance Cover Homeopathic Care? If a

N N I

E

Working with Your Homeopath

What Can

Much

I

Expect

When Visiting a Homeopath?

1

•

How

Family History Will the

Homeopath Want? • What Homeopath Want about My Personal What Does the Homeopath Want to Know

Information Will the

Health History?

about

•

My Present Symptoms?

• Is It Helpful to Keep a Journal? Have a Family Member or Friend Help You Describe Your Symptoms? • Important Information Your Homeopath Will Want to Know

•

Is It

Useful to

23

CONTENTS

TEN

Combination Homeopathic Medicines: The Single-Remedy and the Multiple-Remedy Controversy

133

The Uses and Limitations of Combination Homeopathy • More Classical Than Thou? • Practical Information about Combination Medicines

Using Single and Combination

•

Medicines

ELEVEN

Your Homeopathic Medicine

The "Second The Home Medicine Kit Kit • The Athlete's Kit • The Birth Bag •

TWELVE

Practical Issues

in

141

Kit

String"

•

The Child

Using Homeopathic Medicines 147

Avoid When Taking a Homeopathic Medicine • Touching Homeopathic Medicines • How to Take Care of Homeopathic Medicines • Factors That Affect the Speed of Action of Homeopathic Medicines • The Myth of the Dangers of Homeopathic Medicines • The Myth of the Safety of Homeopathic Medicines • Guidelines and Warnings for Consumers

What

to

Purchasing Medicines

PART

The

•

Limitations of Homeopathy

Can Homeopathy Help Me?

III

Specific Conditions

Conditions of Infants Circumcision

•

169

Teething and Colic

•

Diaper Rash

Children's Conditions

Mumps, •

174

Measles, Chicken Pox, and

Childhood Diarrhea

•

Attention Deficit Disorder

Chronic Disease

in

German Measles

Ear Infections •

Growing

•

Hyperactivity and

Pains

•

The Rise of

Children

Adolescent Complaints Emotional Problems •

1

Acne

•

Digestive Problems

•

•

Infectious

Mononucleosis

Eating Disorders

Women's Conditions

189

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Infection) •

Fertility

•

Vaginitis

84

•

•

Cystitis (Bladder

Cysts and Fibroids

and Contraception

•

Menopause

Endometriosis

• •

Osteoporosis

VII

3

VIII

CONTENTS

Pregnant and Laboring Women Using Homeopathic Medicines with Modern Diagnostic Procedures • Homeopathy Prior to and During Labor •

Backache During or After Labor

or Episiotomy

•

When

Postnatal Conditions

Mastitis (Breast Infection)

•

Cesarean Section

Necessary

and

Breastfeeding After-Pains

Is

199

•

205

Cracked or Sore

Nipples

Men's Ailments

209

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Prostate

Testicle

•

•

Prostatitis

Cancer of the

•

and Scrotum Problems

Conditions of the Elderly

2

1

Homeopathic Medicines for the Elderly • Incontinence of Urine • Leg Cramps • Bedsores • Alzheimer's Disease (AD) • The Last Stages Medical Elder Abuse

•

of Life

Common The

Infections

Common

223

Cold

Cough

•

Influenza

•

•

Sore Throat

Headaches

233

Tension Headaches

Migraine Headaches

•

Digestive Disorders

240

Nausea and Vomiting Constipation

•

Acute Diarrhea • Acute Hemorrhoids • Flatulence and Bloating •

Abdominal Cramps • Ulcers • and Inflammatory Bowel Disease •

Irritable

Bowel Syndrome

Skin Conditions

Eczema

251

Psoriasis

•

Carbuncles

•

Warts

•

Scarring

•

•

Burns

Abscesses, Boils, and •

Blisters

•

Poison Oak/

Poison Ivy Allergies

257

Respiratory Allergies Allergies

•

•

Hay Fever

•

Asthma

•

Food

Skin Allergies

Arthritis

264

Insomnia

268

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

273

1

CONTENTS

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Herpes

Venereal Warts

•

Gardnerella

276

Chlamydia, Trichomonas, and

•

Pubic Lice and Scabies

•

AIDS

281

Preventing

AIDS

AIDS

Treatment of Acute

•

AIDS

Treatment of People with

•

Illnesses

During

Homeopathic

•

Treatment of Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders

Heart Disease

What

289

Studies Say

Doctor

•

Treating Heart Pain on the

•

Story of Norman Cousins

The

Way to

the

The Homeopathic

•

Origins of an Important Heart Medicine

Cancer The Homeopathic Approach

295 to

Cancer

Treatment of People with Cancer

•

The Homeopathic

•

Advice

for

People with

Cancer Psychological Conditions

Body-Mind

303

Interconnectedness

•

Effects

of Treatment

•

Thoughts on the Homeopathic Approach

•

Treating Psychological Problems

Drug, Alcohol,

and Nicotine Addiction

The Homeopathic Detoxification

•

31

Perspective of Addiction

Medicines for Treating Addiction •

to Schizophrenia

Recovery

•

•

•

Homeopathic

Acute Withdrawal

Nicotine Addiction

Conditions of Travel and Recreation Jet

Lag

•

Motion Sickness

•

High

•

Immunizations

Altitudes

•

•

Frostbite

322 of Sun and Heat

111

Effects

•

Gastrointestinal

Problems

329

Injuries

Shock of Injury Contusions

•

•

Cuts

Burns

•

•

Puncture

Sprains and Strains

Head Injuries • Injuries to Syndrome • Miscellaneous Injuries

Bones

•

Wounds the

•

Back

•

Bruises and

Injuries to the •

Carpal Tunnel

and Postsurgical Treatment Homeopathic Medicines Before and After Surgery

Pre-

•

Homeopathy

for Specific Ailments After Surgery

342

CONTENTS

PART

IV

Homeopathic Resources

Homeopathic Books: An Annotated Bibliography

353

Homeopathic Tapes

364

Homeopathic Software

365

Source of Homeopathic Books, Tapes, and Software

366

Homeopathic Organizations

366

Sources of Homeopathic Medicines

368

Homeopathic Training Programs

369

Homeopathic

374

Certification

Homeopathic Journals and Newsletters

375

Homeopathic Study Groups

379

Homeopathic Medicines and Their

Common Names

380

Notes

385

General Index

397

Homeopathic Medicine index

407

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book stands on the shoulders and back of

and present.

I

give special thanks to those

who

research,

all

homeopaths, past

homeopaths

who performed and who

systematically observed their clinical results,

med-

recorded their experiences with these powerfully healing natural icines.

This book

This book fore

is

in part, a result

is,

also the result

of and

a tribute to their efforts.

of the strong

spirit

of homeopaths be-

me who withstood the dramas of practicing an unconventional type

of healing I

at a

want

time

when

there was

to give specific thanks to

no tolerance of medical

my colleagues who

portions of this manuscript, including Jay

M.D.,

M.P.H.,

Mitchell

Fleisher,

who

reviewed large

Borneman, Dennis Chernin,

M.D.,

George

Nicholas Nossaman, M.D., and Julian Winston. colleagues

diversity.

I

Guess,

also

M.D.,

wish to thank

reviewed various parts of this book, including Franne

Berez, M.D., Michael Carlston, M.D.,

Cindy Dykes, Jean Hoaglund,

Randall Neustaedter, C.A., O.M.D., and Mahlon Wagner, Ph.D. People

who

provided

book include Gina Hershoff,

DC,

me

Casey,

with information that

Ted Chapman, M.D.,

N.D, Ifeoma

I

included in

Bill Gray,

this

M.D., Asa

Ikenze, M.D., Alan Levine,

M.D,

M.D, Patty Smith, Vincent SpeckM.D, and Janet Zand, L.Ac., O.M.D An extra special thanks goes to my editor, Donna Zerner. More than cleaning up my grammar, she helped me be precise in describing what was trying to say. She helped me write so that the book would be clear to readers new to homeopathy, as well as to serious students Thierry Montfort, David Riley, hardt,

I

and practitioners of homeopathy. She was so convincing and so friendly

when

she insisted

on

editorial surgery

of various chapters,

I

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Most of all, knew that she was the midwife and I was the mother of the book, when we disagreed, she usually let my preferences prevail.

couldn't help but heartily support her recommendations. she so

I

also

She helps

commas

wish to thank

me

punctuate

my wife, Clare, who my life appropriately,

encouraging

to take a breath, to use periods to stop

and

clamation points to express the excitement that

me

She reminds and

and

new

She

lap.

my

stick

to dot

also

foot in

spirit are

fs,

cross

makes certain

my mouth,

or

that

continually teaching

me

to use

and to use ex-

often feel about

life.

t% and keep food off my face

my

don't socially or professionally

I

at least

I

rest,

life.

not both

me how

to

feet.

be

a

Her generous good parent

to

soul

our

son, Jacob. I

thank

teacher, for

my

son Jacob (born July

he has already taught

compassion, two Finally,

he was this

my

the editor of my

is

my

I

vital characteristics

thank

first

my

doctor.

medical specialty

father, Dr. It is

is

my

of being

ironic that

utilizes small

in

1994) for being

genes.

a

good

my

spiritual

of selflessness and parent.

Sanford Ullman. As a pediatrician,

cause the condition in order to treat principle of similars

7,

me the importance

he

is

also

an

allergist,

because

doses of substances that actually it.

It

seems that the homeopathic

INTRODUCTION

do no harm,"

"First,

is

the best-known passage from the writings of

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, which he wrote

advice to

as

practicing physicians. This statement implores physicians to consider

methods before resorting

safe healing

to potentially

more dangerous

therapeutics for the treatment of acute and chronic ailments. This

book will teach physicians and consumers what to do first. Homeopathic medicines can and should be considered as the first method of treatment for healing ailments because they are often effecand

tive

are considerably safer than conventional drugs. Needless to

methods before resorting

say, it

makes sense

more

invasive ones. Sadly, health care seekers usually try conventional

drugs

first

to use safer therapeutic

however, these people

when may have

more deeply developed

disease, in

and consider homeopathy and other

the drugs don't work.

considerably

By

this time,

more symptoms and

a

to

part because of the side effects of the drugs

alternatives only

and in part because the

dis-

ease has continued to worsen.

because homeopathic medicines strengthen the body's

Still,

immune and

own

defense system, they have the capacity to heal a wide as-

sortment of ailments, even those that are complicated by previous

drug

use.

cesses

ing

Our

is

confirming

its

efficacy (see

society and, specifically, our medical

has focused

though

history of clinical suc-

gaining worldwide recognition (see Chapter

is

body of research

nity,

and

Homeopathy s two-hundred-year

this

logical,

its

attention

on

treating

3),

and

Chapter

and

scientific

symptoms and

a

grow-

4).

commu-

diseases.

Al-

approach to creating health certainly seems to be rational it is

not the only valid approach to healing.

INTRODUCTION

In

been two

since Hippocratic times there have

fact,

schools of thought in medicine.

One

distinct

school of medical thought

sought to understand the physiochemical workings of the

body and created ever-changing and seemingly defined health

disease causation.

It

defined disease

an entity and

similai

as

as

the absence of

as a localized

human

rational theories

about

symptoms and

condition. People with

symptoms were considered to have a specific disease, and unsymptoms that didn't fit the specific pathology

usual or idiosyncratic

were generally ignored. Practitioners sought to extract the disease or intervene between the presumed physiochemical cause and

The ists,

practitioners

and

this

The

its

effect.

of this school of thought called themselves Rational-

approach developed into the modern biomedical model.

other school of thought,

selves Empiricists,

was

less

whose

practitioners called

interested in explaining

ment worked and, more important, sought

why

them-

a specific treat-

to observe what actually

worked to heal people. According to Empiricists, health was not simply the absence of symptoms but a high level of physical

and psychological

vitality.

Diseases were not simply entities that were localized to a un-

healthy

body

part,

but rather, represented a response to an imbalance

of the entire body and mind.

It

was not enough to

treat a diseased part

without treating the whole individual. Rather than focusing on getting rid of symptoms to

and

diseases, Empiricists applied natural

augment the body's own defenses

tinct

methods

itself.

Dis-

from the Rationalist approach that sought to give everyone

who

had the same the entire

illness

the

so that

it

could heal

same treatment, the Empiricists sought

bodymind syndrome and provided more

according to

to treat

individualized care

a person's idiosyncratic characteristics.

This school of

thought developed into the modern natural medicine model in which

homeopathy

plays an integral part.

Although both schools of thought in medicine have their own rationale and body of experience, the Rationalist school today has

dominated and even oppressed the Empiricists and any other potencompetitors. Despite the Rationalists'

dominance in Western civimore people in the world today actually utilize empirical methods, which include various folk-healing practices, than modern

tial

lization,

conventional medical therapies (the

World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of the world's population uses "traditional healing methods"

as their

primary form of health

care).

In addition to the popularity of traditional healing practices in de-

veloping countries, there

is,

as

Chapter 3 of this book highlights,

sig-

INTRODUCTION

and growing

nificant

interest in

oped country. This book of homeopathic medicine

What

homeopathy

why

will explain is

in virtually every devel-

further growth in the field

not only desirable but inevitable.

Book Will Do for You

This

This book will introduce you to homeopathic medicine,

and methodology, its

its

and professional

applications in self-care

and

tations,

its

its

principles

formal research and body of clinical experience, care,

potential and limi-

its

organizations and assorted resources. This consumer's

guide will not advocate for homeopathy or any system of healing

much

as it will

advocate for you, the consumer

is

looking for

Readers will learn what research

effective health care.

exists

acute and chronic ailments. Information

pect (and

how

on what

as

safe,

and what

experiences homeopaths have had in the treatment of

clinical

mon

who

comex-

results to

soon to expect them from homeopathic

care)

is

provided in the descriptions of most conditions. This information will help readers learn professional

if self-care

homeopathic

care,

and when they should

ion,

As

a graduate

try

is

appropriate,

when

when

they should seek

they should seek a second opin-

some other

therapies.

of the School of Public Health

at

the University of

California at Berkeley and as a professional public health educator,

am

I

trained to help individuals and populations of people take care of

themselves so that disease can be prevented and health can be pro-

moted. While most public health educators focus on improving nutri-

and other

tion

environmental

on

influences

lifestyle

my

conventional medicine,

professional career as

serious side effects. People

valuable as

need

consumers and

all

of the

it

me

that

can be, has

and

real limitations

and

soon learned

clear to

after

that

studying

it

offers

home-

much

to

to health professionals.

