32

Chapter 3:
Details of The Homeopathic Philosophy and
Proving
CHAPTER 3
Details Of The Homoeopathic Philosophy And Proving
Abstract: The philosophy of the elements of homeopathic treatments will be detailed in this chapter.
These elements are ; disease and totality of symptoms, proving of the artificial disease produced by
remedy, the required similarity between the artificial disease produced by the remedy and the totality of
the symptoms on the patient and the laws and concepts that should be employed in case taking and
applying remedy. In addition, closely related types of remedies such as ach!s and iochemical
remedies will be also outlined.
"hile it is true that homeopaths presently do not know precisely how the homeopathic micro
doses work and skeptic views from modern pharmacologists; some compelling theories about their
mechanism of action and evidence that supports efficacy are detailed in this chapter. #urthermore, a
review of small body of clinical and cost effectiveness research is given to answer the questions of
skeptics! views about the efficacy and safety of the homeopathic micro doses. #inally, more research is
needed to help homeopaths to optimi$e the homeopathic health care systems and managements. %uch
system will reduce cost of doctors! visits and hospitali$ation.
3.1. Disease and ymptoms
1
&ahnemann stressed that a disease can only be recogni$ed by its perceptible signs or symptoms.
#urthermore, he believed that it!s the totality of these symptoms to which the physician must address
himself.
'isease (from the #rench word )disaise! in this conte*t may be defined as an abnormal condition,
constituting a deviation from a sound state of health, characteri$ed by disturbance, derangement or
impairment of functions of the body or mind. Thus, a specific disease e*hibits characteristic symptoms,
which may be accompanied by the presence of specific parasitic organisms in the blood or tissues.
%ymptom (from the +reek, !sumptoma)meaning chance or casualty, is defined as a predictable change
or sign, in all organs or organic function due to, and indicating, the presence of disease.
)- single symptom is no more the whole disease than a single foot of a man! (.rganon, para
/,.!.rthodo* medicine attempts to suppress only one of many symptoms that diseases present, not only
that, they could also be the cause of other appearing symptoms (side effects,, and so it!s a short sighted
method, which does much harm. The totality of symptoms, the outer image e*pressing the inner essence
of disease must be the main event, which only means by which disease allows us to find the necessary
remedy. In every individual case of disease, the totality of symptoms must be the main physician!s
principal concern!.
To illustrate the suppressive nature of conventional or orthodo* treatment, let us consider
Inflammation, which is an essential part of the body!s natural immune response to in0ury or infection.
The pain of inflammation is due to the stimulation of the nerve endings by the inflammatory chemicals 1
2
3*tracted from http455www.ecn.c$5alternativa5book5hocu23.htm
33
histamine and others6which are released. These chemicals increase the blood flow to the damaged tissue
and cause an accumulation of white blood cells .the white blood cells destroy the invading micro6
organisms and are involved in repairing damaged tissue. Thus, by taking conventional drugs to suppress
inflammation, like corticosteroids drugs or 7%-I's, the body!s natural immune response will be
hindered.
-s stated in the .rganon (para. 8,; 9we can categorically declare that the totality of symptoms
and the circumstances observed in each individual case is the one and only indication that can guide us
to the choice of remedy!.
#actors that cause and sustain disease are important to the homoeopathic physician; since
permanent elimination of a headache is only clarified if the cause of the headache can be determined e.g.
a headache caused by a blow to the head is treated differently than a headache caused by stress. This was
also clearly stated in the .rganon in para.: as follows; 9It will help the physician to bring about a cure if
he can determine the most probable e*citing cause in an acute disease and the most significant phases in
the evolution of a chronic, long lasting disease, enabling him to discover its underlying cause;.
&omeopaths look at local diseases as a defense of the organism, as a defense of the governing
center against declivity, against developing a chronic constitutional disease, against weakening of the
constitution. <emarkably, symptoms of disease also signify a certain level of inner health 6 ability of the
organism to put up a defense against decay. Through tonsillitis the organism prevents the pathology from
advancing inwards by allowing the tonsils, a lesser organ on the outer line of defense, to become
infected. The organism is able to stop the advance here. If we interfere with antibiotics, the bastion is
conquered and the disorgani$ation moves on. The ne*t round of the fight might be fought out on the
kidneys, on the lungs or on the heart.
3=
#ig.2. loosing control with conventional medicines.
<eturning to the analogy of the staircase; each step represents a particular line of defense, an
obstacle to further descend. If we demolish the step by allopathic drugs, the staircase turns into a slide.
-nother possibility is that the center is too weak and incapable of placing any steps to bar the
natural fall into pathology, and such a person slides right down to the most serious diseases, without any
colds or rashes. e.g. some reported appearance of cancers where the pathology advances without
obstacles, straight to the most important organs, and so the patient is never on the stair case instead he is
always on the slide. .pposed to this we all have our e*perience with hypochondriacs, people who
constantly complain of some pains, who always have some inflammations, whose bodies ever give them
warning signals 6 and such people usually live to a ripe old age. They have a relatively strong governing
center, which stubbornly resists any moves towards pathology, constantly displaying some symptoms.
There is yet another group of people, unfortunately growing fast. &ere belong the regular drug addicts
who use heroin and similar things, but also the >legalised drug addicts> 6 those who take sleeping pills
and tranquillisers and all kinds of tablets, if possible as prevention. Their practical approach to our
staircase is as follows4 They take a run up at the top and 0ump, evading all the unpleasant encounters
with the steps. They want to avoid the suffering, which the staircase (as a painful obstruction, would
cause them. -nd they succeed to a degree. 7evertheless, the harder they crush at the bottom and the
sooner it happens. %uch a dive might result in the complete destruction of their immunity system (or the
ability of their center to combat pathology, and in other and most serious chronic illnesses, i.e. kidney
disease, liver disease, heart disease, malignant tumors...
#rom the homeopathic point of view, symptoms (the organism?s defense, have another important
aspect. They provide us with the main lead for selecting the remedy. "here there are no symptoms there
cannot be any treatment. >7o symptoms, no cure.>, says a distinguished -merican author. The cases of
patients who display only a small number of symptoms or >lesser symptoms> can be more difficult to
treat, and sometimes it is necessary to try out several remedies before the target is hit.
To a homeopath, the human body and the mind are like windows displaying the patient?s inner
state. "hen the display is ha$y we learn little. It is sometimes easier to treat the patient with a large
number of symptoms than the patient who is almost without symptoms. .n the other hand, few people
3:
would pass as being healthy, in front of a homeopath, few of those who declare that they are healthy, at
any rate.
@ractically all people display some signs or symptoms that characteri$e their constitution, either
in the mental area, in the general reactions, or in the minor physical pathology. This, of course, is great,
as it enables us to give the constitutional remedy even to relatively healthy people, as prevention; so this
proves that homeopathy is still not totally against the use of conventional therapy unless misused.
Treatment from the Center
The pinnacle of health is perhaps characteri$ed by a person whose physical organs are in perfect
order, but who also stands on a high level of mental, psychological development. -nd such a person can
be created from a previously diseased one, precisely by the homeopathic method of treatment. The
reason is that homeopathic cure affects both the body and the mind at the same time. "hatever is
happening within the mind is reflected on the physical organs, and whatever happens in the body also
influences the mind.
-ccording to Hering's Aaws of Bure, when the correctly prescribed remedy is applied, the
curative process first affects the mind, which includes the power of our will, evaluation, decision
making. The ne*t >envelope> in which the process of treatment, the >curative wave> manifests, is the
emotional layer. #rom here the cure moves onto the physical organs, in order of their importance for the
sustenance of life functions (the brain, the heart, the kidneys, etc.,, or in the reverse order to how the
symptoms first appeared (the former is usually virtually identical with the latter,. -t the same time
during the treatment entirety of the whole being is maintained. -s long as pathology e*ists in the
physical organs, the mind cannot be entirely healthy either.
3C
#ig.2. &omoeopathic holism considerations.
"e often hear the allopathic doctors say, particularly after a prolonged unsuccessful treatment,
and in cases where the physical cause cannot be e*actly pinpointed4 >That problem of yours (those
pains,, it?s only psychological. It?s a psychosomatic matter.> They imply that nothing can be done in this
case, and that after all, it is not considered to be very serious. -s opposed to that, a homeopath thinks of
all diseases, acute or chronic, as being closely related to the mind and psychology. 3ven though he or
she does not believe that the cause would be e*actly in the mind. It is higher 6 in the nonmaterial6
governing center, which can be influenced by the nonmaterial potency of the remedy.
3.1.b. !"ndamental principles of homoeopathy in The Organon
#
.nly in 282D 9The .rganon of Eedicine; was published in Aeip$ig, in which the entire system
of homeopathic treatment is outlined and described. 'uring the lifetime of its author it went through
four more editions, which were in passing changed and corrected (2nd edition 282F, 3rd edition 282=,
=th edition 282F, :th edition 2833,. The si*th edition, came out a long time after &ahnemann?s death.
The .rganon, in its 2F= paragraphs and with numerous subsequently added notes, offers not only
the basics of homeopathic treatment, but also very detailed suggestions on treatment. -t the same time it
warns against the mistakes in treatment, those made out of ignorance, or even intentionally. - large part
of the work, particularly the si*th edition, is formed from the polemics with allopathy, or the orthodo*
medicine.
Hahnemann in his Organon:
(a, In the light of the new method offered a thorough criticism of allopathic treatment.
(b, .utlined the basic principle of the new treatment, i.e. prescribing the remedy accordingly to its
similarity to a particular disease.
(c, 'esigned the course of e*aminations that determine the effect of remedy on a healthy person.
(d, 3stablished that only one remedy should be given at any time, as only one correctly selected remedy
can affect the totality of all symptoms of the patient. Thanks to the proving, we know the effects of the
remedies described in the Eateria Eedica (s,. If we mi*ed two or more remedies together, we would get
a compound of unknown properties, where the parts interfere with each other. It would be a shot into the
dark. The practice has reliably proved that such mi*tures have uncertain or suppressive effects,
discrediting homeopathy through their results. If the remedy does not work as it should and does not
bring about a complete cure, any fine6tuning must always be done through the more accurate
prescription of a homeopathic remedy. &ahnemann called the practitioners allured to combining the
homeopathic remedies with the occasional use of conventional orthodo* drugs, rather than of the correct
simillimum, >the homeopathic bastards>, and often publicly attacked them. &e worried that if such
improper practices were to become widespread, homeopathy could cease to e*ist.
