It seems like not many people in the Washington, D.C. area are familiar with naturopathic medicine however many more are familiar with the term homeopathic medicine.
When I tell people that I am a naturopathic doctor many people turn to me and say, "Oh, so you are a homeopath or homeopathic doctor." I am always surprised that people know the term homeopathy.
I do use homeopathy as one of many tools to treat patients in my practice. I often ask the person what does the word "homeopathy" mean to them?
They usually give me an answer about practicing natural medicine or natural living. While that definition is technically true because homeopathic remedies are based on plant, mineral or animal sources, it is not really a good definition.
Homeopathy is actually a very specific system that requires a very well-trained practitioner and very lengthy visits to get the correct remedy for a patient’s health challenge. Homeopathy can treat physical, mental or emotional issues if administered correctly to the patient. If the incorrect remedy is administered the person will not notice any affect.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine the term homeopathy comes from the Greek words "homeo", meaning "similar", and "pathos", meaning "suffering" or "disease". So the definition of homeopathy means to stimulate the body's ability to heal itself by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances, known as homeopathic remedies.
The system of homeopathy was developed by Dr. Samuel Christian Hahnemann at the end of the 18th century in Germany. Hahnemann based homeopathy on two basic principles: the Law of Similars and Law of the Minimum Dose.
The Law of Similars posits that disease states can be cured in a sick person by substances that create the symptoms of the disease in a health person.
The Law of the Minimum Dose states that the lower the dose, the more effective the therapy, because a small dose will stimulate the body's innate ability to heal itself. When treating a patient it is important to find the correct homeopathic remedy that will has all of the symptoms similar to the disease and give it to the patient in small doses to help the person to become more healthy.
The controversy surrounding homeopathy and homeopathic remedies relating to its effectiveness as a form of treatment for health conditions revolves around testing it using the scientific method. Since homeopathic remedies are diluted to minute substances that are considered inert, there is not enough active substance to medically test.
The second problem with testing is that the treatment is highly individualized that people with the same disease process will be given different homeopathic remedies because their personality, dreams, and physical symptoms are all included in the choice of which remedy to give each patient.
I have the utmost respect for science and the scientific method however I also think that clinical, observational, and anecdotal research can have powerful results as well. So homeopathic should not be disregarded because of lack of scientific research.
In my next blog I will explain how homeopathic remedies are made and what are the regulations related to homeopathic remedies and homeopathic practitioners.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.healthydaes.com
Sources:
"Definition of Homeopathy." MedicineNet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2011. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3775
"Homeopathy: An Introduction [NCCAM Backgrounder]." National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [NCCAM] - nccam.nih.gov Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2011.
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy
Dr. Dae's Bio:
“Dr. Dae" (pronounced Dr. Day) Daemon Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who treats the whole person using safe and effective combinations of traditional and natural methods to produce optimal health and well-being in the lives of her patients.
Reviewed December 23, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith