Classical homeopathy is based on the belief that disease can be cured by strengthening the body’s defence mechanism with substances carefully selected for their energy-giving properties.
Disease and the body’s defence mechanism originate on the dynamic plane, and homeopathic medicine directs itself to this plane, aiming to change the imbalance in the body’s energy levels which are perched at the root of disease.
Classical homeopathy was founded over 200 years ago, by Dr Samuel Hahnemann, MD. It is a scientific approach to the treatment of illness. It promulgates the ‘Law of Similars,’ the idea that ‘likes cure likes.’ According to this doctrine, a substance that can produce symptoms in a healthy person, cures, likewise, those same symptoms in a sick individual. In order to do this, Classical homeopathy matches the symptom-picture produced by an ill-patient to the symptom-picture of a homeopathic remedy that has been determined through controlled and extensive ‘provings’ on healthy human subjects.
The approach of homeopathy, therefore, is contrary to that of allopathic, or conventional, modern medicine which works through opposites and suppresses symptoms.
Symptoms Hold The Key
Contrary in another way to modern medicine, classical homeopathy does not diagnose these outward, or presenting, symptoms as the actual disease, but sees symptoms as the attempt of the body’s vital force, or guiding, energy to make its imbalance known.
In a healthy person, the vital force maintains normal growth and co-ordination of all organic functions. If this force is disturbed by things, such as injuries, exposure, climatic conditions, violent emotions, dietary indiscretions, etc., the organism becomes imbalanced and sickness, or disharmony, of function results. This disharmony is manifest through symptoms which are simply deviations from the normal.
The classical homeopath interprets the ‘totality’ of these symptoms — the physical, emotional/psychic and mental/spiritual symptoms of an individual taken together and selects the remedy most similar to the imbalance in order to address and cure the underlying cause.
Classical homeopathy follows the law of the single remedy, i.e., one remedy being prescribed at any given time. It differs in this respect from the pluralist homeopathic system, which prescribes a combination of remedies, thereby losing the purity and scientific basis of the original teachings of Dr Hahnemann.
Dr Hahnemann found that an extremely small dose of a remedy prescribed according to the ‘Law of Similars’ produced better results than larger doses and that, in fact, larger doses aggravated the sickness. He discovered that incredibly small doses are sufficient for curative purposes. Homeopathic remedies are, therefore, highly-diluted [and, accordingly, non-toxic] substances meticulously prepared conforming to the guidelines set out in Dr Hahnemann’s Organon of Medicine — long considered as the obligatory work of reference for homeopathy, its principles and practice.
No Conflict Medicine
Classical homeopathy does not conflict with surgery, physical, or manual therapy, or suggestion. However, homeopathic prescribing is supreme in the field of medicine. Homeopathy does not correct mechanical conditions, but can assist other forms of treatment used to address these problems.
Be prepared to answer numerous questions during your homeopathic consultation. Your homeopath will be interested in knowing everything about your immediate condition, as well as your likes and dislikes with respect to food, weather, etc. They will also ask about your family history, fears, emotions, personality and idiosyncrasies and the factors and conditions that make you feel better, or worse.
The initial consultation in classical homeopathy takes approximately one-and-a-half hours. Follow-up appointments are scheduled 4-6 weeks apart and are usually 30 minutes to one-hour long.
Choose your classical homeopath carefully. Classical homeopathy is pure science; also art. Remember, your classical homeopath should be thoroughly trained and practice homeopathy exclusively.
Remember too that classical homeopathy is a specialised form of treatment.
TAGS: Classical homeopathy, Law of Similars, totality of symptoms, emotions, Dr Hahnemann, disease, sickness, illness, provings.