(e, &ahnemann?s conscientiousness on the one hand assured that homeopathy as a pure idea had
survived and progressed further, on the other hand it made him a lot of enemies, not only from the ranks
2
@lease refer to chapter 2.
3/
of allopaths, but also in the camp of >lukewarm> followers of homeopathy, who also used the allopathic
methods.
(f, &ahnemann described the process of manufacturing remedies and how to make them into
homeopathic potencies through successive dilution and shaking.
(g, &e defined the philosophical hori$on of the treatment, which at the first sight does not appear to be
directly related to the medical practice, but to a deeper and more informed viewer it forms the core of
the system. Those unable to perceive this core can never become good and successful homeopaths. They
will always be liable to be seduced by the opposing systems of thought and would incline towards using
allopathy to suppress an illness. In this conte*t, &ahnemann (and naturally all of his followers,, was
marked by the allopaths as a dogmatist, insistent on his truth to the letter and incapable of any dialogue.
&ahnemann nevertheless pointed out that homeopathy when practiced only partially, with some of its
principles re0ected, i.e. the product of such a >dialogue>, is no longer homeopathy and does not achieve
the curative results. The same dogmatic approach can be observed in other fields too. #or e*ample, the
mathematicians dogmatically insist that 2 G 2 H 2 and no one could talk them out of it; if they abandoned
their dogma, the whole system of mathematics would collapse. "ith homeopathy it is the same. "hen
its basic principles are deserted, the system collapses, the treatment becomes hapha$ard, the results
uncertain, it is no longer capable of curing chronic diseases, it may perhaps be of a suppressive
character.
(h, &ahnemann established how the patient should be e*amined.
(i, &e outlined how the case should be followed further, and stated that the remedy should be applied
again only when the curative effect of the first dose had ceased, and the disease tends to return to its
original state before the treatment.
(0, &e said that disease is never a single entity, nothing that e*ists on its own, nothing that could be
passed on as an item. 'isease is always a fault within the dynamic system of organism. 'isease means
that something in the organism, either in the psychology or its physical parts, unwinds in a different way
than it should. "There are no diseases, there are only diseased people". y this &ahnemann implied that
diseases mean nothing to him, that they are no leading strings to therapy. The remedy must always be
selected in accordance to the overall state of the organism.
(k, &ahnemann established that the organism (including the psyche, is guided by the non6material
>animating force>, $dynamis$% and a non6material organi$ing principle. In a healthy organism, a healthy
organi$ing principle rules. %uch organism cannot be touched by any disease, and from e*perience we
know, that many people do not fall ill during the epidemics, even though they breathe the same air, drink
the same water and eat the same food as those who become ill. -n inclination towards illness occurs
only when the organi$ing principle has been disturbed. Then there is the inclination towards pathology.
"hen administering a homeopathic remedy, first restored is the organi$ing principle, it then restores to
health the body and the mind. The bacteria, running a riot on the tonsils, disappear in a short while after
the remedy was taken, without a need to kill them by antibiotics. They depart, re0ected by the healthy
organism, which again has a healthful governing center. -ll disorders come from this center. This is a
well6known truth, understood by the economists, as well as the politicians. - bad government means that
the country is on the decline. The success of any company depends above all on its management. The
company that is well managed with inventiveness and fle*ibility will survive during a recession. 3ven if
attacked by terrorists, it will repair the damage, dress its wounds, restore its workmen; so long as it has
38
capable managerial staff, who had secured ample financial reserves, who had sent out the rescue
workers, who had organi$ed the help to the victims, etc. The far6sighted management may even warn off
any terrorists before they strike. -n organism with a healthful center will defy any bacteria. The logic of
this is quite clear, nevertheless the only problem is that to date no I6ray, no microscope, not even a
magnetic resonance, let alone a scalpel, have been able to reveal such a governing center. This is the
fundamental problem in the controversy of idealism with materialism. The materialists insist on having
some tangible evidence. "hy, they have it. There is the health, given to many people by homeopathic
remedies.
(l, In the conte*t of the above, &ahnemann said that even the smallest dose (or the highest potency,
could never be as subtle as the actual cause of the disease. 3ssentially this means that the disease is
always of a spiritual origin. - brave ideaJ &ardly. - logical one. There is something spiritual in any
idealistic system in the first place, and something material as its consequence, in the second place.
(m,&ahnemann laid out the dietary rules that the patient should follow. They were a great deal stricter
than those held by the contemporary homeopaths. #or e*ample, among others, he did not recommend tea
or pork meat.
Note: !or f"rther reference to the Organon please refer to chapter #.
3.1.c. Proving and the &ateria &edica
&ahnemann, his family and co6workers spent the rest of their lives e*tensively testing, or
>proving,> many common herbal and medicinal substances to find out what symptoms they could cause.
-part from the results of homeopathic proving, the remedial picture is also formed by the
knowledge of to*icology, information gained from accidental poisonings or from criminal
investigations. -nd, naturally, from e*periences gained in homeopathic clinical practice, as the
effectiveness of remedies can be verified and the knowledge increased particularly through the study of
patients and their reactions to the prescribed remedies.
The basic diagnostic tool is a book containing the detailed pictures of individual remedies.
The first one was &ahnemann?s Eateria Eedica @ura, &ahnemann!s second ma0or work. It was
published in si* volumes between 2822 and 2822. The Eateria Eedica @ura consisted of symptom
pictures from proving of CC remedies, listed alphabetically, with their characteristic symptoms and
indications for use. To put this in another way, it consists of a list of the proving symptoms for each
remedy .these symptoms were grouped together or categori$ed, under the following headings4
6Eind 6 &ead 63yes 63ars
67ose 6Throat 6%tomach 6-bdomen
6%tool 6Krine 6Eale 6#emale
6<espiratory 6&eart 6ack 63*tremities
6%leep 6#ever 6%kin
3F
3ach remedy was listed alphabetically, by its classical Aatin name followed by its common
3nglish name of the source of the remedy e.g. 'H( TO)*COD+,D'O, (Poison Ivy). This is followed
by an introductory account of the general effects, affinities and special characteristics. -fter the listing of
the proving symptoms, follows a list of Bomplementary <emedies (remedies which act to assist the
remedy used, in its action or which follow well,, and finally the Eodalities.
'o$ens of other Eateria Eedica publications followed, all adopting the same format. The reason
for the creation of more books was the increased knowledge of the remedial effects. The number of
remedies that were tried out has also increased. The various authors had various views of the remedies,
some stressed their psychological effects, others preferred the general symptoms, some had concentrated
only on the characteristic nature of remedies, omitting the general symptoms, others tried to present a
clear view of the symptoms, etc. %uch a variety of views is useful, because each individual patient has to
be viewed from a somewhat different angle. Therefore, every homeopath should have more Eateria
Eedicas to his or her disposal.
3.1.d. Closely related remedies
3.1.d.i. -ach remedies
The )ach <emedies! are closely related or analogous to homoeopathic remedies, although they
are not strictly homoeopathic since they are not prepared in potencies.
'r.3dward ach, (288C 1 2F3C,, practiced as consultant, bacteriologist and homoeopath for more
than 2C years in Aondon, before he gave up his homoeopathic practice in 2F3D and settled in .*ford
shire in 3ngland to devote the rest of his life to a search for a more natural method of treatment which,
as he e*plained,! requires nothing to be destroyed or altered ). &e came to the conclusion that disease
was not primarily due to physical causes, but to deeper disharmony within the patient. &e thought that
distress of mind, such s fear, worry, an*iety, impatience, depletes the vitality of the individual that the
body loses its natural resistance to disease and is then vulnerable to infection or any form of illness.
"ith the help of the healing properties of the wild flowers of the countryside, he found the sufferer
could gain strength to overcome his or her an*ieties, fears and depressions. 'r.ach had previously
gained fame for his work with 'r.@aterson in introducing the owel 7osodes, which are now an
important part of the homoeopathic Eateria Eedica.
'r. ach!s own interpretation of the action of these remedies was e*pressed as follows4
)The action of these remedies is to raise our vibrations and open up our channels for the
reception of the spiritual self; to flood our natures with the particular virtue we need and wash out from
us the fault that is causing us harm. There is no true healing unless there is a change in outlook, peace of
mind and inner happiness.!
&is theory was that all diseases are of mental origin, and they are, thus, prescribed on the basis of
mental indications only.
&e developed 38 remedies, prepared from fresh flowers, trees and special waters. 3ach remedy is
associated with a specific set of emotions.
=D
The remedies are shown in Table 2 (the key symptoms are the most characteristic symptoms,
when energy is blocked and the energy of the flower is needed and, therefore, they enable diagnosis,
Table 1. ach <emedies
'emedy ymptoms
-grimony Boncealing, torturing thoughts, inner restlessness
-spen #ear of unknown things
eech Intolerance, arrogance
Bentaury The inability to say )no!, weak willed
Berato
Aack of trust in one!s own decisions
Bherry @lum
#ear of the mind giving way
Bhestnut ud
#ailure to learn from mistakes
Bhicorv
%elfish, possessive love
Blematis
'reaming of the future without working in the present
Brab -ppis
The cleansing remedy, also for self6hatred
3lm
.verwhelmed by responsibility
+entian
'iscouragement after a setback
+orse
&opelessness and despair
&eather
%elf6centeredness and self6concern
&olly
&atred, envy and 0ealousy
=2
&oneysuckle
Aiving in the past
&ornbeam
@rocrastination, tiredness at the thought of doing something
Impatiens
Impatience
Aarch
Aack of confidence
Eimulus
#ear of known things
Eustard
'eep gloom for no reason
.ak
The plodder who keeps going past the point of e*haustion
.live
3*haustion following mental or physical effort
@ine
+uilt, self reproach
<ed Bhestnut
.ver6concern for the welfare of loved ones
<ock <ose
Terror and fright
<ock "ater
%elf6denial, rigidity and self6repression
%cleranthus
Inability to choose between alternatives
%tar of ethlehem
%hock
%weet Bhestnut
3*treme mental anguish, when everything has been tried and there is
no light left.
Lerrain
.ver6enthusiasm
Line
'ominance and infle*ibility
"alnut
@rotection from change and unwanted influences
"ater Liolet
@ride and aloofness
"hite Bhesnut
Knwanted thoughts and mental arguments
"ild .at
Kncertainty over one?s direction in life
"ild <ose
'rifting, resignation, apathy
"illow
%elf6pity and resentment
=2
The 3Fth remedy as it!s often called is, in fact a combination of five ach remedies and it!s
probably the best known. It!s a first aid treatment for emergency situations, whilst waiting for medical
assistance. e.g. traumatic situations, after a family row, witnessing an accident, or before an operation.
3.1.d.ii. -iochemic remedies
-lso known as the Tissue remedies or ch"ster.s tissue salt remedies.
This is a system of medicine evolved by 'r. %chussler in 28/3. %chussler was a homeopath who
propounded the theory that disease is caused by the insufficiency of organic salts in the tissues5cells of
the body and that the supply of these deficient salt(s, cures diseases.
%chussler identified 22 homeopathic medicines as the Biochemic remedies. These twelve basic
salts are4
2, Balcarea fluor (Balcium fluoride,
2, Balcium phosphorica (Balcium phosphate,
3, Balcium sulphate
=, #errum phosphorica (Iron phosphate,
:, Mali muriaticum (@otassium chloride,
C, Mali phosphorica (@otassium phosphate,
/, Mali sulphurica (@otassium sulphate,
8, Eagnesia @hosphorica (Eagnesium phosphate,
F, 7atrum muriaticum (%odium chloride,
2D, 7atrum sulphuricum (+lauber?s salt 6 %odium sulphate,
22, 7atrum phosphoricum (%odium phosphate,
22, %ilicea.
They are given in a low potency 2*, 2*, C*, and 22*, 3D*.
Table 2 lists out the iochemic remedies. It also points out the indicators for prescription of these
medicines 6 such as the state of the tongue, the discharges, the aggravations (factors worsening the
problems, and ameliorations (factors improving 5 alleviating the problem,.
=3
Table #. iochemic remedies
ymptoms
&edicine *ndicated
mainly in tate of
tong"e
Occ"rring
Discharges
Conditions of
Aggravations Ameliorat
ions
Balc fluor one related
problems,
lumbago, piles
Bracked
Thick, lumpy yellow
discharge from nose,
3*pectoration yellow
mucus. #looding in
menses, yellow pus
from ulcers
'amp weather.
<est
Bold
fomentatio
n. y
rubbing.
y &eat
Balc phos +eneral tonic,
cough, skin
problems
ad taste in
the morning
'ischarges
albuminous (like the
white of egg,
7ight.
Bold.
+etting wet.
"arm
room.
"arm
weather.
Balc sulph -ll kinds of
suppurations
Blay
coloured,
sour, soapy,
acrid taste.
'ischarges of
gonorrhea N
leucorrhoea 5
e*pectoration much
bloody 6 yellow mi*ed
with blood
+etting wet.
y washing.
"ater.
"arm.
'ry
environme
nt.
#err phos #irst stages of all
pains, fever,
inflammations
Blean N red.
-lso throat
dry.
'ryness, burning N
scanty e*pectoration
mi*ed with blood,
Eenses bright red.
3asily coagulates
&eat.
&ot drinks.
Eotion.
%haking of
head.
%tooping
Bold air.
Bold
application
s.
Mali mur <espiratory
problems,
tonsils5throat
problems
"hite or
grey coated
Thick, white, slime or
phlegm. Eotion clay
coloured, %tools
bloody, blood from
scales (ec$ema,
3ating rich N
fat food.
Eotion
&ot
application
N drinks.
Mali phos rain disorders.
7erves N
muscles related
problems
%tale,
brownish 1
mustard like
taste. 'ry in
the morning.
lood thin, black,
offensive odour.
urning scalding.
'ysentry with pure
blood, stools6
offensive odour.
7oise.
eing alone.
3*ertion.
Bold.
Bheerful
e*citement
.
+entle
motion.
<est.
&eat.
==
Continue
Table #. iochemic remedies
ymptoms
&edicine *ndicated
mainly in tate of tong"e
Occ"rring Discharges Conditions of
Aggravations Ameliorat
ions
Mali sulph &eadaches,
%kin related,
asthmatic
problems
Oellow, slimy,
whitish edges.
Taste lost,
burning heat in
mouth. @eeling
of lip skin.
%limy, yellowish or
greenish mucus
discharge. %kin hot and
dry. %caling of scalp.
3*pectoration profuse 1
shiny, yellow5greenish.
3venings.
"armth.
@ains move
from side to
side.
Bool air.
.pen air.
Eag phos %pasms,
pains,
cardiac
related
problems.
Blean 5 coated
white. 'ry
mouth, sticky
saliva at corners
of lip.
'iarrhea watery,
menstrual flow 1 dark,
clotted, intermittent.
.pen air.
Bold air.
Kncovering.
Touching.
Eotion.
Bold drinks.
@ressure.
-t 7ight.
"arm
room.
"arm
weather.
&ot
drinks.
Aight
pressure.
#riction.
ending
over
double.
7at mur Ealarial
conditions,
gastro6
bilous
problems.
'ry, parched,
sore throat, salty
taste, blisters.
3*cess secretions,
snee$ing, vomiting of
clear, watery phlegm
(with great thirst,.
'iarrhea watery. Thin
watery blood with
menses. @olyuria
(diabetes,, Aeucorrhoea
discharge watery, starch
like.
Eornings.
Bold air.
.pen air.
3venings.
"armth.
@ressure.
7at phos Aiver N
gastric
problems.
Eoist, yellow,
creamy at back
of tongue. -cid
taste.
Breamy discharges
(eyes, ears,. Lomiting of
sour fluids. Eorning
sickness. %our smelling
stools (with mucus,.
Oellow discharges
(ec$ema, leucorrhoea. .
Thunderstorm.
-fternoon.
3vening.
.pen air.
-fter eating.
Itching in bed.
&eadache
"armth.
"arm
room.
@ressure.
=:
(morning,
Continue
Table #. iochemic remedies
ymptoms
&edicine *ndicated
mainly in tate of
tong"e
Occ"rring
Discharges
Conditions of
Aggravations Ameliorations
7at sulph 'iabetes,
chills, pains.
'irty green,
grey, brown.
itter taste.
#ull of saliva.
@us changes to
green on e*posure
to light. 'iarrhoea
green stools, urine
red, brick6like.
'iabetes, ec$ema
yellow watery.
Bold.
"et.
Bold "eather.
"ater.
'ry and warm
room.
"arm weather.
%il %kin, spine N
mental
problems
&ardening of
tongue, ulcers.
@ustules, yellow
pus,loose
e*pectoration,
rattling of thick
yellow pus. %tools
foetid, offensive.
@us N mucus in
urine. #oot sweat.
7ight.
#ull moon.
.pen air.
Bold air.
"inter.
&eat.
"arm room.
%ummer.
*ndicators for -iochemic prescriptions:
The following medicines are generally indicated for the specifed problems. It
is advisable to start the medicine with low potency (1x / 3x)
P
and proceed to
higher potencies (!x"1#x"3$x and even #$$x) in case there is no improvement.
%owever for severe problems" higher potencies may be started o& with.
'osage generally is three times a day (()! pills at a time)" ta*en dry on the
tong+e" on an empty stomach. In case of ac+te problems ) the medicine may be
ta*en every 1, min+tes or half)an)ho+r.
In case there is no improvement even after !)- doses" either change the
prescription or cons+lt a competent doctor.(still there is no s+bstit+te to the
.ateria medica / repertory)
P
@otentised remedies4 designated as nI, nI&, nI'
=C
Table 3. /iochemic indicators
/&PTO& 0 P'O-1+& 0 *,D*CATO' '+&+D/ *,D*CAT+D
#ever #err phos N Mali phos
&air falling 6 thin hair strands 7at mur
&air falls due to weakness or ailments suffering from Bal phos
&air falls in bunches %il
&air growth 6 to stimulate Balc phos N %il
&air loss (bald spots, due to dandruff Mali sulph
Impotency Bal phos 5 Mali phos
Qaundice #err phos, Mali mur, 7at sulph
Aeucorrhoea Bal phos 5 Mali mur 5 7at mur
Aumbago 6 aches worse by cold N better by heat N
pressure
Eag phos
Aumbago 6 pain at nape N cervical region Balc phos
Aumbago 6 pain worse while resting, better by heat. Balc fluor
Eania (depressions, mental problems, Mali phos
Eouth ulcers #err phos, Mali mur, 7at phos
.besity (overweight, Balc phos, 7at mur N %il
.steoarthritis Eag phos
@ain 6 colic, abdominal, stomach Eag phos
@aralysis Balc phos, Mali phos, Eag phos
@iles (Itching, bleeding, Balc fluor
@imples , acne Balc phos
%inusitis Mali mur N %il
%leeplessness (Insomnia, Mali phos N #err phos
%tone in kidney
Eag phos to alleviate pain
%il N Balc phos to dissolve stone
%uicidal disposition (wants to die, Mali phos
Tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sore throat Mali mur
Toothache Mali phos
Typhoid (fever, #err phos, Mali phos N Mali mur
Lertigo (giddiness, Mali phos
"eakness, general debility, e*haustion Mali phos
"orms (children, 7at phos N Mali mur
=/
3.#. Types Of Homeopathy
There are different types of homeopathy dealing with classical, constitutional, and comple*
means;
3.#.a. Classical homeopathy:
Blassical homeopathy is dr. %amuel &ahnemann!s doctrine and system of healing based on
clearly, comprehensible principles. %crupulous adherence to all of these principles as set out in
&ahnemann!s organ on of medicine is the authentic practice of classical homeopathy. Today there are
many different theories and ideas about the use of homoeopathic medicines, but the foundation and
science of classical homeopathy emanates from &ahnemann, and is distinct. It is based on the
recognition that health and disease are a change of state in each individual and depend on the
individual!s life force (i.e., vitality, or dynamic energy,, state of susceptibility, and inherited
predispositions.
Blassical homeopathy addresses the totality of the imbalanced individual. This involves
investigating and evaluating all the sub0ective and ob0ective symptoms of the patient, in the conte*t of
their life circumstances and environment. The individuali$ing characteristics, which distinguish one
individual!s mental, physical, emotional state from another!s, are scientifically analy$ed indicating the
medicine needed to restore balance.
Blassical prescribing is based on all the fundamental principles, including the law of similarsR
giving the medicine, which on proving on healthy humans (the homeopathic equivalent of drug trials,
has shown the most similar characteristic symptom picture. .ne remedy is given at a time in the single,
smallest dose required to achieve a curative response. The remedy is never routinely repeated and never
combined with other remedies.