However, when

most

I

and on reducing have added to these

became

it

alternatives,

opathy and using the medicines,

I

homeopathy and homeopathic

appropriate concerns knowledge of

medicines. Early in

health,

tend to cause disease,

stresses that

I

first

got involved in homeopathy in 1972,

literature in the field consisted

al-

of books that were pub-

Although the information was good, the books accessible, the writing wasn't easily understandable, and

lished prior to 1900.

weren't easily

the medicines,

which were

comprehendible.

listed

by

their Latin

names, weren't

easily

XV

XVI

INTRODUCTION

homeopathic

Instead of choosing to be a take

more

a

difficult role:

user-friendly,

(this

my

is

decided to

By

book on homeopathy) and (my company has published thirty

ing books of my colleagues

am

I

both to consumers and health professionals.

and books

articles

chose to try to

I

practitioner,

make homeopathy more

doing what health educators try to do

—

that

is,

writing publish-

fifth

so

far),

I

I'm trying to make

make more informed

information more accessible so that people can decisions about their health.

This book

common

my

is

most comprehensive

effort to

answer

many of the

questions and concerns that people have about homeopathic

medicine.

Chapter

of

1

book attempts

this

modern, user-friendly language. opathy tend to describe thy

seem

like

book attempts

Sadly,

to

explain

in antiquated language,

it

homeopathy

making homeopa-

an idiosyncratic nineteenth-century healing to explain

it

in

most previous books on home-

art.

This

contemporary, even futuristic medical

as a

science.

Chapter 2 describes basic underlying assumptions about homeopathy, including the

homeopathic definition of health and

Clear definitions of health and disease are

what

is

meant by

"cure."

which

vital, for

disease.

they help define

the ultimate goal of medical thera-

is

between curing and

peutics. This chapter also discusses the difference

suppressing disease. Because the possibility of suppressing disease

isn't

even considered by modern physicians or the general public, the in-

formation provided here will encourage greater caution in using certain treatments, especially

many

conventional medications. To un-

derstand the homeopaths' view of disease and ter also gives insight into their perspective

disease

and into homeopathic "constitutional

individualized and profoundly effective

its

treatment, this chap-

on genetic components of care,"

means

to

which

is

a

highly

augment healing of

deeply ingrained disease.

While other

parts

why homeopathy significant

growth

years.

Readers

many

countries.

it is

is

that

will It is

of

this

book

will help the reader

understand

growing, Chapter 3 describes specifics about the

homeopathy

be surprised

at

so popular in

not appropriate to consider

Advocates and skeptics

it

alike

has experienced in the past several

how

some

popular homeopathy

parts

is

an "alternative" medicine. tend to ask what research there

using homeopathic medicine, and in response. Chapter 4 provides

review of laboratory and

in

of Europe and Asia that

clinical studies.

Information about

is

a

homeo-

INTRODUCTION

pathic research Part

is

also sprinkled

throughout the

clinical chapters

m

III.

Users of homeopathy are often faced with ridicule or doubt from skeptical doctors it

is

and family members. Following the research chapter,

appropriate to answer the various questions and concerns that

Although

skeptics have.

skeptics tend to be

formed about homeopathy, Chapter 5 (and

informed or unin-

ill

this entire

book)

will help

to "cure" this disease.

Part terface

of this book concludes with

I

a

chapter that discusses the in-

between homeopathy and conventional medicine. While there

are times

when

these

ment each other, which of the two

at

two

different approaches to healing can

comple-

other times each person must sometimes decide

and

to begin treatment with

at

what point the other

approach should be considered. Part

need

will give readers the practical information they

II

know when

using homeopathic medicines for self-care and

to

when

seeking professional homeopathic care.

Chapter 7 teaches readers about the method for finding the correct

homeopathic remedy, potency, and dosage.

It

will bring out the

"inner homeopath" in anyone interested in learning. In contrast to

most conventional physicians, homeopaths encourage

common

acute problems (except

pathic constitutional that patients

who

if a

remedy from

are better

a

self-care for

person has just taken

a

homeo-

homeopath). Homeopaths believe

informed about homeopathy

are better

patients (and are easier to treat!).

Because professional

common

self-care has

its

limitations,

homeopaths have

to offer,

it is

important to

know what

and Chapter 8 answers many

questions that consumers have about professional

pathic care. This chapter will help

homeo-

you make informed choices

in find-

ing a good homeopath.

A

visit to a

professional

homeopath

to a conventional family physician.

is

quite different from a visit

Chapter 9

will help prepare

you

for

the experience by describing the questions that homeopaths typically ask their patients, to

be most

and suggesting ways you can help your homeopath

effective in finding the correct

More and more people

remedy

for you.

are getting introduced to

through homeopathic combination medicines

(also

homeopathy

called

homeo-

pathic formulas). Chapter 10 discusses their applications and limitations as well as the controversy

about their

use.

Chapter 11 provides recommendations for

home medicine

kits

XVII

INTRODUCTION

and various specialty

kits,

and Chapter 12 covers

using homeopathic medicines, including

them and how Because ally

a little bit

what can

possibly antidote

and handle homeopathic medicines.

of knowledge about homeopathy (and about virtu-

any subject) can create a lot of misunderstandings, there are in-

myths and misconceptions about

evitably this

to properly store

practical issues in

healing system. Part of

this

chapter attempts to "treat" these problems to prevent

The

infecting other people.

how

include

to

be careful in purchasing homeopathic medicines to

made

product.

ends

this

ensure that you are getting a quality and legally

of the

cussion

them from

chapter also deals with thorny issues that

of homeopathy

limitations

A

dis-

important

chapter.

Part

the clinical section of the book,

III is

which

describes the

recommended homeopathic treatment of many common

ailments.

Also included are conditions that are rarely covered in homeopathic including AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, cancer,

texts,

heart disease, addictions, and pre- and postsurgical care.

Information on using homeopathic medicines for self-care vided

when

professional

appropriate,

homeopath

and care.

when

it isn't,

on what

References to controlled

pro-

is

to expect

from and

clinical

laboratory studies and to clinical experience are interspersed through-

out these chapters to give insight into the potential and limitations of treating people

This

of Part

book

III is

to

with each condition. is

not a comprehensive self-care guide, and the purpose

list

key remedies and to describe only their primary in-

dications, as well as to provide

limitations of list

information about the potential and

self-care for

each condition. Therefore, a

of recommended resources that provide additional information

included Part

book ment you

homeopathic

at

the

IV provides access to homeopathic resources. Because

will hopefully in

be

a

this

seed for your further study of and involve-

homeopathic medicine,

access

is

end of each chapter.

I've

provided

more information and products

this section to

related to

help

homeopathic

medicine.

Ultimately, this will also help

book

you

it

understand conventional medicine. Just

as

travel to foreign countries helps us to

take for granted in our

you

homeopathy,

will not just introduce

to better

own

to

understand the

many

things

we

country, introduction to a different and

INTRODUCTION

unconventional model of health and medicine helps us to better understand our conventional

Whether you

model of medicine.

are a parent

child, a senior citizen

an average Joe or Jane Citizen gravating symptoms, safer healing It is

concerned about health care

it is

who

methods before using

my personal hope

own also

it

will provide

simply experiences painful or ag-

that this

potentially dangerous ones.

book

will help

inform you of addi-

you with

informing you of

tools for better understanding

health as well as specific medicines for helping to improve

my hope

your

both logical and prudent to consider using

tional health care choices available to you. Besides

choices,

for

concerned about increasing health problems, or

that health professionals read this

book

when

It is

so that they will

be inspired to integrate homeopathic medicines into their Health care will become truly comprehensive

your

it.

it

practice.

integrates the

best of conventional medical technologies with the best of natural

therapeutics. This that

your

you can help family.

book

will hopefully educate

and empower you so

create the best possible health care for yourself

and

PART

Introduction

to

Homeopathic Medicine

O N

E

Homeopathy: A Modern View

The Wisdom of the Body The human organism cause

it is

has survived several

an amazing miracle worker

at

hundred thousand

Although conventional medicine has created some of its logical miracles, they don't cles that the

body

compare

creates every

years be-

defending and healing

to the

own

itself.

techno-

depth and breadth of mira-

moment of every

day

as it staves

off

innumerable infective agents and adapts to untold subtle and not so subtle stresses.

The tell

inner doctor works continuously, and one does not have to

the inner doctor

what

to do:

with an evolved sophistication that Conventional physicians tend to ignore

more than

it

A

know

and intervene too

as

when

does

its

work

automatically and

truly inspired.

about

this

innate wisdom, but

know own

often, thinking that they

its

doctors overprescribe drugs that lead to side

and addiction. fundamental flaw in conventional medical thinking

physicians tend to assume that that

is

the inner doctor. Inevitably, this arrogance creates

problems, such effects

it

symptoms

signify that

symptoms

something

is

is

represent the disease

wrong with

that itself,

the person's health,

NTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

thai these

and

nated. In fact,

symptoms need to be controlled, managed, or elimithe word "symptom" is derived from Greek and means

A symptom

"sign" or "signal."

of it.

not a disease itself but a sign or signal

is

Getting rid of the signal does not necessarily affect the original

reason for

its

unplugging to say,

symptom

being there. Seeking to eliminate a

a car's

although

akin to

when it comes may "work," it doesn't change

low-oil-warning light

this

is

on. Needless

"treatment"

the

fundamental cause of the signaling.

Although symptoms may indeed suggest that disturbed,

homeopaths and

recognize that

gists

to stress or infection.

fend and heal

a

symptoms

a person's health

is

growing number of modern physioloof the organism

are adaptive responses

As such, symptoms

of the body to de-

are efforts

itself.

Because symptoms are inherent defenses of the body, eliminating

them without

of the problem tends to

affecting the original source

suppress the body's innate healing responses

on suppressing symptoms

sion

sion inhibits healing,

and heal abilities,

itself in

that cause the

a nasal

common

way

possible based

discharge

a

is

cells. If a

is

person with

on

its

present

as efficient as ef-

mouth

as it is in

the resulting chest congestion health problems than those

is

not

composed of dead med-

a cold takes a

up mucous membranes, he or she

the

This suppres-

response of the body to viruses

cold. This nasal discharge

head and chest congestion. The body

A

or

as effective

eliminate this dead matter through the nose,

mucus through

detailed discus-

2).

source of the problem.

and dead white blood

ication that dries

more

and because the organism always seeks to defend

secondary treatments are not

For instance,

(a

provided in Chapter

the most effective

forts to affect the original

virus

is

which

will

be unable to

inevitably leads to

as efficient in spitting

discharging

it

out

from the nose, and

more likely to lead to more which occur from a common cold. is

serious

profoundly different perspective on health and healing emerges

when one

realizes that a person's

symptoms

are actually defenses

of the

body. Instead of treating, controlling, inhibiting, managing, or suppressing symptoms, as

is

commonly

the approach in conventional

medicine, therapies that augment the body's own defenses and that support and even mimic them ultimately make more sense.

Such

is

the approach used in

homeopathic medicine.

HOMEOPATHY:

A

MODERN VIEW

The Principle of Similars: The Basis for Homeopathic Medicine Homeopathic medicine

is

based on the principle of similars

whatever symptoms and syndromes doses,

it

can heal

doses. In fact,

when

—

that

is,

a substance causes in large or toxic

given in specially prepared, exceedingly small

homeopathy

derives

its

name from

this similars princi-

Greek, homoios means "similar" and pathos means "disease" or

ple. In

systematic

Although homeopathy was formally developed into

1

"suffering."

method of applying

the similars principle in the early

1800s, the use of this healing approach

is

an ancient pharmacological

was used by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese,

strategy that

a

Incas,

Aztecs, and Native Americans.

At

the principle of similars doesn't

first,

would think

similar to those that a person

toms, not heal them.

symptoms

And

causes

symptoms

augments

make

sense.

One

modern

physiologists recognize that

of the organism to adapt to and de-

therefore, using small doses of whatever

similar to those that sick people are experiencing

their defenses.

principle in

ilars

yet

stress;

to

experiencing would exacerbate symp-

is

are inherent responses

fend against infection or

seem

of something that creates symptoms

that giving a dose

its

Even conventional medicine

applies the sim-

use of immunizations and allergy treatment. Giv-

ing small doses of bacteria or viruses has been found to stimulate a person's tion,

immune

system to create antibodies to protect against infec-

and giving small doses of an allergen helps the body's defenses to

desensitize the person to larger

worth noting

that

amounts of a

particular allergen.

It is

immunizations and allergy treatment represent two

of the few conventional medical procedures that do something to aug-

ment

the body's

own

recuperative processes, and they are based

on

the

as

de-

homeopathic principle of similars.

An fenses

is

example of the body's wisdom

common symptom

the

physiologists

body. Fever

makes

it

and physicians

is

more

in creating

of fever. Fever

alike to

is

symptoms

now

recognized by

be an important defense of the

the body's effort to create an internally heated state that difficult for bacteria

and viruses

to multiply

and

survive.

Although prolonged high fever has been associated with serious health problems and even death, the infection.

The

fever

is

it is

not the fever that

kills

the person;

it is

the body's best effort to defend itself against

the infection.

Using exceedingly small doses of medicinal agents

that have the

NTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

symptoms of fever that the sick person is the fever resolve more quickly. Belladonna

capacity to cause the similar

experiencing actually helps

(monkshood)

(deadly nightshade) and Aconitum stances that cause fever

when

when

who

given in small doses to people

respond to each substance

s

two such sub-

are

given in large doses and help to heal

unique

symptoms

exhibit

it

that cor-

characteristics.

The Experimental Basis of Every

Homeopathic Medicine Every homeopathic medicine

tested for

is

its

toxicology, for

home-

opaths have found that whatever a substance causes in overdose, cure

when

two hundred

prescribed in small doses. For the past

homeopaths have performed experiments

called provings

from the German word pruefung, which means

"test"),

healthy subjects are given repeated doses of a substance mineral, or animal

on human

kingdom. These experiments

subjects because

what

always applicable to humans. Also, nicate the precise

symptoms they

precision and detail

syndromes that

a

is

critical for

human

are experiencing,

knowing the if

an animal

and

a

plant,

not

is

commu-

high level of

symptoms and

substances are tested

they were tested on

difficult to differentiate their

which

in

from the

conducted only

specific

The

years

(derived

subjects are able to

substance causes and cures.

only on healthy subjects because

would be

are

a substance causes in

can

it

ill

people,

own symptoms from those

it

that

the substance creates.

These careful experiments have been collected in volumes of books and now even sophisticated software programs which have helped establish homeopathy

as

mation on toxicology presently

containing the most detailed infor-

Although homeopathic

available.

lit-

erature does not provide information about the specific doses that

cause a specific symptom, ual

symptoms

it

describes the

many common and unus-

that various substances cause in greater detail than

any

other source.

The

information from these experiments

is

written in

homeo-

pathic texts called materia medica and repertories. Materia medica (from

the Latin, "materials of medicine") are books that have chapters

common the

on

homeopathic medicines, along with detailed descriptions of

symptoms

associated with each substance.

plementary book to

a materia medica,

and

its

A

repertory

many

chapters

a

com-

list

thou-

is

HOMEOPATHY:

sands of

symptoms

as

well as the various substances that have been

symptom. Computer-minded people will be

found

MODERN VIEW

A

to cause or cure each

pleased to

know

that

homeo-

pathic texts have been computerized, and expert systems have been

developed for several programs. The incredible

detail that

have collected for the past two hundred years

perfect for the

computer It

is

should be noted that homeopathic provings are conducted with

(the definition

form or

in

homeopathic potentized dose

of homeopathic potentized dose

chapter). For example,

when conducting

a

is

provided

to subjects, but

more

collect the experiences

from these

feel the stimulating effects

form of coffee

feel anxious,

symptoms italic,

some

The symptoms

will develop a

and symptoms

by

large

head-

and some

will

that are experienced

are written in boldface letters in

that are experienced

will

feel restless physically

will experience irregular heart palpitations,

have idiosyncratic symptoms.

Homeopaths

While most people

subjects.

of coffee, some will

and/or mentally, some will

most people

homeo-

often, they will give continual specially prepared,

highly diluted ("potentized") doses of coffee to subjects.

some

later in this

proving of coffee,

paths will sometimes give continual doses of the crude

in

modern

age.

substances either in crude

ache,

homeopaths

homeopathic

numbers of subjects

by

texts,

are listed

that are experienced infrequently are listed in

plain type.

Subjects

who

volunteer for provings are never given crude doses

of poisonous substances. Instead, potentized doses of these substances are tested. Subjects

tized substance

of provings are informed to stop taking the poten-

once any symptoms have developed, thus reducing the

danger from these experiments. In subjects

fact,

homeopaths have found

that

of provings experience health benefits from provings because

these tests challenge a person's fore strengthen

immune and

defense system and there-

it.

That homeopaths use potentized doses of substances their remedies cause

commonly

is

one

fact

is

what

of which skeptics of homeopathy

are

homeopathic microdoses have

bi-

ignorant. Evidence that

ological effect

to test

apparent not only by the clinical results of

home-

opaths but also by homeopathic provings because they can cause

symptoms

if

homeopathy

taken beyond their medicinal dose. Because so is

based on these experiments,

it is

much of

unlikely that

home-

opathic texts could have developed with such consistent information the microdoses of substances they were testing were simply placebos.

if

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

he other lesson that homeopathic provings have for consumers is medicines is to stop that the basic rule of thumb in using homeopathic If no improvement improve. taking them if symptoms have begun to 1

obvious within forty-eight hours in acute ailments, it is likely that the homeopathic medicine was not the correct one. Repeating is

doses

rhe good news here

ing, List

that

is

symptoms of

a

prov-

if such symptoms develop, they

rarely

not beneficial and may, in fact, cause

is

very long, unless the person unwittingly continues to take the

medicine.

The

lesson that

homeopaths teach consumers

remedies are

taken every day.

homeopathic

that

Homeopathic medicines should be taken only when

symptoms match the symptoms

person's

is

medicines, not vitamins or supplements that need to be a

that the substance causes.

Individualization of Care: Designer Medicine Imagine

a

medical system which individualizes medicines based on

the totality of unique

and idiosyncratic symptoms that

riences. This "designer

From

a

medicine"

is

homeopathic perspective, there

eased people.

To diagnose

limiting, because

sometime overtly

we

all

a

person

person expe-

a

homeopathic medicine.

as

are

having

no

only dis-

diseases,

a specific disease

is

experience disease syndromes in subtly and

different ways.

One

person with

have pain on one side of the head, another will have

and yet another will have

it

on both

sides.

One

migraine will

a

on the

it

person will

other,

feel relief

by applying heat, while another's pain would be aggravated by

One

too

that.

person will have nausea with the migraine, while another might

have dizziness. In addition to the various unique physical symptoms,

people have varying psychological symptoms.

One

person with

a

graine will feel depressed, another anxious, and another irritable. ot course, there are different types ity that

And

irritabil-

each person experiences.

Ultimately,

have

of depression, anxiety, and

mi-

a disease,

homeopaths believe they have

a

that ailing people

syndrome. This

constellation of symptoms. This

syndrome

do not simply is

a

homeopathic perspective

bodymind

is

consider-

more modern, if not futuristic, than the limited medical model which tends to assume that disease is somehow localized. Convenably

tional medicine, however,

is

finally

changing,

as

witnessed by the

growing acceptance of psychoneuroimmunology, the

scientific field

HOMEOPATHY:

that investigates the effects

the mind. This field

is

of the mind on the body and the body on

also slowly

developing

number of diseases

ceives an increasing

from the homeopathic perspective

far

From cine that

this perspective, fits

the

as

that sees

homeopathy

is

a

may

at first

extremely complex process, and sometimes

as

one

on

patterns of

perspective that perit is still

disease in this light.

all

system of finding a medi-

sound

symptoms than on others

is

like a difficult

fit

specific remedies. Also,

taught to place

(see

and

but often people

it is,

symptoms which match

homeopathy, one

learns about

certain

a

syndromes, though

of physical and psychological symptoms that

totality

each person experiences. This

common

MODERN VIEW

A

more weight

"How

page 88,

Correct Homeopathic Medicine" in Chapter 7 for

to Find the

details).

Individualizing a medicine to a person and his or her unique pattern of symptoms will probably

makes

seem

sense,

and

at

some time

in the near future

strange that physicians ever believed that they

could effectively give the same medicine to everyone a small

number of similar symptoms. The

geneticists have

it

long recognized

is

who

shared only

biological individuality that

appreciated and integrated within

the homeopathic method.

Despite the emphasis on individualizing a homeopathic medicine to a sick person,

consumers today often see homeopathic remedies

sold in natural food stores and pharmacies labeled to treat specific ail-

ments, ranging from "allergy" and "arthritis" to ing. "

It is

easy to see

wonder if it las,

is

also called

how some

a legitimate

"PMS" and

people can be confused by

"teeththis

and

form of homeopathy. Homeopathic formu-

combination remedies or complexes, are mixtures of two

to eight medicines

which may each be known

to

be

effective for treat-

ing slightly different variations of a certain ailment. Homeopathic

formulas are useful ualized single

when one

remedy or

does not

if that single

know how

remedy

is

to find an individ-

not readily

(A more detailed discussion of homeopathic formulas

Chapter

is

available.

provided in

10.)

The Small Doses of Homeopathic Medicines Abraham Lincoln once said, "Homeopathy is a soup made from the shadow of the wing of a pigeon that starved to death." This quote is probably more an example of his wry sense of humor than a true critique of homeopathy, as his most trusted political

10

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

of State William Seward, was

adviser, Secretary

advocate for

a strong

homeopathy. People

who know

very

little

about homeopathy tend to

only that extremely small doses of medicines

know

But homeo-

arc used.

pathic medicines are not simply small doses, for if they were, then the

people of Los Angeles (or any major metropolitan area), inhale small doses of innumerable toxic substances,

who

regularly

would probably be

cured of everything.

Homeopathic medicines undergo

a specific process

orous shaking).

one part

(1:10) or tilled

A

are specially prepared small doses

substance

is

diluted

to ninety-nine parts

one part

repeated.

is

When called

"3x"

stance

is

a

is

the

is

diluted 1:10 three times, the medicine

Roman

numeral that stands for

diluted 1:100 three times, the medicine

Roman

and shaken, and the

2

substance

(x

to nine parts water

water (1:100), usually in dis-

water, and shaken, then diluted again

process

which

of consecutive dilution and succussion (vig-

is

10).

called

When "3c"

a

is

sub-

(c is

the

numeral that stands for 100).

This pharmacological process

is

called potentization,

and home-

opaths have observed from two hundred years of clinical practice that the

more

a

substance

medicine

acts

though

does not

would

it

increase

is

potentized, the longer and

more deeply

the

and the fewer doses are necessary for treatment. Alinitially

make

sense that this potentization process

the clinical strength of a medicine, the results have

been

experienced by hundreds of thousands of homeopathic physicians and

of homeopathic patients. (Further discussion of

tens ot millions

phenomenon

One

is

interesting note

homeopathy

volves

mann conducted

's

about homeopathy 's use of small doses in-

founder, Dr. Samuel

his first

Hahnemann. Dr. Hahne-

experiments on the homeopathic principle

book about home-

of similars in 1790, but

he did not write

opathy

conducting experiments for twenty

these

until 1810, after

first

twenty years

Hahnemann

his first

Later in his

them by

as

life as

his colleagues

For

6c.

began experimenting

the 1,000th, the 2,500th, and higher, he

saying, "I

years.

primarily used medicines that

were not potentized very much, usually lc to potencies such

this

provided in the next section.)

in higher

admonished

do not approve of your potentizing the medicines

higher [than the 30th potency]; there must be a limit to the thing." 3

But

then, after Hahnemann himself began experimenting with these highly potentized microdoses, he acknowledged that they were effec-

HOMEOPATHY

tive and, in fact,

were more powerful than the

Hahnemann encouraged ingly

and

Despite the

medicines spar-

of their power.

skepticism that

initial

potentized doses.

less

his colleagues to use these

carefully because

MODERN VIEW

A

is

common when

people are

first

introduced to the concept that such extremely small doses can have

any healing

from

effect, there

is

crodose phenomena.

Many

body of

actually a considerable

wide variety of scientific

a

fields investigating

literature

and proving mi-

of these studies are discussed in Chapter

4.

The Wisdom and Wonder of Small Doses "Nature uses

as little as possible

Scientists readily

or

more

ity to

incredible senses

all

animals have one

which provide them with

exquisite sensitiv-

that virtually

exceedingly small amounts of whatever substances they need for

their survival.

For instance, sharks are

of blood in the water

trations

ume

of anything," wrote Johannes Kepler.

acknowledge

of water that

to detect small

at a great distance, despite

exists in oceans.

smell and can follow a

known

human

trail

Dogs have an

concen-

the large vol-

incredible sense of

despite the fact that a person leaves

only approximately four billionths of a gram of odorous sweat per step.

4

This

feat

becomes even more impressive when you consider

people wear shoes which considerably cuts

down on

the

that

amount of

sweat that reaches the ground. In addition to these amazing

feats, biologists

recognize that ani-

mals emit pheromones, which are sexually attracting hormones. Male night moths can find females sary,

find

even against the wind. its

on dark moonless

A

male silkworm

female insects. 5 These are not exceptions, for

smell as

little as

a single

molecule of their

species'

haps these insects are not smelling molecules sensing real

some type of magnetic or

phenomenon of nature and

sensitivity that living It is

as

most other

energetic

is

if

pheromones. Per-

at all;

field.

perhaps they are

Whatever

it is, it is

human

beings are not

and behavioral

a

human

brain and

when one its

as sophisticated

considers the in-

cerebral cortex. Scientists

that exceedingly small doses

of certain neuro-

transmitters in the brain can dramatically affect one's emotional, tal,

neces-

an amazing example of the hyper-

living creatures, especially

acknowledge

and

many miles to many insects can

organisms have for what they need to survive.

hard to believe that

credible abilities of the readily

nights,

will fly

states.

Further, very slight changes in

men-

hormones can

NTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

likeu

on the body. Some

have significant effects

isc-

musk

19 billion parts of water. Also, animal

that

we

can

smell

one part

testosterone

.()()(

mot (000000032 (thirteen zeros!) ounces. If these facts

who

person

is

and

a

may

person

What

particularly surprising

and even then,

the ground,

with the

amounts of stances

is

that the

his shoes

floor. Allergists

cat hair in the

person

is

protected

room

him from

it

except

con-

direct

assume that the person breathed in trace

amounts of sub-

Sensitivity to small

air.

it is

not

as if

small

on everyone. People and animals

amounts of anything have an

own

species,

but they can't smell the

species. Likewise, animals

species, but not

trails

created by ants of

trails

created by other

can sense the pheromones from their

Ultimately, the hypersensitivity seems, in part, to be based

application of this natural law,

Homeopathy

is

substance and

is

thus hypersensitive to

similars principle may, in fact,

on the

simply the medicinal

and the law of similars

method of individualizing microdoses of a substance

that will explain

own

from others.

principle of similars in nature.

this

effect

are sensitive to certain substances but

not to others. Ants, for instance, can smell the

needs

and

fully clothed,

obvious.

However,

their

as

exhibit a powerful allergic response.

is

likely that he did not physically touch anything in the

tact

little

Even though the person may only have room through which a single cat had simply

earlier, this

is

as

figures are difficult to grasp, simply witness a

walked is

of

6

allergic to cats.

through

briefly passed

it

in

so chemically close

portions

in

to

is

hormones

pituitary

can produce contraction of muscle tissue in closes as dilute as

is

homeopathy

to a person

it.

's

who

Homeopathy s

be one of the important laws in nature

many phenomena

that are presently a part

of natures

mysteries.

How Homeopathic Medicines Work (This section of the

help explain

seem

a bit

book

may information may

explores various scientific theories that

how homeopathy

works.

Some of the

technical and hard to understand, particularly if you

do not

have a scientific background. If you are not especially interested in the theories about

how homeopathy works,

Just as physicians

feel free to skip this section.)

do not understand

how many

of their drugs

HOMEOPATHY.

MODERN VIEW

A

work, homeopaths do not understand the precise mechanism of action of homeopathic medicines. eral scientific fields

how and why

of

a better sense

can have such profound It is

known

by drawing from research from sev-

Still,

and by exploring known phenomena, we may get

that

the microdoses that

homeopaths use

clinical effects.

Some

matter consists of and radiates energy.

all

substances, such as radium, radiate a great deal, while other substances,

such

as

Homeopaths have found homeopathic medicines

is

made, likewise

own

resume

less.

CD, or

Some a

Not only does water

things can

computer

disk.

which most

stores frequencies.

frequencies, and like a snowflake,

snow

form when they

their previous

store frequencies,

memory. Some homeopathic distilled

a tape, a

unique. Researchers have discovered that

after melting,

again.

be

it

that water, the substance in

are

produce their

All things

each substance tals,

much

the chair you are sitting on, radiate

even store frequencies, whether

it

stores

crys-

are frozen

some form of

researchers theorize that the double-

water used in the preparation of homeopathic medicines

memory of the original substance that has been diluted when repeated dilutions of 1:10 or 1:100 have in all proba-

maintains the in

it,

bility

even

exceeded the point

at

which

there should be

no remaining mol-

ecules of the original substance.

Another way

something remains

to understand that

despite repeated dilutions

comes from what

is

in the water

understood about holo-

grams. Holograms are high-resolution, laser-created photographs that

look three-dimensional. if a

hologram

of, for

One

astonishing feature of holograms

example, a tree

is

piece of the photographic plate maintains a picture of the whole albeit a smaller

and

less clear

picture of it.

A similar situation

tern within a pattern within a pattern occurs in a as fractals, a

homeopathic medicine may therefore be

it is

effect

may seem

unquestionably true. Further, the

example of a hologram. Each person's cell

of an individual's body, and

contains

all

print or resonance of a it is

holographic

A potentized

fractal.

illogical

or even impossible, but

human

body's

DNA

is

DNA

is

another

an integral part of every

holograph, the

DNA in each cell

of a person's genetic information.

homeopathy evidence that some imsubstance will remain no matter how many

While holograms bring times

like a

a

tree,

of a pat-

phenomenon known

frequently discussed topic in current science.

The holographic

that

is

broken into pieces, each small

diluted and shaken,

to

it still

remains a mystery

how

or

why

the

TRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

exceedingly small doses used in homeopathy have any effect, let alone increasingly larger effect the more times the medicine is potentized.

Evidence from the cutting edge of current science may provide 7 homeopathic microdose phenomenon. Mod-

sonic insight into the

cm

chaos theory, for instance, recognizes the

One

changes.

of the

basis

power of

assumptions of chaos theory

infinitesimal

is

minute

that

changes can lead to huge differences. Another basic principle of chaos theory

that significant effects

is

commonly observed

in

from minute changes tend to be most

of energy or turbulence (what physicists It

that are raised to high levels

dynamic systems

call "far

from equilibrium").

which

can be theorized that the diluting and shaking process

vital part

of making homeopathic medicines creates these high

is

a

levels

of energy.

Homeopathic medicines stances that

may be

able to

consist

sift

of extremely small doses of sub-

through the blood-brain barrier which

normally impedes large and potentially dangerous molecules from entering the brain; perhaps

homeopathic medicines

are able to affect

brain chemistry and thereby disease in significant ways.

Some medicines of

a

research in health physics has suggested that small doses of

may have

more

a

significant effect than large doses because

"therapeutic window." This effect from small doses

when

an organism

sensitive state

in a state

is

which

"cocked and ready to go"

is

stimulus triggers the cascade effect. For instance,

edged

when

in science that large

specific

more

as

soon

it is

likely

hyper-

a

as a specific

widely acknowl-

changes can occur in living organisms

key enzymes, hormones, or

only slightly activated.

is

of "metastable excitation,"

The homeopathic

tissues are activated,

timately be the vital link to finding a substance in nature

even

may that when

principle of similars

if

ul-

in-

dividually prescribed can trigger this avalanche effect. has previously

It

have their ets

own

been noted

that

and atoms and almost everything

more

all

living

and nonliving things

resonance. As science writer K. C. Cole wrote, "Planin

between vibrate

at

one or

cally at

When something else nudges them periodione of those frequencies, resonance results." 8 Cole goes on to

say that

"resonance" means to resound, to sound again, or to echo,

natural frequencies.

and the power of resonance rection that the force

add up

is

is

in the

pushing or pulling in the same di-

already going. Synchronized small pushes can

to create a significant change.

resonance

is

witnessed in the

over a bridge, causing

it

A classic

example of the force of

phenomenon of soldiers walking in place

to collapse

from the natural resonance

created.

HOMEOPATHY:

A

MODERN VIEW

What is also interesting about resonance is that it is more powerful when there is a little friction when the force is similar to though not exactly the same as the initial force. The resonance becomes broader, creating something similar to a chord rather than a single note. The re-

—

lationship of this concept to healing

most

effective

symptoms

that are the

symptoms

the person

What

is

Even

most

is

C

if

on both

resonate felt

at all.

The

only by people

about resonance

note on

two pianos pianos.

homeopaths find

one

that the

that in overdose creates

same

as,

the

experiencing.

note on one piano will be notes

that is

similar to, not necessarily the

also interesting

sensitivity that the

piano.

is

homeopathic medicine

a

are several felt

is

hundred

by and

who

C

hyper-

on the

is

feet away, hitting the

will cause resonance in

The B note immediately next

small doses that

a

notes

that there

piano has to other

to the

homeopaths use

C

all

the

C C

will not

will likewise

have symptoms similar to those that

a

be

sub-

stance causes.

Using small doses of the wrong substance or of the right substance at

the

wrong time

creates

no

effect,

because there

is

no

similar reso-

nance between the substance and the person's symptoms. This incorrect homeopathic medicines don't do anything.

when a magnet is placed near something it. The magnet will not draw it closer.

of action iron in

It is

is

why

like the lack

that does not have

Homeopaths have also noted that homeopathic medicines can become neutralized if subjected to high temperatures or certain magnetic fields, suggesting that some type of memory or information is encoded

in the water

which can be erased by

certain physical in-

fluences.

Although the precise mechanism of action although

it

may not be

a single or

is

not yet known, and

knowable mechanism of action,

re-

made a discovhomeopathic phenomenon. The

searchers at the California Institute of Technology have

ery that

may shed some

light

on the

researchers discovered magnetic particles called magnetite throughout

the

human

brain.

9

unknown, though

The purpose and its

discovery

existence of an electromagnetic

increased

number of

shaken creates brain's

a

magnetite

It is

netized

is

function of magnetite remains

significant because

component of the

times a homeopathic medicine

higher level of electromagnetic is

it

it is

is

field to

diluted and

which the

hypersensitive.

becomes magrubbed with another piece of iron. Also, a weak-

further intriguing to note that a piece of iron

when

establishes the

brain. Perhaps the

15

16

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

cncd magnet regains

magnet

are aligned to the

of the weakened magnet. These widely

the north and

north and south poles

known

help us understand something about the

may

when

previous magnetic field

its

south poles of another

about magnets

facts

homeopathic process of

potentizing medicines and the principle of similars. For instance, the

homeopathic process of shaking

a

substance between each dilution

the rubbing of pieces of iron together to create

may be, like a way for the

And

substance to create

the regeneration of a

magnet next

poles of the

its

own

magnet,

magnetic or energetic

field.

weakened magnet by aligning the same

to another's

regenerative and "healing"

a

effects

may be another example of the

of the principle of similars.

Although these explanations may be perfectly understandable to

some

people, half-baked to others, and totally ludicrous to

still

others,

they cannot prove or disprove homeopathy. Explanations and theories

only explain or theorize; they do not prove anything.

man mind

Still,

the hu-

tends to try to understand both the fathomable and the

unfathomable.

The mystery of homeopathic microdoses is a serious challenge to It is not, however, a phenomenon that one should simply dis-

science.

miss because

it

does not

fit

within our presently limited understanding

of the laws of nature. Rather, because the

phenomenon is quite real, How can we change or

the attitude of the real scientist needs to be:

expand our present understanding of nature but mysterious

to incorporate the real

phenomenon of homeopathic medicine.

Resources Trevor Cook, Homeopathic Medicine Today. New Canaan: Keats, 1989. Stephen Cummings and Dana Ullman, Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine. Los Angeles: Tarcher, 1991.

Richard Grossinger, Homeopathy:

An

Introduction for Beginners

and

Skeptics.

Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1994.

Randolph M. Nesse and George C. Williams, Why We Get

Sick.

New York-

Times, 1995.

Rajan Sankaran, Vie

Spirit of

Homeopathy. Bombay: Homeopathic Medical,

1991.

Dana Ullman. Discovering Homeopathy. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1991. Dana Ullman. An Introduction to Homeopathy (a set of six cassettes). Boulder: Sounds True, 1995.

George Vithoulkas, Vie

Science of Homeopathy.

New York:

Grove, 1980.

TWO

Healing Disease Versus

Suppressing Symptoms

Defining Health and Disease Defining health

as

the absence of disease

is

akin to defining wealth

as

more person does not have symptoms cer-

the absence of poverty. Health and wealth need to be defined by

than their absence. Just because a tainly does

not

mean

that

he or she has

vital health.

Symptoms may, in fact, be a good sign of vitality. Symptoms may body is responding to stress or infection and is now working to defend itself from further illness. Being without symptoms may even be a sign of ill health. Witness what happened to the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: many seemed to be in good health, without symptoms after the bombings, but then died ten to twenty indicate that the

years later of cancer.

One

could not say that they were "healthy" just

prior to the diagnosis of cancer. Also, that

it is

a

common phenomenon

people with cancer claim that they had not had

a

cold or

flu for

17

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

more

ten or

years.

Perhaps the body's ability to inflame and to fight in-

fection may be a sign of its strength rather than its weakness. The paradox here is that being without symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person is healthy and having symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person is ill. Ultimately, health and sickness are relative.

We

and

degrees, both healthy

are, in relative

order to

sick. In

understand and appreciate the homeopathic system of healing,

fully

one must understand the body's natural reactions to

later in this chapter. It

also necessary to

is

disease,

phenomena

the above-described paradox, as well as other

understand

such

as

discussed

how homeopaths

define health.

Homeopaths limitation levels.

the physical level, health

limitation, having as

On dom

freedom from and mental

interrelated physical, emotional,

1

On ical

generally define health as a state of

on dynamic,

an emotional

from emotions.

basis

its

level,

A

is

freedom from pain and from phys-

an overall

health

is

of well-being.

state

freedom with emotions, not

healthy person can and will feel varied

tions,

but he or she does not dwell on them,

them,

is

is

not overwhelmed by

not limited to the same recurring emotions, and

emotions

solve them. Despite the

felt

free-

emo-

is

able to re-

and experienced, the healthy

person has an inner sense of calm, balance, and integration with others

and the environment.

On ability-

that

is

a

mental

level,

health

to think clearly, to

is

freedom from

strong, capable, flexible, creative, loving,

From

this

selfishness

with the

understand competently, and to have

broader definition, health

is

a will

and compassionate.

a process,

not simply

a goal.

The Healing Process Physicians typically think of the healing process as the body's efforts to defend

and heal

itself.

This

is

certainly true, but

homeopaths and

various natural healing specialists have discovered

mation about

ment

this

process

which has

more detailed inforhelped them support and aug-

it.

The human organism,

like

any living system, always seeks to sur-

vive and will go to great lengths to adapt to the various infections and stresses that

it

experiences.

A part

of its adaptation process

to create a variety of symptoms as defenses.

is its

The human body

ability

will au-

HEALING DISEASE VERSUS SUPPRESSING SYMPTOMS

tomatically create the best response

sources and

on what

it

it

can, based

on

present re-

its

has learned in the past.

Constantine Hering, M.D., the father of American homeopathy,

and homeopaths since him have observed that there

which healing tends

tions in

to progress (although

are three direc-

homeopathic

usually refer to these directions as "Hering's laws of cure,"

accurate

1.

The

With

consider

to

process).

them

to

evaluating

healing process moves from the most vital

the recognition that

pushing

disease,

the

curative

2

for survival than others, it

some

body

parts

from deeper,

to the least vital functions.

of the organism are more

Hering observed

perficial, less vital processes.

the

guidelines

texts

more

it is

that the

vital processes

The

body

vital

externalizes

of the body to more su-

brain and heart will be protected

as

externalizes disease to the soft tissue, connective tissue,

bones, and skin.

From

this

point of view, skin symptoms are generally

not considered skin diseases; they are thought to be internal diseases that are simply manifesting

Inherent in

this

on the

skin.

understanding of the healing process

is

also the

recognition that one's psychological state represents a deep and vital process because of

its

influence

and immunological functions.

more

superficial

is

thought to occur

body

A

when

physiological

has deeper and

healing process

on

a

deeper psychologi-

problems evolve into more superficial ones. While recognizing

that the sity,

just as the

symptoms, so does the mind.

psychological level cal

on various important

And

depth of a symptom depends on what

it is

and

also

its

inten-

Greek homeopath George Vithoulkas theorizes the following

order of increasing depth of mental disease: absentmindedness, forget-

of concentration, dullness, lethargy, delusions, paranoid

fulness, lack ideas,

destructive delirium,

and complete mental confusion. 3 Vit-

houlkas theorizes the following order of emotional disease:

dissatis-

faction, irritability, anxiety, phobias, anguish, sadness, apathy, suicidal

depression.

