What is Homoeopathy?
Homoeopathy is based on natural law ‘similia similibus curentur’ which means let like be cured by like. According to this law, a disease in a sick person can be cured by a substance that, when given to a healthy human being, produces symptoms similar to those of the disease.
The homoeopathic system has long been practised in India and around the world by thousands of practitioners. Its popularity has soared due to its safe, gentle, and effective way of healing patients. Despite this, many people doubt and are sceptical of this system of medicine. I aim to clarify these doubts about Homoeopathy. Homoeopathy is based on experiments and clinical data. Homoeopathic medicines are extensively studied in single-and double-anonymised trials for their efficacy in various clinical conditions. The research is conducted in accordance with international standards.
Is Homoeopathy slow-acting?
The pace of Homoeopathic medicines depends on many factors, such as the duration of the disease and whether it is acute (for example, fever) or chronic (such as arthritis or asthma). In the case of chronic diseases, medicine takes a longer time to achieve a cure due to the nature of the disease. Most people take recourse to Homoeopathy only after trying other systems of medicine, which causes a delay in the cure of the disease. In the case of acute diseases, a cure can be achieved quickly, particularly when an accurately selected medicine is administered.
Does Homoeopathy aggravate the symptoms?
The answer is a firm ‘no’. In most cases, it does not happen.
However, in some cases, symptoms tend to worsen initially. It may be due to administering a slightly higher potency than required to achieve the desired relief. This causes transient intensification of the existing symptoms. Typically, such aggravation is mild and brief.
Can people with diabetes take Homoeopathic pills?
Yes, people with diabetes can take these pills as they do not cause a spike in blood sugar level. Additionally, Homoeopathic medicines can be administered as a dilution, also known as the liquid form. Thus, eliminating the sweet pills.
Can one take Homoeopathy with other medicines in emergencies?
If a patient on Homoeopathic treatment develops any emergency condition that Homoeopathic medicines cannot treat, then they must choose a different therapy, for instance, allopathy. It is advisable in such situations to disclose to both the physicians — the Homoeopathic and the allopathic — that you are taking other types of medicines.
What are the limitations of Homoeopathy?
Just like any other system of medicine, Homoeopathy has its own scope and limitations.
A physician can treat any acute or chronic disease with Homoeopathy.
When surgery is necessary, they must be referred to a surgeon. Diseases that fall under the category of medicine, as well as certain surgical conditions such as enlarged tonsils, nasal polyps, kidney stones, anal fissures, piles, and others, can be treated by Homoeopathy.
What is the expiry date of a Homoeopathic medicine?
Homoeopathic medicines, which are in the form of globules, can be used if the globules have not changed colour from white to yellow. If the medicine is in liquid form, changes in colour or sediment formation can be used as criteria to reject it and consider it expired.
On the purchase of medicated globules from the pharmacy, they have a smell of alcohol as they are freshly medicated. This smell diminishes over time, but it does not affect the efficacy of the medicated globules.
Store the Homoeopathic medicines in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
What are the advantages of Homoeopathic medicines?
Research conducted before bringing out a Homoeopathic medicine for public use is conducted on humans, not animals. Hence, they are safe for human use.
These medicines are easy to administer, palatable, and can therefore be used by all age groups. Additionally, these medicines are cost-effective.
Do homoeopaths advise laboratory investigations?
The criteria for prescribing Homoeopathic medicines are symptom similarity. However, laboratory investigations are necessary for diagnosing the disease and managing the patient’s overall condition.
For example, upon diagnosis of diabetes, appropriate diet and lifestyle changes can be implemented to effectively manage the patient.
The prognosis and the treatment plan can also be determined and fine-tuned after the investigations.