3.#.b. Constit"tional Homeopathy:
&omeopathy is particularly effective in the treatment of long6term health problems. #or e*ample,
in cases of recurrent ear infections in children, although the child may obtain antibiotic therapy for the
acute ear infection, the problem may recur frequently, leading to a general state of impaired health. In
such a case, homeopathy can be used to strengthen the system to prevent the future infections.
3.#.c. Comple2 homoeopathy:
Bomple* homoeopathy therapy produces an initial worsening in a small proportion of patient.
The most worrying response is no change at all, and a reason must be sought for this. Treatment with
comple* homoeopathy is rather like peeling an onion; at each consultation another layer is peeled away
=8
revealing a slightly different clinical situation underneath. Therapy should be continuously modified to
accommodate this changing state of the patient.
Eost comple* homoeopathic preparations are available as drops and this means that it is fairly
easy to find the optimal dose by trial and error, in any particular situation. This is more difficult to do
with tablets.
Bomple* homoeopathy relies on wasting the to*ins released in this way out through the skin,
urinary tract and colon .-s a consequence it is not unusual for the urine to change color, the bowels to
become loose, or for the odor of the sweat to be unpleasant as the to*ins are released. In some cases of
sinusitis the sinuses may start to stream or when treating inflammation of the e*ternal ear (otitis e*terna,
the ear may start to discharge.
3.3. *nitiation of c"re thro"gh artificial disease
&ahnemann elaborated on the simillimum principle in stating that the curative power of
medicines depends not only on the symptoms they produce, but that they are stronger.
Thus, )a disease can be cured most surely, thoroughly and swiftly, and permanently only by a
medicine producing a totality of symptoms in a person most completely similar, but stronger.
&ahnemann termed these stronger, similar symptoms thus induced, artificial disease. (.rganon,
para 2F,. The weaker natural disease is then controlled and taken over by the stronger, artificial disease
since they cannot co6e*ist. This gives us another definition of a homoeopathic remedy 1 an )artificial
disease including agent!.
)In selecting the appropriate homoeopathic remedy, the symptom picture of that remedy which
most closely matches the totality of the diseases symptoms is chosen. The medicine that has produced
upon a healthy human body the greatest number of symptoms similar to those of the disease being
treated is the only one that will cure.(.rganon, para 2:, .
&ahnemann recogni$ed that tit is virtually impossible to match the disease symptoms
e*actly .!-rtificial disease brought on by medicine does not only have to be stronger in order to cure the
natural disease. -bove all, it must have the greatest possible similarity to the natural disease being
treated! (.rganon, para 3=,.
Comple2 disease
"hen two diseases occur simultaneously, however, they may coe*ist only if they are dissimilar;
they cannot mutually cure each other. &ahnemann termed such a condition as a comple* disease .&e
pointed out that even though they could not destroy each other, one disease might be suspended until the
other had run its course.
y the law of %imilars, when two similar diseases occur simultaneously in the body, and one of
these diseases is stronger, then cure can occur. In other words, two similar diseases cannot coe*ist in the
same organism. &ahnemann e*emplified this by pointing to the similarity between cowpo* and
=F
smallpo*, the former rendering immunity from the latter, (3dward Qenner, 2/FC,, and between measles
and whooping cough.
3.3. &ode of action
-lthough the )anti6homoeopathy! groups accuse homoeopathic preparations to be placebo,
homoeopathic preparations still proved efficacy. 'ue to the absence of any biochemical active
component in homeopathic medicine we conclude that the changes observed are not due to any direct
pharmacological action of a conventional kind.
In homeopathy a conventional pharmacological action I% substituted with an enhancement of the
self vital force.
In an approach to find the action field of medicine, &ahnemann reali$ed that every medicine has
its own characteristic and general actions which appeared as a group of symptoms. y matching those
symptoms with the corresponding symptom picture caused by a disease, this seems to encourage the
inner healing force (vital force, to self regain health and well being. i.e. a medicine which could cure a
sick person could cause the same symptom in a healthy person. &ence, proving were made by observing
symptoms developing in healthy individuals after giving them the medicine to be proved. Thereby, a
medicine given to a healthy individual will produce similar symptoms observed in disease state.
&ahnemann showed that the homeopathic medicine is effective because it acts like the disease
disturbing the vital force, where the symptoms are produced to queue this disease or spread the energy
of disturbance. &ence, the homeopathic principle depends on the opposing action of substance in
quantitatively different doses; and so, the action of the homeopathic medicine on the vital force is only
visible by its effects.
- biphasic homeopathic action arises from a single dose. @rimary action represents the usual
pathogenic effect of the substance e*acerbate acting those features of its drug picture that are present in
the patient. This primary action evokes the secondary action, which is a counter action of the organism!s
vital healing force. Oet on clinical and even sub clinical bases a primary action might precede the
curative counter action and in sensitive patient strong primary reaction could evoke even with the use of
e*tremely high dilution.
Therefore a therapeutic aggregation observed as the primary phase of the response to a
homeopathic prescription is not necessarily a feature of a good response since this primary action may
be sub clinical or a possible e*ceptional case of a non matching constitutional prescription to the
presented clinical picture.
Knwanted aggravations may also arise by a prescription similar enough to provoke a primary
reaction without stimulating a secondary response, and so no improvement features on any level, during
or after the event, will be observed.
-s a conclusion if there is any dissimilarity between the reaction and the e*isting clinical picture
in the patient it is likely to be approving rather than an aggravation of any kind particularly if the
dissimilar features are obviously typical of the medicine given.
:D
The time scale of an aggravation is unpredictable. Its onset can vary from few minutes up to few
weeks from prescription. -s for the duration, it!s from a matter of minutes to, very rarely, matter of
months. 7o matter how aggravation is distressing, once it is identified and e*planted it is usually
tolerated well than the original symptoms due to improvement in well being.
%ince it is not guaranteed that aggravations will be entirely benign, it is better to use the simplest
possible conventional means to manage the aggravation rather than a new homeopathic prescription.
The body can only have one disease, as well as one pattern of disturbance, no matter how many
facets there are to this, also there is only one vital force, one organism, and it works as a whole. If a
stronger disease is introduced it will substitute the old disease. If the medicine is stronger than the
disease it might as well take over, the original pattern of symptoms will only be removed permanently if
the medicine is close enough in action to resonate with the original symptoms.
If there is not enough resonance, the original stimulus remains untouched and unresolved. The
medicine may be strong enough to supplement this with anew pattern, which may be more visible only
because it is more dominant. In this case, when the vital force recovers from the action of the medicine,
the original symptom pattern may reappear the symptoms were suppressed rather than caused therefore
the original disturbance is unresolved.
The new rhythm of the medicine may be so different as to e*ist side by side with the old rhythm,
creating a new 0oint patternS (#ig. 2, This may be possible when the areas affected by the medicine and
by the disease are different,
3.g. one affects the respiratory system and the other affects the digestive system. This situation is
uncommon, as the disturbance and the medicine both affect the vital force, which reacts as a whole
through each level of the organism.
In summery the homoeopathic principle of cure is that one similar but stronger pattern is
imposed over another, so that it takes over. Bure is aided by the fact that the duration of the medicine is
limited, because it is potenti$ed and kept to the minimum dose.
Bure is indeed permanent if the remedy chosen is similar enough to include the total symptom
picture and the e*citing cause. If these are not covered, the disturbance is not truly solved because the
predisposition or weakness remains and so there is a recurrence when vitality again drops or the e*citing
cause is met again.
3.4. The self 5 limiting action of a medicine
In disease the medicine acts because it has a similar field of action to the disease (symptom
picture,, and resonates on these same areas of the vital force, encouraging the same action of the vital
force, which results in the outward movement of symptoms. This outward movement is clearly seen in
acute diseases, and gives them their self6limiting nature. In acute disease we can see that the self6
limiting nature arises from the ability of the vital force to reach the )edge! i.e. diseases end either in
death or elimination, as in the diarrhea and vomit of cholera, or the spots of measles and chicken po*. -
:2
well6prescribed remedy following the laws of cure will strengthen the outward movement of the
symptoms, enhancing elimination. Thus there is a target to be achieved by the vital force, namely to
push symptoms outwards as an elimination.
Interference with the action of the vital force and the remedy is self 1 limiting when prescribed in
the single dose because the vital force is further disturbed by a substance whose nature so resembles the
disease that it can take over. It is the ability of the remedy to obtain a stronger reaction from the vital
force that enables the vital force to complete the action of elimination. It does this because the potency is
selected to be stronger than the disease, so the nature of substance is of less physiological level on to the
dynamic plane. -nd because the dose is so minimal there is none left over to continue force.
In acute illness we give a remedy and that is the end of the matter. The elimination is complete,
and there are no repercussions or correspondence to other factors of health it is a one off situation.
This does!nt happen, especially in children, but it is a theoretical situation because the vital force
is afflicted by miasmas in such a way that its function is restricted.
In the constitutional picture there are weak organs and there are latent states where previous
disease was unresolved 6 this is particularly so in the adult. The result is a lack of vitality and an inability
to complete the work of resolution. -ided by a remedy the vital force may restore harmony to a greater
degree, but a stronger stimulus may be required, this may be a further, higher dose of the same remedy,
or another, different remedy, depending on the symptom picture. "e can see that the idea is still to
produce enough reaction at the acute level.
3.4.a. "sceptibility
&ahnemann and Ment use this term where Lithoulkas uses the word )resonance!, in modern
allopathic terminology
It is used to describe the vitality of a patient, in that he or she is more or less susceptible
(weakened, to the germs of a particular disease. In this last conte*t it embraces the content of vitality, or
resistance to disease. &owever, in a homoeopathic conte*t it is only used to imply resonance to the
remedy or to the e*citing cause.
%usceptibility to the remedy determines the degree of reaction to that remedy. .ne who is most
susceptible to the remedy reacts easily to it, even in low potencies, whereas one who is least susceptible
will barely react at all and then perhaps only after repeat does, as in the proving. The choice of potency
will enforce the reaction to the remedy, so that one who is more susceptible may produce the same
results from lower potencies than one who is less susceptible. The least susceptible may not react at all
to the higher potencies, which need even greater resonance as there is even more dilution in the higher
potencies.
%usceptibility can be created by repetition of the dose. This is done in the proving as soon as the
vital force is touched it reacts, and that reaction immediately changes the situation. &ence, when
disturbed, the vital force accommodates the disturbance and moves on.
If the disturbance is an ongoing factor in the environment, i.e. a maintaining cause then part of
the vital force!s accommodation is to build a higher threshold of reaction. Thus the second dose must be
:2
a stronger stimulus to achieve impact. This is one reason why we go up in potency if we repeat a dose.
-fter the first dose, susceptibility to that remedy or e*citing cause may be less.
3.4.b. "sceptibility and re6"ired time for c"re
Time should be given to observe cure after a given remedy to allow the secondary action to
occur. "hen another strong dose or repeated doses are given, the vital force is continually pulled back to
the point it left, until the resonating parts of the vital force eventually react and become more sensitive to
the stimulus because they are weakened, the process of cure is thus prolonged, because the vital force
continues to be irritated without allowing the changes to take place which would lessen the organism!s
susceptibility. In the proving we stop taking the pills once the symptoms start to appear and the vital
force is left undisturbed. In order to resolve the disturbance the symptoms keep on appearing in the
proving.
'uring treatment, this repetition of the dose can be dangerous because it creates greater
weakness in areas already vulnerable. This is one of only two occasions when homoeopathy can be
unsafe; the other is when too high a potency is used, when there is structural (pathological change
e*pressed in the symptoms. &ere we also see why the homoeopath is cautious to accept that a remedy
has created no change. If the remedy has struck so deep that symptoms have not yet appeared, then the
vital force is reacting at a vulnerable level and has not yet appeared, then the vital force is reacting at a
vulnerable level and has not yet been able to begin to correct the disturbance. To create further
disturbance in such a case is undesirable.
"hen repeated, doses are given you will often notice that there is no reaction at all until the
dosing ceases. There may then be a very violent reaction. y continually stimulating the same point, an
artificial disease will be created or the original disease may be worsen. The vital force is not free to act
until the dosing ceases. The repeat stimulus may push the disturbance in to a more chronic level if it is
resonating on vulnerable weaknesses or, if this is not the case, deeper cure may result when the vital
force gets to work with more energy.
3.7. The speed of action of a medicine:
The speed of reaction to the medicine depends on4
T The nature of the medicine
T The vitality of the vital force
T The nature of the e*citing cause
8here the interplay of these three factors 9ill determine 9hat 9e may e2pect from o"r treatment.
:3
The nature of the medicine
Included in the character of a remedy is the speed with which it acts. -cute remedies such as
belladonna, aconite and apis mellifirae work very fast and, as the name acute signifies, they are of use in
self limiting situations, where they enhance the outward movement of the symptoms. .ther remedies
have a slower reaction and are more suited to chronic disturbances. 3*amples of these might be silica,
plumbum or Balcarea, to name some of the slowest. .n studying a medicine it is necessary to know the
pattern of symptoms it products, and the depth and speed of action of which it is capable. In other words,
what is e*pected when a remedy is given to a patient.
Potency Affect Toxicology
The strength of a remedy may be enhanced or lessened by the potency used. &igher potencies
will act with greater speed than lower potencies, because the lower potencies are working nearer the
physiological or physical level.
The Vitality Of The Vital Force
- strong healthy vital force will react with speed, whereas a weakened vital force will act slowly
because its areas of vulnerability are deep in organs and in metabolic process. -n indication of the vital
force may be gained by looking at the types and levels of symptoms being produced in the total
symptom picture.
The Nature Of The Exciting Cause
The e*citing cause acts as a trigger. - patient may be susceptible to large doses, and will react
strongly and quickly if the vital force is strong if the vital force is strong. In another patient there may
not be a sudden response because the vital force is weaker, but because of the strength of the e*citing
cause, when the response comes it will be a much deeper illness. %ometimes, even if the e*citing cause
is mild, the weak vital force will still react on the organ level but this time it produce a milder illness,
which is of course serious enough, but less acute than the deeper one, and so it is more chronic.
3.:. Potencies
@otencies are unique feature of homoeopathic practice. @otencies are energi$ed dilution (or
attenuations, of the mother tinctures of homeopathic remedies. @otency 7umbers which follow the name
of the homeopathic remedies indicate the number of sequential or serial dilutions and successions
(potentisation steps, of the number of the original mother tincture. It follows, therefore, the greater the
potency number the greater the dilution. @otency numbers must be qualified by denoting the potency
series in terms of the decimal or centesimal series. %uffi*es to the @otency 7umbers may be4
:=
I (or *, denoting serial dilutions in the ratio of 2 part mother tincture to F parts of a solution of alcohol
and water, that is dilutions in the ratio of 242D 1 the decimal series of potencies.
B (no suffi* in KM, denoting serial dilution in the ration of 2 part mother tincture to FF parts of a
solution of alcohol and water, that is the ratio of 242DD
6

the centesimal series of potencies
.
Thus for e*ample, we have4
C* the si*th decimal potency H 2* 2D
6C
or 22* the twelfth decimal potency H 2* 2D
622
or 2=* the twenty6fourth decimal potencyH 2* 2D
62=
or CB (or C, the si*th centesimal potencyH 2* 2D
622
or 3DB (or 3D, the thirtieth centesimal potencyH 2* 2D
6CD
or 2DDB (or 2DD, the two hundredth centesimal potencyH 2* 2D
6=DD
or 2DDDB (or2E, the one thousandth centesimal potency H 2* 2D
62DDD
,at"re of Potencies
)@otency! means literally power or strength, and succession is shaking a serial dilution. In the
potentisation procedure, succession energies the dilution and this is stored as potential energy. The view
generally held is that this energy is released from the infinitesimally small, catalytic homoeopathic dose
as kinetic energy, activating or stimulating the body!s own natural defense mechanism to affect the cure.
It might be assumed that the higher the potency (and hence the higher dilution, the greater the (healing,
power, but although this often the case, it is not strictly true, as we must consider this power in terms of
the correct choice of potency for a particular case. +iven the selection of the correct remedy in a case,
potencies may modify or enhance the therapeutic activity of the remedy. It is, therefore, a powerful tool
in the hands of the practitioner. "hilst potency is important in homoeopathic prescribing, the choice of
the correct remedy according to the Aaw of %imilars is of prime importance. &ence, if the correct
remedy is chosen to treat an illness it may lead to some improvement in the illness whatever the potency
prescribed. .n the other hand, an incorrect remedy will be of no value whatever the potency prescribed.
-s &ahnemann discovered, potencies, through their high dilutions, overcome the often6to*ic
nature of the concentrated (allopathic, dose. Indeed, this was his original aim. The modifying or
enhancing influence of high dilutions on therapeutic activity proved subsequently to be of equal benefit.
::
Common potencies
The potencies most commonly prescribed universally are4
Dilution
L3<O &I+& BE 2 * 2D
6 2DD,DDD
:DE 2 * 2D
6:D,DDD
2DE 2 * 2D
62D,DDD
&I+& 2E (2,DDDB, 2 * 2D
62,DDD

2DDB 2 * 2D
6 =DD
E3'KIE 3DB 2 * 2D
6 CD
3DI 2 * 2D
6 3D
2=I 2 * 2D
62=
A." CB 2 * 2D
622
22I 2 * 2D
6 22
CI 2 * 2D
6 C
(2 in 2 million,
3I 2 * 2D
6 3
(2 in 2,DDD,
Those underlined are prime potencies and the most used (CI, CB, 3DB, 2DDB, 2E, in practice. In
#rance, potencies of =B, :B, /B, FB and 3DB are most favored. #rench law does not permit potencies
above 3DB.
;emmotherapy preparation and 1ithotherapy preparation are prescribed in potencies of 2I
and 8I respectively.
In order to have supplies of prime potencies freshly prepared and quickly available, it is common
practice in homoeopathic pharmacies to hold prepotencies or stoc! potencies of potency numbers one
:C
less than the prime potencies, that is :*, :c, 2Fc, 2FFc, etc. Thus only one potentisation step necessary to
produce the prime potency.
%amuel &ahnemann favored the use of potencies CI, 22I, up to 3DB. &e did, however,
e*periment with potencies up to :DB in the latter part of his career.
Coo<.s Hypothesis
The commonly accepted view that the prime potencies of CI, CB, 3DB, 2DDB and 2E correspond
to levels of optimum therapeutic activity is borne, out by research and clinical evidence. Qones and
Qenkins (<A&&, 2F83, research with wheat and yeast growth in the presence of different potencies
supported this view. Then why did &ahnemann choose potencies of 3, C, 22, 2= and 3D in the first placeJ
T.E. Book has pointed out, (rit. &om Q. 2F82, that these potencies are sub units or multiples of the
numbers C and 22. &ahnemann was influenced by the duodecimal system of counting as used in his
days. The coinage of %a*ony (and most other 3uropean states at that time, was based on the gold
#riedrichs '!.r which had si" lesser value coins. In ritain, still we have twelve inches to one foot and,
before 2FCF, twelve pence made one shilling. It may be assumed, therefore, that &ahnemann chose these
potency numbers as logical steps, since the numbers C, 22, 2=, etc. were in every day contemporary use.
If this is valid, then why are commonly prescribed higher potencies (2DD, 2E, BE, based on the
metric or decimal system in units of tneJ Book has suggested that higher were not introduced until the
late 2Fth and early 2Dth century, by which time the metric system had been generally adopted in
medicine and science. It is logical then that Ment et al would specify these metric numbers for higher
potencies into homoeopathic practice.
.ne question remains. If &ahnemann used the old duodecimal system is prescri#ing, then why
did he specify metric dilutions in the preparation of the medicine (242D, 242DD,J &ahnemann regarded
the practice of homoeopathy as an art6 his .rganon, for e*ample, was entitled The .rganon of the
&ealing -rt. .n the other hand, he pointed out in the .rganon that ht e preparation of homoeopathic
medicines was as )e*act science!. Thus, it is logical that he chose potency numbers in everyday use as an
art form, whereas he chose the universal scientific metric system for the scientific preparation of
potencies.
Potencies in Prescribing
"e have learned that we view ac"te disease as a condition with sudden onset, clearly defined,
severe symptoms and relatively short duration. -lthough there is some difference of opinion, as a
general rule, these condition are treated with low potencies at a high frequency of dosage,(for e*ample,
hourly, three times a day,.
Chronic disease in this conte*t is viewed as a more deep seated, probably inherited disease, with
ill6defined symptoms and time of onset of the disease and long lasting. -s a general rule, these
conditions are treated with high potencies at a low frequency of dosage (for e*ample, once a week, once
a month,.
:/
&owever, these high potencies may, in certain circumstances, be preceded by prescribing a low
potency.
H"ghesian and =entian Approach
#ollowers of 'r. <ichard &ughes in 3ngland believed approach to prescribing at the physical
level on a study of the totality of symptoms, low potencies. .n the other hand, devotes of 'r. Qames
Tyler Ment in -merica prescribed high potencies on a constitutional basis for a wide range of conditions6
concentrating on the emotional and psychological levels of the patient (and with very high potencies,
even the spiritual level,. Thus, the same patient may receive the same remedy (his or her constitutional
remedy, for different illnesses.
Today, many homoeopaths use either the &ughesian or the Mentian approach most successfully,
whilst others take a broader view which encompasses both approaches, depending on individual nature
of the case. There is massive clinical evidence of successful treatment with either or both low or high
potencies over 2:D years.
3.>. 1a9s of c"re
&omoeopathy is not simply concerned with the totality of symptoms of a disease, but with the
patient as a whole person, constitutionally6physically, mentally and emotionally. The homoeopathic
practitioner needs to know the conditions which make the symptoms better or worse (modalities,. The
patient!s medical history and that of his or her family is also taken into account, with miasmic
considerations in mind. The following are the important features of homeotherapy.
Hering.s 1a9s Of C"re
'r. Bonstantine &ering, a contemporary of %amuel &ahnemann, founder of organi$ed
homoeopathy in -merica, author of +uiding %ymptoms of The &omoeopathic Eateria Eedica,
enunciated three principles of homoeopathic healing process.
These principles are known as &ering!s Aaws of 'irection of Bure. They provide useful
guidelines for the &omoeopathic practitioner in evaluating a patient!s total state of health and
monitoring his or her progress.
!irst Principle
Healing progresses from the deepest part of the #odythe mental and emotional levels and the
organs to the e"ternal parts, such as the s!in and e"tremities.
The different )depths! of symptoms, and their effect on health, in descending order, have been
given by Lithoulkas (a leading +reek homoeopath, as in table3.
:8
Table 3 4 Eental and 3motional symptoms for different physical ailments.
Physical Ailments &ental +motional
rain %uicidal 'epression Total confusion
&eart -pathy 'estructive 'elirium
3ndocrine %adness @aranoid ideas
Aiver -nguish 'elusions
Aung @hobias Aethargy
Midney -n*iety 'ullness
one Irritability Aack of Boncentration
Euscle 'issatisfaction #orgetfulness
%kin 6666 -bsentmindedness
This table is also useful guide to evaluating the progress (or otherwise, of the patient during
treatment.
econd Principle
-s healing progresses, &erring states that symptoms are cured in the reverse order of their
appearance.
Third Principle
Healing progresses from the upper parts of the #ody to the lower parts of the #ody.
&omoeopathic aggravations may occur in accordance with &ering!s Aaw, which is quite
acceptable, providing there is a corresponding improvement in the symptoms at deeper levels, most
recent symptoms and the upper parts of the body.
&ealing may be more noticeable in deep seated chronic conditions than in acute conditions of
short duration.
-iphasic 'esponse Of Dr"gs ?A',DT@CH(1TA 1A8B
There is a recogni$ed principle in pharmacology called the >biphasic response of drugs.>
2
<ather
than a drug simply having increased effects as its dose becomes larger, research has consistently shown
that e*ceedingly small doses of a substance will have the opposite effects of large doses.
:F
The two phases of a drug?s action (thus the name >biphasic>, are dose6dependent. #or instance, it
is widely recogni$ed that normal medical doses of atropine block the parasympathetic nerves, causing
mucous membranes to dry up, while e*ceedingly small doses of atropine cause increased secretions to
mucous membranes.
This pharmacological principle was concurrently discovered in the 28/Ds by two separate
researchers, &ugo %chul$, a conventional scientist, and <udolf -rndt, a psychiatrist and homeopath.
Initially called the -rndt6%chul$ law, this principle is still widely recogni$ed, as witnessed by the fact
that it is commonly listed in medical dictionaries under the definition of >law.>
Eore specifically, these researchers discovered that weak stimuli accelerate physiological
activity, medium stimuli inhibit physiological activity, and strong stimuli halt physiological activity. #or
e*ample, very weak concentrations of iodine, bromine, mercuric chloride, and arsenious acid will
stimulate yeast growth, medium doses of these substances will inhibit yeast growth, and large doses will
kill the yeast.
In the 2F2Ds, conventional scientists who tested and verified this biphasic response termed the
phenomenon >hormesis,> and do$ens of studies were published in a wide variety of fields to confirm this
biological principle.
2

In the past two decades there has again been a resurgence of interest in this pharmacological law,
and now hundreds of studies in numerous areas of scientific investigation have verified it.
3
ecause
these studies have been performed by conventional scientists who are typically unfamiliar with
homeopathic medicine, they have not tested or even considered testing the ultra6high dilutions
commonly used in homeopathy. &owever, their research has consistently shown very significant effects
from such small microdoses that even the researchers e*press confusion and surprise.
<eference to this research on the -rndt6%chul$ law and hormesis is important for validating
homeopathic research because it demonstrates the evidence for the important biphasic responses and
microdose effects that lie at the heart of homeopathy. This research is readily available to physicians and
scientists yet is often ignored or not understood. This law confirms &ahnemann!s &omoeopathic
principles of the infinitesimal dose, that is the inversion of the effectiveness of a medicine as a function
of the dose.
Clinical 'esearch4
@eople are often confused by research, not only because it can be overly technical but because
some studies show that a therapy works and other studies shows that it doesn?t. To solve this problem, a
recent development in research is used, called a >meta6analysis,> which is a systematic review of a body
of research that evaluates the overall results of e*periments.
In 2FF2, three professors of medicine from the 7etherlands, none of them homeopaths,
performed a meta6analysis of 2: years of clinical studies using homeopathic medicines and published
their results in the British $edical %ournal. This meta6analysis covered 2D/ controlled trials, of which
82 showed that homeopathic medicines were effective, 2= showed they were ineffective, and 2 were
inconclusive.
CD
The professors concluded, >The amount of positive results came as a surprise to us.> %pecifically,
they found that4
6623 of 2F trials showed successful treatment of respiratory infections,
66C of / trials showed positive results in treating other infections,
66: of / trials showed improvement in diseases of the digestive system,
66: of : showed successful treatment of hay fever,
66: of / showed faster recovery after abdominal surgery,
66= of C promoted healing in treating rheumatological disease,
6628 of 2D showed benefit in addressing pain or trauma,
668 of 2D showed positive results in relieving mental or psychological
problems, and
6623 of 2: showed benefit from miscellaneous diagnoses.
'espite the high percentage of studies that provided evidence of success with homeopathic
medicine, most of these studies were flawed in some way or another. %till, the researchers found 22
high6caliber studies, 2: of which showed that homeopathic medicines were effective. .f further interest,
they found that 22 of the best 2: studies showed efficacy of these natural medicines, suggesting that the
better designed and performed the studies were, the higher the likelihood that the medicines were found
to be effective. "ith this knowledge, the researchers of the meta6analysis on homeopathy concluded,
>The evidence presented in this review would probably be sufficient for establishing homeopathy as a
regular treatment for certain indications.>
There are different types of homeopathic clinical research, some of which provide
individuali$ation of remedies; which is the hallmark of the homeopathic methodology; some of which
give a commonly prescribed remedy to all people with a similar ailment, and some of which give a
combination of homeopathic medicines to people with a similar condition. "hile one can perform good
research using any of these methods, there are certain issues that researchers have to be aware of and
sensitive to in order to obtain the best ob0ective results.
#or instance, if a study does not individuali$e a homeopathic medicine to people suffering from a
specific ailment and the results of the study show that there was no difference between those given this
remedy and those given a placebo, the study does not disprove homeopathy; it simply proves that this
one remedy is not effective in treating every person suffering from that ailment, each of whom may have
a unique pattern of symptoms that requires an individual prescription.
In describing specifics of the following studies using homeopathic medicines, differentiation has
been made between studies that allowed for individuali$ation of medicines and those that did not.
Clinical 'esearch 9ith *ndivid"aliCed Care
%ome people incorrectly assume that research using homeopathic medicines is impossibly
complicated because each medicine must be individuali$ed to the patient. The following studies
disprove this simplistic belief.
- recent clinical trial evaluating homeopathic medicine was a unique study of the treatment of
asthma. <esearchers at the Kniversity of +lasgow used conventional allergy testing to discover which
C2
substances these asthma patients were most allergic to. .nce this was determined, the sub0ects were
randomi$ed into treatment and placebo groups. Those patients chosen for treatment were given the 3Dc
potency of the substance to which they were most allergic (the most common substance was house dust
mite,. The researchers called this unique method of individuali$ing remedies >homeopathic
immunotherapy> (homeopathic medicines are usually prescribed based on the patient?s idiosyncratic
symptoms, not on laboratory analysis or diagnostic categories,. %ub0ects in this e*periment were
evaluated by both homeopathic and conventional physicians.
This study showed that 82U of the patients given a homeopathic medicine improved, while only
38U of patients given a placebo e*perienced a similar degree of relief. "hen asked if they felt the
patient received the homeopathic medicine or the placebo, both the patients and the doctors tended to
guess correctly.
The e*periment was relatively small, with only 2= patients. -s noted, for statistically significant
results, small e*periments must show a large difference between those treated with a medicine and those
given a placebo. %uch was the case in this study.
-long with this recent asthma study, the authors performed a meta6analysis, reviewing all the
data from three studies they performed on allergic conditions, which totaled 2D2 sub0ects. The
researchers found a similar pattern in the three studies. Improvement began within the first week and
continued through to the end of the trial four weeks later. The results of this meta6analysis were so
substantial (@HD.DDD=, that the authors concluded that either homeopathic medicines work or controlled
clinical trials do not. ecause modern science is based on controlled clinical trials, it is a more likely
conclusion that homeopathic medicines are effective.
-nother recent study, published in the -merican 0ournal &ediatrics, tested homeopathic medicine
for the treatment of a condition recogni$ed to be the most serious public health problem today,
childhood diarrhea. .ver : million children die each year as the result of diarrhea, mostly in
nonindustriali$ed countries. Bonventional physicians prescribe oral rehydration therapy (.<T, a salt
solution that helps children maintain fluid balance,, but this treatment does not fight the infection that
underlies the diarrhea.
