What is a homeopath?

Homeopathic medicine is an effective medicine of plant, mineral, and animal sources recognized by the FDA as safe.  It can be used on infants, children, adults, and the elderly without concern for toxicity.  Homeopathic medicine is dilute, and a mechanical force is applied to it.  Through this effect the substances used act deeply.  It provides a stimulus, very much like a catalyst, to your body’s natural healing force, called the “vital force.”  This stimulus does not overpower the body in getting rid of disease, which would require continual re-taking of the medicine, but instead it is a push to get your body to do the healing, thereby requiring the patient to take the medicine when their vital force tires of the stimulus.  In this way, the medicine is only dispensed when needed, when the vital force needs more momentum.  The homeopathic goal for healing is to create more momentum–and thereby to help the body have more ability to overcome illness.  The more momentum a person has, the better his or her health.

Homeopathy was founded on the principle that Hippocrates (the father of medicine) discovered: Like Cures Like.  During the 18th century Samuel Hahnemann used this principle to establish this medical art and science, which is now called homeopathy (homeo- same; pathy- suffering).  Its other main principle is dilution.  Through years of research, called “provings,” and clinical experience it has been found that dilute substances can act as a stimulus to the body’s defense mechanism, which homeopaths call the body’s natural healing force (the vital force).

 Homeopathy is a holistic approach to health; knowing the whole person is central to finding both the cause of illness as well as finding their “similimum,”–that is, the substance in dilute form that cures the illness it causes in higher strength (“Like Cures Like”).  Toward this goal a thorough case-taking procedure is essential and requires a unique relationship between doctor and patient.  A homeopathic practitioner must have an astute understanding of human nature and must be able to recognize obstructions to health.

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