Editor's note: Alternatives to modern Western medicine exist that are effective and safe. Homeopathy, used by millions worldwide but without enormous advertising budgets to make itself well known, is one of those and is based on its own unique, valid, and scientific principles.
When I walked into the office of Raymond Seidel, MD, in 1972, I never thought that it would change my life. I was new in Philadelphia and looking for a doctor. Someone sent me to Dr. Seidel. During the next eight years, I found that the old doctor changed my health dramatically. By the time he passed away in 1980, I had found homeopathy and the way to take charge of my own health. I also had discovered a philosophy that fascinated me and a colorful history filled with amazing people.
Homeopathy is a system that attempts to stimulate the body to heal itself. I realized that all symptoms, no matter how uncomfortable they are, represent the body's attempt to restore itself to health. So instead of trying to dry up the runny nose from a cold with antihistamines, a homeopath will use a remedy that will stimulate the body to move in the direction it is already going, and, in the process, clear the runny nose!
It is a system that looks at individuals and not at diseases. Each of us suffers a cold in his or her unique way. Yet conventional medicine makes the assumption that all colds are alike and offers a common series of drugs something to dry the nose, something to bring down the fever, something to suppress the cough, something to ease the headache. Homeopathy, on the other hand, looks for the one substance that will cure the individual case. The person with a beginning cold, characterized by slow onset, aching, loss of appetite, chills, and a desire to be left alone will need a different remedy than the person whose cold comes on a bit quicker and is characterized by intense sneezing, a runny nose that burns the upper lip, a desire for hot drinks, a bone chilling coldness, and a desire not to be left alone. We characterize both as colds, but they are expressed differently, and, therefore, are in need of different homeopathic remedies.
I had found a system of medicine that was gentle, safe, and effective.
When I assumed the editorship of Homeopathy Today in 1984, our monthly newsletter consisted of six pages. Today we have a 40-page monthly magazine filled with stories about homeopathy the remedies, how they are used, from where they come, stories from our members about successful (and unsuccessful) treatment, historical tidbits, photos of homeopathic personages, reviews of homeopathic books, news of conferences, news of the pharmacies, questions and answers, and much more.
Through the National Center for Homeopathy and Homeopathy Today you can keep in touch with the most recent developments concerning this unique medical system. Come join us! It's worth it!
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a system of medicine that is based on the Law of Similars. The truth of this law has been verified experimentally and clinically for the last 200 years.
Let's look at an example: If your child accidentally ingests certain poisons, you may be advised to administer Syrup of Ipecac to induce vomiting. Ipecac is derived from the root of a South American plant called Ipecacuanha. The name, in the native language, means "the plant by the road which makes you throw up." Eating the plant causes vomiting.
When a group of healthy volunteers took this substance to determine the effects of this drug, they found that the drug induced other symptoms as well. The mouth retained much saliva. The tongue was very clean. There was a cough so severe that it led to gagging and vomiting. There was incessant nausea. While it is expected that vomiting would usually relieve the nausea, this was not the case.
Such an experiment, using healthy volunteers, is called a proving, and it is the homeopath's source of information about the action of a drug.
Of what use could this plant be? If a person were suffering from a gagging cough after a cold, or a woman were experiencing morning sickness with incessant nausea that is not relieved by vomiting, then Ipecacuanha, administered in a minute dose, especially prepared by a homeopathic pharmacy in accordance with FDA approved guidelines, can allay the "similar" suffering.
Samuel Hahnemann described this principle by using a Latin phrase: Similia Similibus Curentur, which translates: "Let likes cure likes." It is a principle that has been known for centuries. Hahnemann developed the principle into a system of medicine called homeopathy, and it has been used successfully for the last 200 years.