Bonducted in 7icaragua in association with the Kniversity of "ashington and the Kniversity of
+uadala0ara, this randomi$ed double6blind, placebo6controlled study of 82 children showed that an
individually chosen remedy provided statistically significant improvement of the children?s diarrhea as
compared to those given a placebo. Bhildren given the homeopathic remedy were cured of their
infection 2DU faster than those given a placebo, and the sicker children responded most dramatically to
the homeopathic treatment. - total of 28 different remedies were used in this trial, individually chosen
based on each child?s symptoms.
- study of the homeopathic treatment of migraine headache was conducted in Italy. %i*ty
patients were randomi$ed and entered into a double6blind, placebo6controlled trial. @atients regularly
filled out a questionnaire on the frequency, intensity, and characteristics of their head pain. They were
prescribed a single dose of a 3Dc remedy at four separate times over two6week intervals. 3ight remedies
were considered, and prescribers were allowed to use any two with a patient. "hile only 2/U of patients
given a placebo e*perienced relief of their migraine pain, an impressive F3U of patients given an
individuali$ed homeopathic medicine e*perienced good results.
C2
- randomi$ed double6blind, placebo6controlled trial was performed on 2/: 'utch children
suffering from recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. Bhildren in the treatment group were
prescribed a >constitutional medicine> for their overall health as well as acute medicines to treat the
acute respiratory infections they developed. The study found that the children given homeopathic
medicines had a 2CU better daily symptom score than children given a placebo.
This study also found that the number of children given a placebo who had to undergo
adenoidectomy was 2=U higher than for the children given homeopathic remedies. - :=.8U reduction in
the use of antibiotics in the children given homeopathic medicines was reported, while the children who
received a placebo e*perienced a 3/./U reduction in antibiotic use. (This reduction in both groups was
determined to be the result of the normal growth and development of the child, dietary changesV the
study provided written nutritional advice to the parents and the change in e*pectations as the result of
being under medical care.,
The statistical possibility of these results happening by chance was CU (@HD.DC,. ecause
statistical significance in science is recogni$ed when there is a :U or less chance of results happening at
random, the researchers concluded that homeopathic medicine seem to add little to the treatment of
upper respiratory tract infections. This more conservative conclusion appeared to be influenced by the
fact that the authors sought and received publication of their study in the British $edical %ournal. They
should have more accurately said that homeopathic medicines provided benefit to children with upper
respiratory infections, but there is a small chance (CU, that these good results happened at random.
Bonsidering the closeness of these results to :U, considering the other improvements in the
homeopathic group?s health, and considering the increasingly widespread desire to avoid antibiotics, it
makes sense for physicians and parents to consider seeking homeopathic care for children?s upper
respiratory infections.
-nother study that involved individuali$ed homeopathic care was in the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis. The study involved =C patients. Two homeopathic physicians prescribed individually chosen
medicines to each patient, though only half of them were given the real remedy, while the other half
were given a placebo. The study found that 82U of those given an individuali$ed homeopathic remedy
e*perienced some relief of symptoms, while 22U of those given a placebo e*perienced a similar degree
of relief.
.ne other very interesting trial that utili$ed semi6individuali$ation of care was in the treatment of
primary fibromyalgia (also called fibrositis,. @atients with fibrositis were admitted into a trial in which
homeopathic physicians chose between three possible remedies, 'rnica, (hus to", and Bryonia. &alf of
the patients were given one of these remedies, and the other half were given a placebo. There was no
discernible difference between these groups. &owever, as an integral part of the e*periment?s design, a
panel of homeopaths evaluated the accuracy of each prescription. This analysis found that those patients
whom the panel considered to have received the correct remedy e*perienced a statistically significant
improvement in symptoms as compared to those patients given the >incorrect> remedy or the placebo.
These same researchers ne*t conducted a more sophisticated trial in the treatment of primary
fibromyalgia. This double6blind, placebo6controlled, crossover trial admitted only those patients who fit
the symptoms of (hus to". The researchers found that this constituted =2U of the patients interviewed.
.ne6half of these 3D patients were given (hus to" )c during the first phase of the e*periment, while the
other half were given a placebo. 'uring the second phase, those patients initially given the medicine
C3
were given a placebo, and those patients initially given a placebo were now given the homeopathic
remedy. <esearchers determined at the beginning of the e*periment that improvement in pain and
sleeplessness were the outcome measures most important in evaluating the results of this trial, and the
results showed that 2:U more of the patients e*perienced pain relief when taking the homeopathic
remedy compared to when they were given a placebo and almost twice as many had improved sleep
when taking the remedy.
This type of crossover design is considered a sophisticated type of research because it compares
each person when using a treatment with the same person when using a placebo. Eost other research
compares two supposedly similar groups of people, but researchers commonly acknowledge that it is
difficult and perhaps impossible to get two e*actly similar groups of people. The limitation of the
crossover design for homeopathic treatment, however, is that most homeopathic medicines provide long6
term benefits, so that once a person stops taking a homeopathic remedy he or she may still continue to
improve, even in the placebo stage of the trial. Aow6potency medicines, such as the Cc used in the above
described e*periment, generally have short6acting effects, while higher potency medicines generally
have increasingly longer6term effects.
Clinical 'esearch 9ith ,onindivid"aliCed Care
In addition to the studies on homeopathy in which individuali$ed remedies are prescribed, there
is also a body of research testing single remedies to people given in a non6individuali$ed manner. %uch
research is potentially problematic because homeopaths acknowledge that the remedies require some
degree of individuali$ation to be effective. The results of a nonindividuali$ed study, either positive or
negative, can be misunderstood by people who do not know basic principles of the homeopathic method.
.ne study using nonindividuali$ed homeopathic treatment was sponsored by the ritish
government during "orld "ar II and was conducted in 2F=26=2 on volunteers whose skin was burned
with mustard gas. The study showed the efficacy of $ustard gas *+c as a preventive or (hus to" *+c and
,ali #ichromicum *+c as therapy. The study was double6blind, placebo6controlled, and was conducted at
two centers (Aondon and +lasgow,, both showing similarly positive results. - more recent analysis of
the data further substantiated the statistical significance of this study.
It should, however, be mentioned that the researchers also tested the efficacy of -pium *+c,
Cantharis *+c, and .ariolinium *+c, none of which provided any noticeable benefit. If this trial had
tested only these medicines, the researchers might have concluded that homeopathic medicines were
ineffective in treating mustard gas burns. #inding the correct remedy is the key to making homeopathy
work.
%ome skeptics and 0ournalists inaccurately report that homeopathy is primarily used to treat
minor health problems. &omeopaths today primarily treat various chronic ailments for which
conventional medicine has not provided effective treatment. .ne e*ample of a chronic and serious
problem shown by a controlled study to be effective treated by homeopathy is diabetic retinitis (retinitis
is a common complication of diabetes in which there is an inflammation of the retina causing
impairment of sight, perversion of vision, swelling, discharge from the eye, and sometimes hemorrhages
into the retina,. This double6blind, randomi$ed, placebo6controlled study on CD patients used 'rnica /c.
The results of this study showed that =/U of patients given 'rnica :c e*perienced improvement in
central blood flow to the eye, while only 2U of patients given the placebo e*perience this improvement.
C=
#urther, :2U of patients given 'rnica :c e*perienced improvement in blood flow to other parts of the
eye, while only 2.:U of those given the placebo e*perienced a similar degree of improvement.
The best6selling flu remedy in #rance is actually a homeopathic medicine. 'nas #ar#ariae 0++c,
commonly marketed under the trade name -scillococcinum
TE
, is also popular in the K.%. and is
effective primarily at the first signs of influen$a. - double6blind, placebo6controlled study with =/8
patients suffering from influen$a was conducted, making this the largest trial yet performed testing a
homeopathic medicine. This trial showed that almost twice as many people who took the homeopathic
remedy got over the flu after =8 hours as compared to those given a placebo.
-lthough this remedy was found to work for all age groups, it was considerably more effective
for people under 3D than for those over 3D. &owever, it was not found to be effective when sub0ects had
severe flu symptoms. In severe cases of the flu, a more individuali$ed homeopathic remedy may be
indicated.
In addition to various studies on human health, there have also been some animal studies. ritish
researchers have conducted trials showing that homeopathic medicines, specifically Caulophyllum *+c,
could lower the rate of stillbirths in pigs. @igs given a placebo had 2D3 births and 2/ stillbirths (2D.8U,,
while those given Caulophyllum *+c had 2D= births and 22 stillbirths (2D.3U,.
7ot all studies show efficacy of homeopathic medicines, not because they don?t work but mostly
because the studies were poorly designed. .ne such study tested a single homeopathic medicine in the
treatment of osteoarthritis. This study consisted of 3C patients, of whom one third were given (hus to"
)c, one third were given a conventional drug (fenoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti6inflammatory drug,, and
one third were given a placebo. Those patients given the conventional drug e*perienced some relief of
symptoms, but those given the homeopathic remedy and the placebo had a similar lack of response to
treatment. "hile some people would erronously conclude that homeopathic medicines are ineffective in
the treatment of osteoarthritis, it would be more appropriate and accurate to conclude that (hus to" )c is
an ineffective remedy when given without individuali$ation to people with osteoarthritis.
.ne of the confounding variables from this trial was that 2 of the 22 patients given the
homeopathic medicine were withdrawn from the trial because they e*perienced an aggravation of
symptoms after taking the medicine. ecause homeopathic medicines sometimes cause a temporary
increase in chronic symptoms before significant improvement, it was disappointing that the researchers
did not follow their status. ecause this trial lasted only two weeks, it did not allow time for the
homeopathic remedy to be adequately evaluated. If, for instance, these 2 patients e*perienced the
significant relief that is common after an initial aggravation of symptoms, the results of the trial would
have been different.
#urther, it is unfair to compare a fast6acting conventional drug that has side effects with a slower
acting homeopathic medicine that is considerably safer. #inally and of great significance is the fact that
while (hus to" is a common remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, it is less common for osteoarthritis.
Clinical 'esearch 9ith Homeopathic Combination 'emedies
&omeopathic combination remedies are formulas in which several homeopathic substances are
mi*ed together into one remedy. This untraditional approach to using homeopathic medicine is
C:
commercially popular in many countries. "hile these remedies are not thought by homeopaths to be as
effective as individually chosen medicines, they do work and research has verified this. Oet, homeopaths
consistently find that single homeopathic medicines have the potential to truly cure a person?s disease,
while combination medicines at best provide safe but temporary relief of symptoms.
