Questions about Homeopathy

H Homoeopathy is a natural method of treatment, aimed at curing the suffering of the patient through a medicine that possesses the power of producing a similar artificial suffering in the healthy human beings. It is based on the natural law of healing 'Similia Similibus Curentur', which means 'let likes be treated by likes'. As per this law, a disease of a sick person can be cured by a substance that has the ability to produce similar symptoms as of that disease in a healthy human being. This method of treatment has been contributing towards the curative, preventive and promotive health care of the patients since long.

The pace of action of homoeopathic medicines depends upon many factors, like:

• If the disease is of recent origin like acute cases of infections, fever, cold, etc., the cure is achieved within a short period, provided the selection of the homoeopathic medicines is correct.
• In the long standing cases, it takes more time to achieve complete cure. Most people take recourse to Homoeopathy in chronic conditions, e.g.,arthritis, asthma, psoriasis, eczema, etc., which take a long time to treat with any system of medicine.
• Homoeopathic medicine, if correctly chosen, will never relieve the problem temporarily, rather it will eradicate the disease permanently and completely, for which it is quite natural that more time may be required.

• Homoeopathic medicines are initially prepared in dilution.
• The sugar of milk (powder) and the pills are the media for dispensing the homoeopathic medicines by putting a few drops of the medicine in them.
• These pills are only the vehicles to carry the actual medicine.
• Even though the contents (pills or powder) of different phials look alike, the medicines in those phials vary from one another.

• Firstly, if the patient has taken non-homoeopathic medicines (prior to the administration of homoeopathic medicines), then those medicines might have suppressed the ailments. After application of homoeopathic medicines, some of those suppressed complaints may reappear. In such case, the patient blames homoeopathy for such aggravation, which is not a fact.
• Secondly, when the homoeopathic medicine, rightly chosen for a patient,is employed in slightly higher potency (than required), there may occur a transient intensification of the existing symptoms of the patient (homoeopathic aggravation). But this aggravated conditions, however, is mild and does not persist for a long time, and is followed by cure.

• It is not true. Onion, garlic, tea, coffee, paan, alcohol, tobacco, perfumes etc., will not negate the effects of all homoeopathic medicines.
• As per literature, there are certain substances which interfere with the action of a few homoeopathic medicines. For example, tea and raw onion diminish the action of a homoeopathic drug, Thuja occ. and use of camphor is contra-indicated while using most of the homoeopathic medicines.
• Those substances which have neutralizing effects on the specific homoeopathic medicines should preferably be avoided while using those medicines.
• It is an established fact that the homoeopathic medicines act better in persons who are not addicted to habits like smoking, drinking or tobaccoo-chewing.
• Homoepathic medicines should be taken on clean tongue and intake of any strong-smelling substances should not be taken within half an hour before and after the administration of medicine.

• Yes, Diabetics can take these pills since the amount of sugar in the homoeopathically medicated globules is negligible.
• In severely affected diabetics, or for a long homoeopathic treatment of diabetes, the homoeopathic medicines can be given in distilled water also.

• Nothing of medicinal nature is permissible while taking homoeopathic medicines. But in many cases, it is observed that certain patients after continuing allopathic medicines for a long time, become drug dependent. When they give up those medicines abruptly and resort to homoeopathic medicines alone, there are chances of adverse reactions. This happens usually in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bronchial asthma, epilepsy, etc.,
• Instead of withdrawing the allopathic medicines suddenly, the doses of allopathic or any other medicine can be gradually tapered, along with appropriate administration of homoeopathic medicines. In doing so, the treatment of the patient may eventually be limited to homoeopathic medicines alone ultimately.

• If a patient on homoeopathic treatment develops certain emergency condition which warrants immediate attention and is not controllable by the homoeopathic medicines, then he can take allopathic medicines.
• Once such emergency situation is controlled, he can resume homoeopathic treatment.

• Like any other systems of medicines, homoeopathy has its own scopes and limitations. With homoeopathy, any ailment, acute or chronic, local or general, can be treated except diseases where surgery is absolutely necessary.
• However, there are many pseudo-surgical diseases which can be treated with homoeoathy, like enlarged tonsils, nasal polyps, kidney stones, warts, piles, anal fissure and fistula, tumors of uterus, ovary, breast etc.

• Homoeopathic medicines have no adverse side effects. The term 'side effects' of a medicine relates to modern pharmacology, where the drugs aim at certain target organ or system. Though they have a primary area of action, they may adversely affect other areas of the body. If these others effects are undesirable, they are known as adverse side effects. For example Streptomycin, an excellent anti tubercular grug, has been known to cause deafness. Here deafness is an adverse side effect of Streptomycin.
• Homoeopathic medicines are not employed against one particular area or organ or system of the body. These are chosen on the basis of the totality of symtomps of the patient and so target the patient as a whole. Therefore, no adverse side effects occur under homoeopathic treatment.

• There are no expiry dates for homoeopathic medicines, yet the medicated globules may be rejected when the color changes. If the medicines is in liquid form, then a change in its color or appearance of some sediments in the liquid would mean it is time for discarding the medicine.
• Freshly medicated homoeopathic pills may have smell of alcohol which gradually diminishes with passage of time. But some patients attribute it to be diminution of their efficacy and do not like to continue those odourless or dried pills. This is a wrong notion, because the quality of the medicines remains unaltered in the pills, even if the alcohol content evaporates.
• It is advisable to store the homoeopathic medicines in a cool dry place and away from direct sunlight to keep them from perishing from heat etc., Also, the medicines should be kept away from the strong smelling substances like perfumes, onion, garlic etc.,

• Being palatable, the patients of all age groups, ranging from infants to the very old can be given these medicines.
• Homoeopathic medicines have no side effects.
• They are cost effective and can be afforded by the poorest of poor.
• Administration of medicine is very simple.
• Medicines can be selected on the basis of symptoms and signs of the patient alone, without waiting for the results of the laboratory investigations.
• Homoeopathic medicines are proved on healthy human beings, prior to their applcation of patients, hence are safe.

Homoeopathy has a limited scope in the following cases :

• Cases with irreversible or advanced organic changes, eg., complete optic atrophy, advanced pulmonary tuberculosis etc.,
• Artificial chronic diseases resulting from long continued use of large or heavy doses of allopathic medicines.
• Where the patient is lacking a vital organ, e.g., in a patient whose spleen has been removed, homoeopathy can palliate the suffering from time to time, but cannot completely cure.
• In case where surgery is unavoidable, e.g., congenital defects such as cleft palate, mitral stenosis etc.,

• Although homoeopathic medicines are prescribed on the basis of symptoms of the patient, laboratory investigations are essential for the purpose of diagnosis of disease, general management of the cases, viz. restricting sugar intake in case of diabetes; avoiding fat rich diet like butter, ghee and mutton in case of hypertension; use of collar in cervical spondylosis; change of lifestyle in diabetes mellitus, etc.
• The future course of the disease (prognosis) can also be determined by correct laboratory tests.
• In certain cases, the laboratory investigations are also helpful in selection of the medicines, e.g., worm infestations, kidney or gall bladder stone, etc.

• There is absolutely no age limit for taking wise decision. The same goes for taking your first step towards homoeopathy, No matter the age or past medical record, homoeopathy has got something to offer to every human being. See your nearest qualified homoeopathic doctor today and know more about this wonderful medical science!