Information on the physical, emotional, and mental

comes

a part

levels

be-

of the homeopath's comprehensive assessment of a per-

son's health. 2.

The

healing process moves from the top of the body to the bottom. This

guideline

is

one because the most vital the upper half of the body. For example, homeopaths ob-

partially linked to the previous

organs are in

19

20

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

serve that people with skin rashes or arthritis tend theii

symptoms move down

The healing process

3,

may

symptoms

result in reexperiencing old

been experienced earlier in one's

old

when

toward cure

their body.

The organism

life.

maintains a

that

had

memory of

symptoms and syndromes, and the body must sometimes reexperi-

ence them

and

cians

order to resolve and heal them. Various natural physi-

in

not just homeopaths, have also noticed

healers,

of old symptoms

deep healing

as a sign that a

this retracing

in process.

is

of

illness.

Each layer has a different pattern of physical and psychological

symp-

Homeopaths observe toms, and

as

we add

layers

that

people have different

layers

of illness, some symptoms disappear and

sublimated but are not "cured." In the healing process, healed, the person

limated

may develop

are

layer

is

symptoms from the previous sub-

fending and healing suffering

always strives to survive and will

symptoms

certain superficial

so that

it

minor acute infection but

a

symptoms of the acute

are greatly diminished as the

body

out of danger from the injury,

times reduce

is

instance, a person

then seriously in-

infection disappear or

reacts to the injury.

it is

at

can devote more energy to de-

more dangerous symptoms. For

from

jured. In such instances,

is

one

layer.

The human body

may be

old

as

common

Once

the

body

for the person to reex-

perience his or her previous ailment.

An

injury interceding an illness

nomenon; any and when an ence the

is

but one example of

this

phe-

serious illness can intercede into a less serious one. If

effective treatment

is

provided, a person

may

reexperi-

symptoms as a part of the healing process. Homeopaths commonly refer to the healing process as "removing layers." They sometimes use the layers of an onion as a good visual earlier

analogy for the healing process, with a goal of getting to the core of the person without any encumbrances.

Homeopaths

way

to assess

or

primarily

is

find Hering's guidelines to healing to be useful as a

whether

lines help to assess is

a

person'

a palliative

getting worse.

not only

If,

s

response to treatment

is

a real healing

or even a placebo response. Hering's guideif

the person's health

for instance, a person's

is

improving but

if it

primary symptoms disap-

pear but new, more serious symptoms emerge, the homeopath would

assume that the treatment was not successful and that the persons health

is

worsening. In comparison, a conventional physician would

HEALING DISEASE VERSUS SUPPRESSING SYMPTOMS

assume that the

initial

now

treatment was successful and that

disease, unrelated to the

first,

.1

new

has emerged.

Susceptibility to Disease Contrary to

common

of infection or

stress

one does not get

belief,

sick simply as the result

but also because of one's susceptibility

predisposition) to these pathological factors.

(also called

American medical think-

ing has tended to neglect this essential co-factor to disease.

For instance,

very moment, many people have streptococpneumonococcus in their bronchial tubes, and can-

at this

cus in their throat,

cer cells in different parts of their body, though this does not

they are suffering

from any

tems in which the

immune

Our

diseases.

mean

that

bodies are complex ecosys-

system does a remarkable job of keeping

pathogenic agents from reproducing too rapidly However,

if

our im-

mune system is already overworked or is otherwise compromised, it may not be able to defend itself adequately against an infectious agent or

stressful

circumstance.

While exposure can

stress a

may

to cold does not "cause" a cold or sore throat,

it

person significantly enough that the bacteria or viruses that

already be resident in his or her

without adequate defense. other time in the person's

On the

life

will not result in

type of reserve that the body had

From minute

body may be

able to reproduce

other hand, exposure to cold

at

any

illness,

at

an-

due to some

the time.

to minute, the organism's susceptibility to illness

changes.

We

are

all

a little familiar

know

that only

or

even though every

flu,

some people

with in

this

concept of susceptibility.

our family may get

member

a cold,

We

cough,

probably was exposed to the same

sick person.

human

organ-

are various factors that influence these defenses.

A wide

Susceptibility refers to the overall defenses

ism,

and there

variety of internal

and external

of the

factors in each person can either in-

crease or decrease susceptibility. Dr.

century physician and physiologist

Claude Bernard,

who

is

a

nineteenth-

considered the father of

experimental physiology, acknowledged the importance of predisposition

when he

called

it

"the pivot of

the real cause of most diseases."

all

experimental physiology and

4

Ultimately, conventional medicine has focused

its

research and

21

22

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

attention

clinical

symptoms, and

primarily on

yet

has

it

ceptibility to illness.

which

not

is

more

difficult

psychophysiological assessment of

holistic

a

to evaluate, assess, or predict sus-

investigations are inherently

Such

because they require the person

done

developing treatments for specific

little

amenable to the reductionistic methods

as

of science. intriguing point about susceptibility and illness

The confusing but is

that

who

people

may be

get an infection

don't, or they can actually

be

down

an infection suggests that a persons defenses were

On

may not

get an infection because he or she

the time.

more

acute infections

one

stable are

is

is

a sign

may

inability to inflame against infection

seriously

ill,

the body,

sense to

let

mation,

at least for a

is

it

sometimes sug-

suffering

may

the other side of the equation

when

ill,

create

while. In fact, a

are today recognizing the value

who

think that a resistance

of good health,

too sick to fight the infection.

is

While the person

from certain

its

is

suggest that a that

crease the chances

of

dren with strep throat

makes

it

symptoms of fever and inflam-

growing number of pediatricians

of not immediately treating

a child

Some may in-

infections, including strep throat.

research has suggested that treating a strep throat too quickly

upon

that a

Only after they "healthy" enough to ex-

perience a simple infection. Although one

gests that

is

presently too sick

is

infection during their psychotic episodes.

they are psychologically

common

from

ill

with schizophrenia rarely experience

to respond. For instance, people

symptoms of

to

at

the other hand, a broader (and homeopathic) perspective

person

who

sicker than those

Sometimes, becoming

healthier.

a recurrence.

who were

3

Another study showed

that chil-

treated with antibiotics immediately

diagnosis had eight times the recurrence of strep throat of those

children for

whom

treatment was delayed. 6

Ellen Wald, M.D., medical director of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, has suggested that too early treatment with antibiotics

may

impair normal immunologic response and increase the chance of reinfection.

One

can conjecture that

to inflame in order to learn

how

a child's

Similarly, research in the Journal of the

has

shown

that

genital herpes

childhood herpes

may

body needs

American Medical Association

actually lower the adult's risk

and even AIDS. 8 Although the reason

unknown, some homeopaths be important

(and anyone's)

to fight infection successfully.

why

this

is

true

postulate that childhood infections

in challenging the

immune

of is

may

system. Challenging and ex-

HEALING DISEASE VERSUS SUPPRESSING SYMPTOMS

immune

ercising the

may be

system

and disease

essential for vitality

prevention.

The

implications of this point of view are significant, especially in

of the perceived value of immunizations. Immunizations may

light

some obvious benefits, but they may prevent people from experiencing some infections that may be important in building a strong immune system. While it may make sense to immunize against serious provide

and potentially

fatal infections

mumps,

immunize

against

(this latter

immunization

ity

of children

Once one role in

its

as tetanus,

it

makes

measles, chicken pox, and

is

less

sense to

whooping cough

also questionably effective,

with the major-

get the disease having been already immunized).

realizes that

symptoms of the body

one must develop

defenses,

When

dom.

who

such

a

new

play an important

respect for the body's wis-

conventional physicians and scientists begin to appropri-

ately

honor the many miracles of the human body, they

start

receiving insights into the healing process and avoid treatments

will inevitably

that suppress disease.

Suppressing Symptoms Symptoms of illness not only

represent a sign of illness, they signify the

body's best efforts to try to defend and heal tive,

treatments like

many

itself.

From

or control these efforts are ignoring the body's inherent suppressing

its

Believe

it

drug.

From

"effects,"

those

we

this

perspec-

conventional drugs that seek to stop, inhibit,

wisdom and

ability to heal itself.

or not, there are no such things

a strictly

and we

as "side effects"

from

a

pharmacological perspective, drugs only have

we From

arbitrarily differentiate those effects

don't like (calling the latter "side effects").

like

a

from

homeo-

pathic perspective, side effects are primarily the result of suppressing

the body's symptoms.

The serious

fact that suppressing

symptoms, however,

symptoms is

leads to

new and

often

more

almost totally foreign to conventional

physicians and drug manufacturers today.

They

generally assume that

new symptoms are simply new and usually unrelated symptoms. The concept of suppressing symptoms is relatively simple. Fever, for instance, is now known to be an important defense of the body. Heightened temperature

in the

body

increases the activity of the

im-

23

24

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

tnune system's white blood

cells

and increases secretion of interferon,

both of which help to fight infection. Although prolonged very high fevers can Lead to serious neurological problems, fever itself is one of the

to defend itself from infection.

methods the body deploys It

person with

.1

a fever

is

given

a

drug or treatment that reduces

the fever, he or she will be less able to fight infection,

with fever

drome,

a

who

which

usually

of new, sometimes dangerous symptoms. Children

leads to a variety

are given aspirin can, for instance,

develop Reye

s

syn-

potentially fatal neurological disorder.

Homeopaths theorize

that the reason

why more

younger and younger ages

affecting people at

more frequently

drugs are being used

to treat

is

chronic disease

is

that conventional

common

acute prob-

lems, and these drugs are effectively suppressing the body's abilities to

defend and heal

A

itself.

recent government report noted that "the

proportion of children with limitation of activity [due to chronic con-

doubled since I960." 9 Conditions such

ditions] has

were previously incapacitating but creasingly

doubled

common

of death

rates

are

now

in-

from asthma have

mental

also theorize that

illnesses, cancers,

and im-

system disorders are affecting greater numbers of people in part

because levels

Death

asthma which

in the past decade.

Homeopaths

mune

rarely a cause

conditions.

fatal

as

serious physical illnesses are being suppressed to deeper

less

of their being.

Psychiatrists

and psychologists are intimately familiar with the

concept of suppression,

as

they regularly see the effects of suppressing

emotions. Mental health professionals note that suppressing emotions

deeper problems which are not relieved until the

creates new, usually

original

emotion

is

recognized, expressed, and resolved.

Homeopaths tend

to

be aware of and watchful for disease suppres-

sion because they interview their patients very thoroughly

compare the

totality

treatment and afterward.

commonly

and often

of their symptoms before conventional medical

By

using Hering's guidelines, homeopaths

witness disease suppression and the emergence of increas-

ingly serious ailments.

Homeopaths

also

observe that people tend to

reexperience old symptoms after homeopathic treatment, thus suggesting that these least left

symptoms were

The consistency with which homeophenomena provides evidence that disease sup-

incompletely cured.

paths observe these pression

either previously suppressed or at

is

emergency

real,

exists.

and can and should be avoided unless

a

medical

HEALING DISEASE VERSUS SUPPRESSING SYMPTOMS

Needless to

on

research

say,

disease suppression

is

not likely to re-

ceive funding from drug companies. Until governments, nonprofit organizations,

and the public recognize the potential problems from

certain medical interventions,

safest for patients

it is

cians to seek out therapies that

and

their physi-

augment the body's wisdom,

rather

than those that inhibit individual symptoms.

Immunosuppressive Treatments Versus Immunoaugmentive Treatments The language of medicine today

fighting language. Physicians and

is

drug companies pride themselves on developing and prescribing drugs that attack disease, battle illness,

victory is

is

hand,

at

and

kill

microbes.

They have

created a

good generals, they commonly predict that only more money for research and armament

"war on cancer," and

like

if

provided.

Even the antagonistic

types of action that drugs are purported to have take an

and fighting posture: anti-inflammatory, antihistamine,

antibiotic, antispasmodic,

these actions

may

and

provide

classically, painkilling.

at least

they do not strengthen the body's heal

itself,

temporary

immune

Although each of

relief to a sick person,

system so that the body can

nor do they augment the body's defenses so that the condi-

tion does not return.

The

reductionistic tendencies of medicine

ited their vision

and

scientists

of what

is

have even looked for ways that the

defense system could be augmented.

munoaugmenting

drugs,

only one part of the

The good news cians

demic, vital

it

it

is

immune is

and researchers

of the body's

immune

When

do study im-

on

emergence of AIDS, many physi-

beginning to understand the important role

system. Despite the tragedy of the

AIDS

epi-

has encouraged greater understanding and respect for the

functioning of our

immune

system.

one can

types of treatments: those that tend to

and those that tend to suppress them. fit

researchers

usually to evaluate specific effects

that since the

are

Few physicians overall immune and

system.

In the most general terms,

essarily

and science have lim-

possible in pharmacology.

into

one category or the

basically say that there are

two

augment the body's defenses

A given treatment does

other,

not nec-

though future research

will

probably clarify which treatments do what and to what degree. Just

25

26

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHiC MEDICINE

bee ause

a

treatment

isn't

that

it

may

have

provided

is

suppressive, however, does not necessarily

useful, valuable, or

some mildly

may

mean

even curative. Although a treatment

suppressive effects, the temporary relief that

give the body's defenses

some time

is

and gather

to rest

themselves to deal effectively with the original source of the problem.

However, many people may not respond well to even mildly

whose immune systems are in developimmune systems are already severely chalwho are immunocompromised in some way may

suppressive treatment. Infants

ment, the elderly whose lenged, and people

be harmed by such treatment.

The common cough

is

a classic ailment in

which one can com-

pare suppressive and curative treatments. According to standard text-

books on pathology, the cough at the body.

It is a

vital

is

an important protective mechanism

defense of the organism in

its

effort to expel

foreign or irritating material so that the person can breathe. there are

many over-the-counter

suppressants."

drugs that are marketed

While such drugs provide temporary

cure the underlying condition and

may even

relief,

delay

its

And

yet

"cough

as

they do not

resolution. In

comparison, homeopathic and various other natural therapies are prescribed to either soothe or strengthen the bronchials so that the person

can more effectively eliminate whatever It is

no coincidence

that

may be

irritating

him.

immunizations and allergy treatments,

two of the few conventional medical treatments

augment the body's immune system,

are based

do something to on the homeopathic

that

principle of similars. Immunizations utilize small doses of microbes that cause a particular illness in order to

augment the immune

system's

creation of antibodies against them, and allergy treatments are based

on using small doses of what person develop

a

less sensitivity

person

is

allergic to in

order to help the

to that substance.

Homeopathic medicines do not work simply by stimulating the body's active

immune system; some diseases, in fact, are the result of an overimmune response. These diseases are called autoimmune disor-

Rheumatoid arthritis, one of the autoimmune diseases, is a condition that homeopaths commonly find treatable. One study showed that 82 percent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis received some degree of relief from ders,

a

and they

are the result

of the body attacking

itself.

homeopathic medicine, while only 21 percent of those given

placebo received

a similar

degree of relief.

Besides being used to reduce an overly active

seen in the above research on rheumatoid

a

10

arthritis,

immune

system, as

homeopathic med-

HEALING DISEASE VERSUS SUPPRESSING SYMPTOMS

icines have also

been shown

to stimulate

One

effects are necessary for healing.

Journal of Pharmacology

stimulated

showed

There have

homeopathic medicine,

is

showing

several laboratory studies

which the immune system

effect

Silicea,

are

'

homeopathic microdoses can have immunomodulatory in

such

as

1

been

also

when

response

much as 64 percent (macrophages body's immune system).

macrophages by

an important part of the

that a

immune

study published in the European

is

that

effects (effects

stimulated or reduced whenever each

necessary for healing). 12 This field of scientific inquiry

is

very

ripe for future exploration.

As physicians and

mune

recognize the importance of the im-

scientists

system, they will inevitably begin to investigate the potential for

homeopathic medicines

in helping to heal the

which the body's immune system

numerous ailments

Homeopathic Understanding Chronic Disease Chronic disease may be akin to natural cataclysms Earthquakes are predisposed to occur on previous

from

a

complex assortment of

under the

surface.

from either

And

in

plays a role.

stresses to

they occur

as

of

like earthquakes.

faults.

They

result

the geologic plates that

lie

the result of a pressure exerted

close or distant stresses.

Likewise, chronic disease arises from certain predispositions,

some

of which may have occurred in

a person's lifetime

may be from

buried deeply in a person and

Some chronic diseases may be may not manifest until or unless the

person experiences significant

stresses,

may

lie

just

and some of which

a distant genetic source.

below the surface and

while other chronic diseases

will erupt

from minor

stresses.

may look extremely healthy, there is may be at the edge of a serious chronic illness and even death. And the opposite is also true: even though a person may look ill and may even have a chronic disease, he may be able to nurse his chronic illness into a ripe old age. The lowgrade chronic symptoms may simply be the efficient way the organism Even though an

individual

always the chance that he or she

is

"letting off steam" in order to diminish the chances

cataclysmic change. Perhaps this

of modern medicine, once

said,

is

why

"The

chronic disease and take care of it."

Sir

of one larger

William Osier, the father

secret

of longevity

is

to get a

27

NTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

28

Wlnlc

it

may sometimes seem

ways to reduce the

tack arbitrarily, there are

chronic

illness

risk

is

of an early-onset

one of the lesser-known ways to do

does homeopathy offer

a

so.

Not only

valuable way of treating chronic ailments,

it

way of understanding them.

Chronic disease does not simply appear out of thin long time, not just in one's

tor a

at-

and delay premature death. Treatment with homeo-

pathic medicines

also has a

and death

that chronic disease

own

lifetime but also

develops

air. It

through genetic

predisposition.

Even though Gregor Mendel postulated

his laws

of heredity in

homeopathy founder, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, recognized the important role that genetics played in disease as early as 1810. Hahne1

865,

's

mann

believed not only that certain diseases are inherited but that cer-

tain patterns

of symptoms are too. In other words, two people in a

one,

may develop two completely different diseases (one, colitis; Parkinson's disease), but they may both have recurrent canker

sores

and/or ulcerations of various

family

their

symptoms

at night, oily

extremes of temperature, propensities. eases,

sorts, significant

and/ or thinning

self-destructive

Even though these two people

aggravations of

hair, hypersensitivity to

tendencies,

and violent

from

different dis-

suffer

they have a similar pattern of symptoms.

While conventional medicine has focused only on genetically based diseases, homeopathy has included and surpassed

this

inquiry

with more detailed observations of genetic symptoms, syndromes, and tendencies.

Homeopaths have developed an

somewhat

elaborate and

complicated theory of chronic diseases called miasms, which are considered the underlying conditions that predispose individuals to the

various acute, chronic, and hereditary ailments that they have and that

they pass on to their heirs. 13

Miasms

are

both genetic and acquired, and they create

bility to certain patterns

asms, three people

a suscepti-

of symptoms. Because of their different mi-

who work

together

may experience

a

similar

degree of stress but one develops a deep anxiety, another develops an ulcer,

and another develops

Hahnemann

his patients received

alized

a

tumor.

originally developed miasmatic theory after

some of

only temporary improvement from his individu-

homeopathic prescriptions.

thing underlying the person progress of further healing.

chronic miasms: psora,

s

He

syphilitic,

that there

was some-

of health that was blocking the

state

Initially,

assumed

he theorized the presence of three

and

sycotic.

HEALING DISEASE VERSUS SUPPRESSING SYMPTOMS

The word

"psora"

means "groove" or

derived from the

is

"deficiency."

weakened or

predisposition, a

Hebrew word

makes reference

It

tsorat,

deficient state that causes the

human

ganism to become susceptible to infection and

stress.

human

Hahnemann

has

some

predisposition to these factors,

which

to the primary

or-

Because every consid-

ered psora to be "the mother of chronic disease."

Laid on top of

The

syphilitic

acquired in

with

this

miasm

this life

a syphilitic

is

miasm

are the syphilitic

and sycotic miasms.

related to syphilitic infection, not necessarily

but from one's genetic heritage. Thus, a person

miasm does not have syphilis, but someone on the genetic influence from it.

in the

family had syphilis and passed

The

sycotic

with the sycotic instead suffer

who

had

miasm is related miasm (also called

to gonorrhea. sycosis)

Once

again, people

do not have gonorrhea, but

from the influence of someone in

their genetic history

it.

While

this

may

theory of chronic disease

initially

seem

unlikely,

present understanding of genetics actually supports the observations of

two centuries of homeopaths.

very

It is

real that

people in previous

centuries had these infectious diseases, and they lived and even procre-

ated while suffering from them. genetically,

it is

known and

While

these diseases are not passed

on

accepted today that viruses can be incor-

porated into the genetic material of cells. Homeopaths' clinical obser-

by the theory

vations are influenced

that people's genes are affected

by

the infection of their progenitors.

Later in his

life,

Hahnemann

asserted the existence of a fourth

miasm, tuberculosis, though some modern homeopaths theorize that there are considerably that

more miasms than

any infection can possibly lead to

rize that

a

three or four.

They

believe

miasm. Others go on to theo-

exposure to heavy metals, pesticides, radiation, and various

toxic chemicals can also create a layer of illness that adds to the stress

load of a person and goes

be that any infection or

on

to influence genetic

stress that

solved creates a layer or

endowment.

It

may

the organism has not completely re-

miasm which can

create present or future

symptoms and syndromes. Each of the above-described miasms

symptoms

when

that

the traditionally individualized

rapidly enough.

leads to a constellation

homeopaths consider when

remedy

is

prescribing,

of

especially

not working deeply or

29

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

Homeopathic Constitutional Care Various schools of thought in psychology recognize the existence of certain psychological types,

and various schools of thought

in exercise

body work therapy theorize the presfit certain bodymind

physiology and in massage and

ence of certain body types. In homeopathy people

commonly

types,

type

ret cried

is

drome

that

it

Each constitutional

called "constitutional types."

by the medicine that

to

cures.

For instance,

a

the

fits

person

body and mind syn-

may be

a

Sulphur type,

a

Phosphorus type, or a Natrum muriaticum type. Various books describe these

bodymind

types in ways that are often poetic and quite insightful

to the human condition. (See the resources section on page 353 list of some of the better books on this subject.)

Homeopathic ment of a

constitutional care refers to the homeopath's treat-

person's totality of symptoms, past

of a constitutional medicine

tion

is

made

and present.

all

body

of the

and pres-

type,

more profound than

considerably

is

prescrip-

and mental symptoms. This ap-

physical, emotional,

proach to homeopathic care

A

after a detailed analysis

person's genetic history, personal health history,

ent status of

for a

treating a specific disease.

Homeopathic

constitutional care

the healing process because the to healing represents a vital it

discussed in this chapter about

is

homeopathic constitutional approach

and integral part of homeopathic

represents a distinctively different approach than the

specific

and

in

care

and disease-specific treatment

many

common

in

care,

and

symptom-

Western medicine

alternative therapies as well.

When

professionally

has

capacity

the

and competently provided, constitutional

to

a

elicit

profound healing response. By

strengthening the underlying defense processes of the organism, the correct constitutional medicine can enact a true cure, not just amelioration of

cure

by

is

symptoms or suppression of

a systemic

improvement

mental health, and

Henng's guidelines ter,

disease.

The

analysis

of

a true

determined not only by the reduction of pain or discomfort but

a

in the totality

of physical, emotional, and

progression of the healing process over time;

to cure,

which were described

earlier in this

chap-

are carefully reviewed.

Just because a constitutional

therapeutic effect does not prescribe

it

to a patient.

medicine can provide such profound

mean

that a

Sometimes

needed beforehand. Without

it,

homeopath

a less

will

immediately

deep-acting medicine

a constitutional

medicine can cause

is

a

HEALING DISEASE VERSUS SUPPRESSING SYMPTOMS

which

healing

crisis in

tion of

symptoms prior

of cure

ideal

one

is

person experiences

a

that

to

a

temporary exacerba-

improvement. Because the homeopaths'

slow and gentle, they try to avoid powerful

is

healing crises. If a patient

is

experiencing an acute condition, the homeopath

will usually prescribe a

remedy

for this acute state before prescribing a

constitutional remedy. Because acute ailments often have a cleansing

and healing

effect

on people when they

paths prefer prescribing a constitutional

are effectively cured,

remedy

homeo-

shortly after a person

has gotten over an acute illness. If

and when the homeopath prescribes what he or she thinks

the persons correct constitutional

remedy and

is

doesn't work, the

it

homeopath then seeks to ascertain if anything has possibly antidoted the remedy (see Chapter 12) or if a miasmatic remedy is indicated.

Resources Hans Reckeweg, Homo toxicology. Albuquerque: Biological Homeopathic

In-

dustries, 1981.

Andre 1993,

6,

Saine, "Hering's

Law: Law, Rule or Dogma," Simillimum, Winter

4:34-52.

Rajan Sankaran, The

Spirit of Homeopathy,

Bombay: Homeopathic Medical,

1991.

Dana Ullman,

Discovering Homeopathy. Berkeley:

George Vithoulkas,

A New Model of Health

North

Atlantic, 1991.

and Disease. Berkeley: North At-

1991.

lantic,

George Vithoulkas, The

Andrew Weil,

Some of the

New York: Grove, New York: Knopf, 1995.

Science of Homeopathy

Spontaneous Healing.

better books that describe the

.

1980.

homeopathic

constitutional types are: Philip Bailey, Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of the Major Constitutional

Remedies. Berkeley:

Catherine Coulter,

North

North Portraits

Atlantic, 1995.

of Homeopathic Medicines (2 volumes). Berkeley:

Atlantic, 1986, 1988.

Paul Herscu, The Homeopathic Treatment of Children: Types. Berkeley:

North

Leon Vannier, Typology field,

Pediatric Constitutional

Atlantic, 1991. in

Homoeopathy. Beaconsfield (England): Beacons-

1992.

Edward C. Whitmont,

Psyche and Substance: Essays on Homeopathy

ofjungian Psychology. Berkeley:

North

Atlantic, 1991.

in the

Light

31

THREE

The Homeopathic Renaissance

Homeopathy Homeopathy this lack

is

in

North America, Then and Now

not widely

of awareness

is

known throughout

an exception to the

the United States, but

rule.

Homeopathy

popular in Europe, especially France, Germany, and England, as in Asia, especially India.

world that ternative

it

it is

would be inappropriate

medicine"

very

as

well

so popular in other parts of the

to consider

homeopathy an

"al-

there.

Many Americans vinism, in

In fact,

is

tend to maintain an attitude of medical chau-

which they assume

that conventional

"true" medical system. This attitude

is

medicine

a historical

is

the only

and geographical

anomaly; throughout history and throughout the world there has been a

healthy respect for different approaches to healing.

Most Americans don't know history of experience with

century, this medical system

where

else in the

that this country has an impressive

homeopathy, and in

was more popular

fact, at

in

the turn of the

America than any-

world. At the time there were twenty-two

pathic medical schools, over a

hundred homeopathic

over a thousand homeopathic pharmacies, and

at least

homeo-

hospitals,

American physicians practiced homeopathy The medical schools 1

32

and

15 percent of that

HOMEOPATHIC RENAISSANCE

THE

taught

homeopathy included Boston

Michigan,

New

University, the University

oi

York Medical College, the University of Minnesota,

the University of Iowa,

Hahnemann Medical

College, and Stanford

University.

Many

of America's

literary greats

were advocates of homeopathy,

Mark Twain, William James, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Henry Thoreau. Homeopathy was particularly popular amongst leading abolitionists including

such

as

William Lloyd Garrison and Zabina Eastman; leaders of the

women's movement, including Susan

B.

Anthony and Elizabeth Cady

Stanton; presidents, including James Garfield and William McKinley; progressive politicians such as William

Seward and Daniel Webster;

and successful entrepreneurs, including John D. Rockefeller and William Wrigley. 2 Because homeopaths graduated from conventional medical schools, they could not be criticized

being uneducated. Homeopaths

as

tiqued conventional medicines for being peutic,

and they offered

conventional physicians

a different

more dangerous than

cri-

thera-

approach to healing that gave

stiff competition.

Because of this, homeopaths

and homeopathy were frequently attacked by orthodox physicians.

The American Medical Association in conjunction with drug manufacturers conspired to commit dirty tricks, political shenanigans, and various and sundry efforts to suppress the development and growth of

homeopathy.

From

the 1860s until the early 1900s, the

specified that

it

was unethical for

AMA

AMA's code of ethics

members

to simply consult

with homeopathic physicians on the health care of any patient. Even

though most

ethical guidelines for doctors

time, having any interaction with a strictly

State

were not enforced

homeopath was one of

forbidden ethical violations. In 1883 the entire

Medical Society was expelled from the

to include in their

membership

all

at that

the few

New

York

AMA because they chose

properly graduated doctors, includ-

members who used homeopathic medicines. 3 This incident and innumerable others suggest that the antagonism to homeopathy was ing

based not on scientific issues but on personal ones.

These

efforts to suppress

that ultimately led to

olution with

its

its

homeopathy were not

decline.

The

the only factors

influence of the Industrial

Rev-

assembly line mind-set and mechanistic thinking gave

credence to the conventional medical model. This model sought to treat

every person with the same disease in the same way,

as distinct

33

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

Imm

homeopathic approach, which was based on highly individutreatments- an approach that seemed idiosyncratic and in-

the

alized

The development of new conventional

consistent.

and

painkillers

later antibiotics,

drugs, initially

gave the public the impression that

conventional medicine could rapidly and directly improve health. fact that these

wasn't

known

drugs also created various side effects or addictive for

many

years to

The

states

come.

Besides these influences, infighting

among homeopaths

weak-

also

ened the movement. Because there are many different ways to practice

homeopathy, some using high-potency medicines, some low poten-

some using frequent and others infrequent repetition, there has been a tendency among homeopaths (as among virtually every group cies,

of people) to believe that one school of thought It

was

common

for

is

better than another.

homeopaths of one school of thought

to fight

other schools of thought and sometimes to consider the other

home-

opaths to be "nonhomeopaths."

As

a result

of the various factors internal and external to the

homeopathic movement, homeopathy almost died out

By

in

America.

1950, there were only one hundred or so practitioners in the

United

States.

and 1980s, the back-to-the-earth movement,

In the 1960s, 1970s,

the growing interest in natural foods, the influence of the

movement on

self-care,

est in alternative

and the

women's more inter-

healing and homeopathy.

In the 1980s, several

major European homeopathic companies

tablished offices in America.

sumers

spiritual revolution led to

Through

and health professionals

their efforts to educate

about homeopathy,

along

es-

conwith

increased efforts to market homeopathic medicines into the main-

homeopathy began growing more substantially. According to Food and Drug Administration, sales of homeopathic medicines grew by 1,000 percent from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. 4 stream,

the

In the 1990s,

homeopathic medicines have become

a $250-million-

per-year industry, with an annual growth rate of 20 to 25 percent. 5 Al-

though the

size

of

this

industry

is

relatively small

by most American

Homeopathy is no becoming more mainstream every day. In 1994, more than 75 percent of the chain drugstores sold some homeo-

standards,

longer

its

growth

invisible,

and

rate it

is

considered significant.

is

pathic medicines, with this

number expecting

American pharmacists discovered

that

to increase.

A survey of

27 percent consider homeo-

pathic medicines "useful," while only 18 percent consider

them "use-

HOMEOPATHIC RENAISSANCE

THE

less."

6

While over

American pharmacists

half of

about homeopathy to have an opinion,

who do know enough

those

about

it

this

didn't

know enough

survey showed that of

many more

to have an opinion,

consider homeopathic medicines beneficial.

There ticing

no formal

are

homeopaths

about the current number of prac-

statistics

in the

United

States,

though

it

has been estimated

and osteopaths

that there are 1,000 to 2,000 medical doctors

who

homeopathy, 750 to 1,000 naturopathic physicians, 500 vet-

practice

erinarians,

300

500

to

Homeopathy tance. In

Canada

in

and

dentists,

several

thousand chiropractors.

has a slightly higher degree of accep-

Canada approximately 70 percent of the

of homeo-

sales

pathic medicines are in pharmacies, 10 percent in health food stores,

and 20 percent by

practitioners.

7

In contrast, the vast majority of sales

of homeopathic medicines in America are through health food

though

this

is

The Medical to establish a

Society of Nova Scotia was the

medical society

first

"Complementary Medicine Section"

as a part

Canadian Medical Association ("complementary medicine" popularized by Prince Charles

The

cine").

stores,

rapidly changing.

as

in the medical

of the a

term

preferred over "alternative medi-

recognition of this medical specialty

growing respect

is

community

is

evidence of a

for alternatives, including

homeopathy.

Homeopathy

is

particularly popular

among Canadian

recent survey in Pediatrics discovered that

1 1

families.

A

percent of parents in

Montreal brought their children to alternative practitioners, and 25 percent of those parents sought the care of a homeopath. 8 Because

survey was conducted in a hospital

lower than what ternative often.

is

actually the case, because

medicine do not

The

clinic, these

visit

such

numbers

some

parents

clinics or at least

further, that parents

who

who

use also as

did not seek alternative care, and

sought out alternatives were more

be health professionals themselves. The researchers,

ents]

who

may not do

survey also showed that parents of these children tended to

be better educated than those

were not

this

are probably

partial to alternative health care,

had more

access,

who

likely to

themselves

had to admit, "[These par-

more information, they knew more

people, and

more questioning attitude." homeopathy is even more popular than it is in the United States or Canada. There are two homeopathic medical schools in Mexico City, one of which typically has eight hundred students en-

they had a

In Mexico,

rolled,

and there

are several postgraduate

homeopathic courses

for

35

36

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

physicians throughout Mexico. especially

ico,

Many

Mex-

pharmacies throughout

the Yucatan peninsula,

ill

homeopathic remedies

sell

alongside conventional drugs.

Homeopathy I

in

Europe

he entire held of complementary medicine

bounds

in

Europe. According to

growing by

is

market survey, the

a

field

leaps

and

of comple-

mentary medicine was second only to the computer industry for 9 growth during the 1980s.

Homeopathy

is

particularly popular in France,

where

it

is

the

leading alternative therapy. In 1982, 16 percent of the population used

homeopathic medicine,

m

cent

29 percent in 1987, and to 36 per-

rising to

1992. 10

Homeopathy is popular not only among the French public but also among the French medical community. As many as 70 percent of physicians are receptive to homeopathy and consider it effective. Homeopathy is taught in at least seven medical schools Besancon,

—

Bordeaux, there are

Lille,

Limoges, Marseilles, Paris-Nord, and Poitiers

numerous postgraduate

training programs. Courses in

—and

home-

opathy are taught in twenty-one of France's twenty-four schools of

pharmacy, and also in two dental schools, two veterinary medical schools,

and three schools of midwivery.

Homeopathic medicines health care system.

country.

To

get a

They

good

are fully

reimbursed by the national

are sold in virtually every

sense of the degree to

pharmacy

in the

which homeopathy

has

captured the French public, one can simply take note of the fact that the most popular cold and flu medicine sold in France

pathic remedy,

which

homeopathy was primarily kept

Britain as the result of support and patronage

growing on

past decade, its

a

homeo-

has a remarkable 50 percent market share.

Earlier this century

During the

is

however,

it

own. Homeopathy

is

from the

alive in

Great

royal family.

has been living, breathing, and

the most popular postgraduate

course ot any discipline in Great Britain. There are five homeopathic hospitals

with

a

working within the National Health Service, some of them

two-year waiting

The

British physicians

Journal

is

nonemergency visits to a homeopath. homeopathy and homeopathic practice by

list

respect accorded

for

evidenced by

which showed

that

a

1986 survey

in the British Medical

42 percent of physicians referred patients

to

THE

HOMEOPATHIC RENAISSANCE

homeopathic doctors. 11 Other evidence of support from health professionals was a 1990 survey of British pharmacists which found that 55 percent considered homeopathic medicines "useful," while only 14

them

considered

percent

"useless."

12

The normally

British Pharmaceutical Association held a debate in

conservative

1992

to decide

whether pharmacists should promote homeopathic medicines. They concluded by

The

of complementary medicine has gained

entitled Complementary Medicine:

,4

tice

majority that they should. 13

"Complementary medicine tients,

fied

support

and

a recent

New

Approaches

to

Good

Prac-

Brian Mawhinney, recently stated,

Britain's health minister, Dr.

.

much

1990s. In 1993 the British Medical Association published a

in the

book

field

a large

has generally proved popular with pa-

survey found that 81 percent of patients are

satis-

with the treatment they received." 15 Another health minister

80 percent of general practitioners want training

stated that

plementary therapies; 75 percent

now refer patients

to

in

com-

complementary

therapists.

Of

special interest

showed

that over

complementary training, training.

16

was

a

survey of general practitioners which

30 percent have already received some training

therapies,

in

with 15 to 42 percent wanting further

and 80 percent of the younger physicians wanting such

17

The German people are so supportive of complementary mediGerman government mandated that all medical school curricula include information about complementary medicines. Approximately 10 percent of German doctors specialize in homeopathy, with approximately 10 percent more prescribing homeopathic remedies on occasion. In Germany there are eleven thousand natural health cine that the

practitioners, called Heilpraktiker, three

in

thousand of

whom

specialize

homeopathy. 18 Sales

of homeopathic medicines in Germany were approximately

$428 million

in 1991,

Evidence of the

munity

is

growing

at a rate

significant support

of about 10 percent per

year.

from the German medical com-

the fact that 85 percent of these sales are prescriptions from

98 percent of pharmacies

physicians. Surveys indicate that

sell

homeo-

pathic medicines.

Other European countries

in

which homeopathy has

strong presence include Switzerland, gested that tioners

and

somewhere between internists prescribe

11

where

a relatively

different surveys have sug-

and 27 percent of general

homeopathic medicines;

Italy,

practi-

where 9

37

ostoevsky

Inquisitor.

I

Ins

and comprehen

decides

who works who lives

and when, and

where, and controls innumerable other basic day-to-day decisions

in

the lives of his people. This ruler considers his job a difficult but essenresponsibility because, as

tial

he

says,

people cannot make these deci-

sions better than he can.

While we might

recognize that the government does indeed

all

have an important role in consumer protection, the American constitution acknowledges that there are certain basic rights sonal and important" to each individual and in

A

should not intervene.

which

are "per-

which the government

paternalism and a dictatorship that dis-

strict

courages and disallows safe methods like homeopathic medicines have

no place

in countries

While

it is

no evidence using

more

who

unsafe or ineffective methods than are conventional physiis

if alternative

The

a significant

body of evidence

treatments, at worst,

to suggest that

obvi-

always be effective,

by those

who

safer.

who

practice con-

practice unconventional treatments,

As Thomas Jefferson

to educate people.

it is

may not

best strategy to prevent quackery,

ventional as well as those

said in 1820, "I

is

know of no

depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people

themselves; and if we think their control

with

from them, but

to

a

them not enlightened enough to exercise discretion, the remedy is not to take it

wholesome

inform their discretion."

Surveys have shown that people

who

seek homeopathic care tend

be considerably more educated than those

this,

is

practice alternative forms of healing are

they are generally considerably

to

honored.

conventional therapies are not safe or effective, 13 and

ous that

safe

are

certainly true that quackery does exist today, there

that people

cians. In fact, there

many

where individual freedoms

no one involved

in

who do

homeopathic medicine has ever

not.

14

Despite

said that those

people

who

seek conventional medical care are not competent in

making

their

own

health care decisions.

Consumers should know

that

many

leading skeptics and skeptics'

organizations derive funding from drug manufacturers, medical device

companies, (junk) food industries, and health insurers. Dirty Medicine,

15

a

book by

some of these

investigative journalist

ties.

Martin Walker, has uncovered

71

72

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

Skeptics assert that consumers of

money on

useless cures.

homeopathy

are wasting their

Advocates of homeopathic medicines, on the

other hand, do not consider homeopathic medicines to be useless, but

even

if a specific

who

homeopathic medicine did noi work,

money on? And

decide what consumers spend their

should

considering

how

often conventional medical treatments are found to be ineffective and

dangerous, even deadly, does

this

mean

that

consumers of conven-

own

not be allowed to make their

tional medical care should

health

care decisions?

What Does It Take to Change the Mind of a Skeptic? A

double standard

exists in

medicine.

The

U.S. Congressional Office

of Technology Assessment has stated that only 10 to 20 percent of medical procedures have been proven in controlled

Contrary to popular

belief,

clinical studies.

most physicians do not use

16

specific drugs

or medical procedures because of scientific proof of their efficacy, but

because of their

own

The

the treatment.

or a colleague's positive clinical experiences with

vast majority

of surgical procedures, for instance,

have not been proven in double-blind studies, and yet few surgeons consider their

work

to

be

unscientific.

Physician and author Larry Dossey notes that physicians tend to

consider case histories in medical journals valid story

and when

sider

it

a useless

it fits

their

anecdote

Although there

is

a

homeopathic medicine larger

body of

minish

when

it

does not

fit

their medical paradigm.

(see

Chapter

evidence of

its

4)

clinical research

and there

is

fit

of the reason

their

on

a considerably

efficacy, skeptics generally di-

why some

skeptics

of the efficacy of homeopathic medicines

system does not

they like the

paradigm of medical thinking, but they con-

body of laboratory and

this material. Part

possibility ical

clinical

when

is

deny the

that this

med-

paradigm of medicine. They assume

that

the larger the dose, the larger the effect, and they ignore the growing

body of evidence

that suggests that exceedingly small doses

of certain

substances can have profound biological and clinical effects. Skeptics assert that repeated research by independent investigators

must be done. While

it is

uncertain

if this

repeated research will change

the point of view of some of the closed-minded

skeptics,

it

will

prob-

WHAT

SKEPTICS SAY

AND

HOW

ably sway the vast majority of serious scientists.

TO RESPOND TO THEM

Homeopaths

recognize that repeated research by independent investigators portant and worthy goal. However,

a

catch-22

likewise is

an mi

Numerous

exists here.

physicians and scientists have been personally and professionally

tacked simply for expressing an interest

medicine, and als

many

at

researching homeopathic

in

institutions have refused access to patients for tri-

using homeopathic remedies.

A

lack of financial resources to fund research has also limited

homeopathic

research.

facturers are large

Because some European homeopathic manu-

enough

to

fund research, there are presently many

American

research projects in development in Europe. Because most

homeopathic companies

are quite small,

and homeopathic medicines

themselves are so inexpensive (usually $3 to $8 per bottle), corporate funds available for research in America are limited.

The

U.S. National Institutes of Health has finally developed an

Office of Alternative Medicine, for

which

it

was

$5 million

is

amount

small

given $2

initially

million and in 1995 $5 million to fund research in the

However,

field.

but a homeopathic dose of money, especially

when

this

has to be spread across the very broad area of alternative

medicine. After this small

amount was granted

for research

on

medicine, several leading skeptics went on record calling

money and

among

of mind and have no place

state

alternative a

waste of

money withdrawn. These

ef-

thwart research epitomize an emotional rather than rational

forts to

those truly interested in scien-

inquiry.

tific

It

mind at

actively lobbied to have the

it

should be noted that research alone

is

not enough to change the

or practice of skeptical physicians. Dr. David Reilly, a professor

the University of Glasgow, surveyed physicians and medical students

and asked them what kind of validation was necessary before they

would accept an

Ranked almost and

that

opathy

who

alternative

therapy

as

useful

own

for

their

patients.

clinical

experiences

of their colleagues. 17 Perhaps one of the reasons

why home-

is

as

high

so popular in

as

research was their

Europe

are actively sharing their

another has

hit a critical mass.

is

because the

number of

physicians

knowledge and experience with one

71

74

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

The Changing Face of Medicine One must

should be considered

realize that science

as

verbs,

not

nouns. Medicine and science are ever changing, ever evolving, and (hopefully) ever improving

upon

themselves.

What

is

medicine today may be tomorrow's quackery, and what quackery today tion; this

to learn

is

may be tomorrow's

orthodoxy. This

the natural evolution of medicine.

It is

which presently emerging unconventional

able contributions to the science

and

art

is

conventional is

considered

not a predic-

thus our job to try therapies are valu-

of healing, and which are not.

Homeopathy founder, Samuel Hahnemann, is buried in the famous Paris cemetery Pere-Lachaise, where on his tombstone are the Latin words "Aude sapere. " These words mean "dare to taste, to under's

stand." This

was Hahnemann's challenge to

his fellow doctors

everyone. Dare to try homeopathy, experience yourself. This

thy or not.

is

a

worthy

goal,

whether one

is

it,

and

and then decide

skeptical

to

for

of homeopa-

S

I

X

The Interface Between

Homeopathy and Conventional Medicine

The American

health care system

is

presently sick.

It

is

not even

a

"system," but rather an unintegrated, uncoordinated conglomeration

of services, and one can equally argue that care,

not health

An United

reform health care

However,

changing

how

it

is

is

efforts

initial

tended to be limited to changing nificantly

services provide disease

care.

effort to States.

its

how

presently under at

way

in the

health care reform have

health care

is

actually practiced.

financed, not sig-

Until and unless

health care reform includes homeopathic and other natural medical

treatments as an integral part of primary care and also encourages significantly increased self-care, the

American health

care system will

continue to provide expensive, inadequately effective disease Ideally,

medicine of the twenty-first century

tion of high-tech

will

care.

be an integra-

and "high-natural" medicine. The high-tech

medicine will focus on the diagnosis and treatment of problems cific

side

of

in spe-

physiochemical structures of the body and will be particularly

ef-

75

76

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

fective in

emergency

vanced stages of

care

illness.

in

measures

to various therapeutic ual ly applied,

and

providing care to people in the ad-

In comparison, high-natural medicine refers

when

that,

systematically

and individ-

augment immune response and stimulate the inherent

healing capacities of an individual. Such therapies are particularly effective in treating chronic illnesses

because of the

ing methods to strengthen the body's therapies are considerably safer gies,

it

makes sense

and

for high-natural

own

ability

defenses.

less costly

methods

of these heal-

And because

these

than high-tech strate-

to be utilized as the

first

treatment of choice in primary care.

When

a truly

comprehensive medical system integrates these two

important approaches to healing, a more effective and more costeffective health care

of medicine

system will be created. This collaborative model

will utilize

and

normally disparate healing methods, including:

acupuncture

•

laser surgery

•

low doses of electrical currents and the laying on of hands

laser

to stimulate healing •

elaborate diagnostic

•

antioxidant

equipment and

multivitamins

and

intuitive assessment

antioxidant

botanical

remedies •

sophisticated intravenous feeding

equipment and

fresh,

nutrient-rich foods served in hospitals •

genetically engineered drugs

and homeopathic medicines

Despite the unquestionable progress that conventional medicine has

made

in the past century, despite the regular airing

of major break-

throughs in the treatment of one disease or another, and despite the sophisticated diagnostic capabilities that are presently available,

must admit

that there are

major gaps of knowledge and

tiveness in the conventional treatment

we

clinical effec-

of common acute, chronic, and

genetic disorders.

There

are also limits to

the difference

is

that

what homeopathic medicine

offers,

people involved in homeopathy tend to

but

know

and respect the benefits of conventional medicine, while those involved in conventional medicine remain unaware of and sometimes even antagonistic to homeopathy.

BETWEEN HOMEOPATHY AND CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

THE INTERFACE

People

do

who

seek out homeopathic and other natural health care

not necessarily turn their backs

haw shown

two

that

on conventional medicine. Surveys

of the people

thirds

who

utilized alternative

treatments had previously received conventional medical treatment for their conditions,

though they experienced

Over 20 percent reported seeing cently as

two weeks before the

little

their conventional physician

survey,

An

Integrative Medicine

integrative approach in

result.

re-

.is

and 18 percent were using con-

ventional and alternative treatment concurrently.

When

or no positive

1

Is

Possible

which conventional treatments and homeo-

pathic medicines are used can be highly beneficial in the treatment of

numerous conditions. Childbirth presents

There

opportunities for integrative medicine.

numerous homeopathic remedies

are

cations of pregnancy

vention

many

necessary,

is

and

whether

that can prevent compli-

and when some type of medical

labor,

inter-

be cesarean section, episiotomy, or any

it

other emergency procedure, there are homeopathic medicines that

can aid in the healing from these interventions.

While the use of homeopathic medicines can sometimes prevent the need for surgery,

times necessary.

homeopaths acknowledge

When

surgery

is

that surgery

is

medically indicated, using

some-

homeo-

pathic medicines before, during, and after the procedure can help the

more

patient recover

One

classic

rapidly.

example of the successful integration of conventional

and homeopathic treatment was demonstrated Nicaraguan children suffering from diarrhea 2

in

the

children were given oral rehydration therapy, a special

which keeps children from dying by helping them

salt

solution

retain water, but

does not cure the underlying infection of which the diarrhea

symptom. The study showed

on

study

page 47). The

(see

that the administration

is

a

of individually

chosen homeopathic medicines sped up the underlying healing process.

Some

areas in

which homeopathic and conventional

therapies can

be integrated have great potential but have not yet been adequately tested. Specifically,

some homeopaths claim

that homeopathically pre-

pared doses of chemotherapeutic drugs can reduce the side

effects

of

77

78

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

these drugs. Also, at least

and 200x and Ginseng radiation,

3

two

studies in rats have

6x, 3 Ox,

shown

that

and 200x can reduce the

Ruta 30x

side effects

of

way

to

suggesting that these remedies should be tested as a

reduce the problems associated with radiation treatment in cancer

Some homeopaths

patients.

before and after getting

One

recommend

also

the use of X-ray

of the more obvious ways that conventional and homeo-

pathic approaches are already being integrated

Homeopaths

sis.

diagnose

a person's

disease,

though

of diagno-

their totality

is

based on

which

a

of symptoms. Homeopathy

when

methods

first

the physician and the

and when there

medicines for the patient's unique ailment. Also, the

pathic approach subtle

in the field

their treatment

particularly useful after diagnosis

patient wish to seek safer, natural

known

is

presently use conventional medical technologies to

homeopathic assessment of

may be

30 just

X rays.

utilizes the totality

are

no

homeo-

of symptoms, including

symptoms, helps to prevent more serious conditions from de-

veloping in the future.

An integrative

A

approach can be helpful in the treatment of asthma.

study published in the Lancet

showed

that conventional allergy test-

ing was useful in selecting a homeopathic medicine that provided benefit

4

(see

page 46). Researchers used conventional allergy testing to

determine what substance people with asthma were most

They then gave

this

allergic to.

substance in homeopathic doses to the subjects,

and these subjects had

significantly

those subjects given a placebo.

The

fewer symptoms of asthma than researchers called this approach

"homeopathic immunotherapy."

An

integrative approach

medicines are used

first,

may sometimes mean

and then, only

conventional therapies be used.

and

is

The

if they

were

homeopathic

ineffective,

reverse approach

more common; most people have

presently

that

is

already used

many

now

seek-

conventional treatments without adequate success and are ing homeopathic care for their conditions. As people ingly familiar with homeopathy, natural

and

safer

it

is

would

also possible

become

increas-

likely that they will use these

medicines prior to the more risky therapeutic inter-

ventions offered by conventional physicians. Part ot the trick to

treatments

work

is

making

either

homeopathic or conventional

to seek the care of well-trained professionals

and

to

give their treatments reasonable time to act.

Sometimes

a

person

is

in severe pain,

and while

it

may be

possible

BETWEEN HOMEOPATHY AND CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

THE INTERFACE

to find the correct

homeopathic remedy, he or she wants

higher

a

gree of certainty that relief will be rapid. In such instances, sense to use conventional medicines

pathic medicines are

.it

least

temporarily, while

de-

makes

it

homeo-

recommended after the acute crisis is diminished may receive both homeopathic and con-

or over. Sometimes a person

ventional medical care for a chronic ailment and not experience any relief After six

months of ineffective treatment,

it

may be

necessary to

homeopath or conventional seek another form of alternative care.

get another opinion from another cian, or perhaps to

Homeopaths commonly

physi-

refer patients to various conventional

when they feel a specific diagnosis and/or treatment is important. And yet there are relatively few referrals to homeopaths from conventional physicians. Considering how many patients do not respecialists

ceive appropriate diagnoses or effective treatments for their ailments despite long-term conventional care,

more

referrals to

homeopaths.

erative relationship is

A

it is

unfortunate that there aren't

more coop-

significant obstacle to a

between homeopathic and conventional physicians

conventional physicians' lack of knowledge of homeopathy.

When

Integrative Medicine Isn't Possible

Although the concept of integrative medicine makes not have

a Pollyannish

one should

sense,

viewpoint about the subject.

not always

It is

easy or therapeutically effective to use homeopathic and conventional therapies concurrently or even in sequence.

Certain powerful conventional interventions, such

as

steroidal

medications, are immunosuppressive, and while they provide valuable

short-term relief of symptoms, over time they tend to weaken im-

mune competence and

reduce the

possibilities

of creating

significant

improvement through homeopathic treatment.

health

Other conventional medications may be ing a person's for the

symptoms

homeopath

instances, patients

that they

so effective in suppress-

mask them, making

it

very difficult

to find the correct individualized remedy. In such

must decide which treatment they prefer

with and which they would

like to

to start

consider secondarily. Physicians

should not be the decision makers here, but instead should inform patients

of the

risks

and benefits associated with either decision.

79

80

INTRODUCTION TO HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

The Demand for Alternative/ Complementary Health Care The

increasing

to question

demand

for alternative

medicine has led some people

whether the word "alternative"

is

appropriate. As noted,

Prince Charles popularized the term "complementary medicine" less

offensive description

and one

should be an integral part of health

Even the conservative

British

that suggests that these therapies care.

Medical Association has openly ac-

knowledged the growing importance of alternative

book Complementary

publication of their

Good

as a

Medicine:

therapies with the

New

Approaches

to

This book notes that one of the primary reasons for the

Practice.

current upsurge of "official" interest in unconventional medicine the rapidly increasing

number of people who

are seeking help

is

from

such practitioners. This growing popularity has prompted the Council

of Europe to

state: "It is

medical side-issue.

It

not possible to consider

must

reflect a

this

phenomenon

genuine public need which

as a

in

is

urgent need of definition and analysis." 5

The

British health minister, Dr. Brian

Mawhinney,

plementary medicine has generally proved popular with

said,

"Com-

patients,

and

a

recent survey found that 81 percent of patients are satisfied with the

treatment they received." 6 American and British citizens are walking

with their feet and their wallets. They are seeking the care of unconventional practitioners, and their interest these services even

is

so significant that they seek

though they often have

of their

to pay out

own

pocket rather than rely on government or insurance reimbursement. In April 1994, the

Committee on

the Environment, Public Health,

and Consumer Protection of the European Parliament adopted posal

on complementary medicine which

complementary therapies within

a

pro-

called for incorporation

of

social security systems, integration

of

complementary medicines within the European pharmacopeia, and an end to prosecutions against non-medically-qualified practitioners until a

pan-European regulatory system

is

established.

The European

Parliament also voted for a $7.5-million-per-year budget for funding research projects in

pathic dose of

money

is

not adequate to investigate the

tant issues in the broad field

and hopefully

homeomany impor-

complementary medicine. Although

will generate

this

of complementary medicine,

more

it is

a start,

significant support in the near future.

A New England Journal of Medicine study showed that 34 percent of Americans

utilized

one or more

alternative therapies in the year

1990

BETWEEN HOMEOPATHY AND CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

THE INTERFACE

alone.

7

One

important but little-known

cated that 70 percent of people

not

their physicians

tell

public

know

is

about

it.

from

statistic

this

study indi

who

used alternative treatments did

This

fact suggests

tli.it

Aim

the

i

i