The same researchers who conducted the study on asthma earlier described also performed a
study on the treatment of hay fever. This double6blind, placebo6controlled study prescribed a 3Dc
potency of a combination remedy made from 22 common pollens. The results showed that those sub0ects
taking the homeopathic remedy had si* times fewer symptoms than those given the placebo. oth
groups of sub0ects were allowed to use an >escape> medicine (an antihistamine, if their remedy didn?t
work adequately. The study showed that homeopathic sub0ects needed this medicine half as often as did
those given the placebo.
-nother e*ample of significant results from a homeopathic combination remedy was in the
treatment of women during their ninth month of pregnancy. 7inety women were given the :c potency of
the following remedies4 Caulophyllum, 'rnica, Cimicifuga, &ulsatilla, and 1elsemium. They were given
doses of this combination remedy twice daily during the ninth month. This double6blind, placebo6
controlled study showed that women given the homeopathic medicines e*perienced a =DU (S, shorter
labor than those given a placebo. -lso, the women given the placebo had four times (S, as many
complications of labor as those given the homeopathic medicines.
.ne of the limitations of research on combination remedies is that the results do not reveal
whether the effective treatment came from one specific medicine or from the unique combination of
remedies. - recent study of 22 healthy women in their first pregnancies tested Caulophyllum, one of the
medicines used in the study cited above, which was administered in the /c potency during the active
phase of labor (one dose per hour repeated for a ma*imum of = hours,. The time of labor for those
women given the homeopathic medicine was 38U shorter than for women given a placebo. This trial
was not double6blind; however, the researchers recently completed a double6blind trial and confirmed
their earlier results.
- popular homeopathic e*ternal application marketed as Traumeel
TE
has been studied for its
efficacy in the treatment of sprained ankles. This combination of 2= remedies in 2* to C* potencies was
given to sub0ects with sprained ankles. -fter 2D days, 2= of the 33 patients who were given the
homeopathic medicine were pain6free, while 23 of 3C patients given a placebo e*perienced a similar
degree of relief. This same medicine was also used in the treatment of traumatic hemarthrosis (0oint
swelling, and was shown to significantly reduce healing time as compared to a placebo. .b0ective
measurements of 0oint swelling and movement and evaluation of the synovial fluid at in0ury were
assessed.
- study of C2 patients with varicose veins was performed double6blind and placebo6controlled.
Three doses of a popular +erman combination of eight homeopathic medicines were given daily for 2=
days. Eeasures were venous filling time, leg volume, and sub0ective symptoms. The study found that
venous filling time improved in those given the homeopathic medicines by ==U, while it deteriorated in
the placebo group by 28U. .ther measures also had significant differences.
CC
In addition to the various clinical studies on humans, there has also been some research using
homeopathic medicines to improve the health of animals. +erman researchers have shown that dairy
cows given 2epia 0++c e*perienced significantly fewer complications of birth than those given a
placebo. Aow6potency (2* to C*, combinations of 3achesis, &ulsatilla, and 2a#ina, or 3achesis,
4chinacea, and &yrogenium, along with Caulophyllum given to pigs had preventive and therapeutic
effects on infections (inflammation of the breasts and the uterus, as well as on diarrhea in the piglets.
7ot all clinical studies on homeopathic combination medicines find efficacy of treatment, but
there are often important factors that e*plain the failure. - Banadian study on the treatment of plantar
warts is one such e*ample. This randomi$ed double6blind, placebo6controlled trial with 2C2 patients
prescribed three medicines to each patient (ecause the trial did not mi* the remedies together, it is not
completely accurate to call the use of these remedies a combination. It is more precise to consider it
>polypharmacy,> the use of several medicines,. The remedies used were Thu5a *+c, 'ntimonium crud 6c
and 7itric acid 6c. Thu5a was taken once a week, and the other two remedies were taken once a day. The
trial lasted si* weeks. The results showed that there was no noticeable difference between those sub0ects
given the homeopathic medicines and those given a placebo.
Eany homeopaths may be initially surprised at the result of this trial because they consider these
remedies commonly effective in the treatment of warts. ut while the remedies may be effective for
treating warts, they are not necessarily effective for all types of warts or in all people. - recent study of
homeopathic treatment for various types of warts found that 28 of 2F people with plantar warts were
cured in, on average, 2.2 months. The most common remedy was (uta, prescribed to 22 of the 2F
patients. Thu5a was prescribed for only 3 patients, and 'ntimonium crud was prescribed for 2 patients.
This study teaches us that individuali$ation and the use of well6chosen remedies are necessary
for most effective treatment.
.ne additional note about research using homeopathic combination medicines4 The homeopathic
literature refers to the fact that some remedies are antidoted by other remedies. "hile the medicines in
the Banadian trial are not known to antidote each other, homeopaths acknowledge that our
understanding of which remedies antidote each other is somewhat primitive (for a listing of which
remedies antidote each other, see the appendi* in Ment?s (epertory or in the Indian edition of oericke?s
&oc!et $anual of $ateria $edica with (epertory,. &omeopathic research must, therefore, be aware of
this possibility so that conclusions from research are not overstated.
+fficacy and Cost@+ffectiveness *ss"es:
-nother factor that will greatly influence the inclusion of homeopathic care within managed care
is the scientific evaluation of homeopathic practice. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests
that homeopathic medicines are effective, as two comprehensive meta6analyses have shown. The most
recent meta6analysis evaluated 8F placebo6controlled and5or randomi$ed trials and found that patients
given a homeopathic medicine were 2.=: times more likely to e*perience a therapeutic benefit than
those given a placebo.
-lthough some studies have been successfully replicated two times, three times, and even 22
times, other replications have not shown consistent efficacy. .f those studies that have shown some
consistent positive results, only one has been replicated by separate and independent bodies of
C/
researchers. <eplication of research is absolutely necessary for homeopathy to be taken seriously, both
by conventional physicians and by managed care organi$ations.
.ne of the few studies that compared homeopathic treatment versus conventional medical
treatment was recently published in an -E- 0ournal. This study compared results in the treatment of
vertigo, with half of the sub0ects given a homeopathic medicine (a combination of four homeopathic
medicine mi*ed together, and half given a conventional drug (betahistine,. The study showed that those
given the homeopathic medicine e*perienced at least as good results as those given the conventional
drug, though the homeopathic medicine was considerably safer and less e*pensive.
esides studies that verify the efficacy of homeopathic medicines, there is also a need for more
studies evaluating the cost6effectiveness of homeopathic care. .f the studies that have already been
conducted, there is presently positive evidence indicating that homeopathic care is more cost6effective
than conventional and other alternative care, though more rigorous work is needed in this area as well.
.ne study conducted by the #rench government in 2FF2 showed a significantly reduced cost
from homeopathic care versus conventional medical care. The totality of costs associated with
homeopathic care per physician was appro*imately one6half of the totality of care provided by
conventional primary care physicians. &owever, because homeopathic physicians, on average, saw
significantly fewer patients due to the more labor intensive tendency of homeopathic care, the overall
cost per patient under homeopathic care was still a significant 2:U less. It is also interesting to note that
these savings appear to increase the longer a physician has been using homeopathy. - follow6up study in
2FFC confirmed these results.
This survey also noted that the number of paid sick leave days by patients under the care of
homeopathic physicians were 3.: times less (:F8 days5year, than patients under the care of general
practitioners (2,D2/ days5year,. These figures suggest further benefit and savings to the homeopathic
approach to care.
&omeopathic medicines are reimbursable under the #rench health care system, in part because
they cost considerably less than conventional drugs (on average, the cost of a homeopathic medicine is /
#rench francs versus 23.DD #rench francs for conventional drugs,. -lthough homeopathic medicines in
#rance represent :U of all medicines prescribed by physicians, they represent only 2.2U of all drug
reimbursements due to their lower cost per prescription.
-nother study in %eattle, "ashington, which compared the utili$ation and cost of homeopathic,
naturopathic, and acupuncture services found that homeopathic care was the least costly and that patient
visits to homeopaths were less than to other alternative care professionals (this study, however, did not
concurrently compare or evaluate patient visits or costs for conventional medical care,.
The <oyal Aondon &omeopathic &ospital conducted an audit of a sample of their patients during
a three6week period. - total of :=2 questionnaires were handed out, :DC returned, and =FF were
analy$ed. This survey found that C3U of patients had their complaint for more than five years. .f the
patients who were on conventional medications when they initially sought homeopathic care, 2FU had
stopped and an additional 32U had decreased their medication, while only =U increased their
medication. %i*ty6two percent indicated that their main complaint had moderately or very much
improved compared to their status before treatment at the homeopathic hospital.
C8
This study, like others before it, indicate that the vast ma0ority of complaints seen by homeopaths
are for chronic, long6term illness. ecause these studies showed significant improvement in patient
health and in reduction of medication, this data is of special interest to managed care companies.
-dditional evidence of good results of successful and potentially cost6effective treatment with
homeopathic medicines was shown by the +lasgow &omeopathic &ospital which conducted an audit of
2DD consecutive patients. They found that 82U had a condition for which conventional medical
treatment was not effective and for which =/U had seen a specialist. -fter one year, CDU e*perienced
significant improvement in the condition about which they were most concerned, =FU had a sustained
improvement in their quality of life, and 3/U managed a sustained reduction in their conventional
medications. .ther smaller studies have also confirmed the cost6 effectiveness of homeopathic care.
.ne pilot study in +reat ritain suggested that doctors practicing homeopathic medicine issued
fewer prescriptions and at a lower cost than their conventional medical colleagues, while another pilot
study in +ermany evaluated a single homeopathic dentist?s practice and suggested that it was more cost6
effective than conventional dental care .
.ne other e*ample of a cost benefit to homeopathic care was witnessed in a small study of the
homeopathic treatment for infertility. This study showed that homeopathic care for infertility was 3D
times less e*pensive per successful delivery than the match comparison group given conventional care.
'espite these various large and small studies, managed care organi$ations tend to remain
unfamiliar with these investigations, and even when they become knowledgeable of them tend to
demand more evidence.
3ven when clinical and cost6effectiveness studies suggest benefit from homeopathic medicines,
some managed care e*ecutives may still remain skeptical until basic science investigations posit
compelling evidence on how homeopathic medicines work. -lthough there has been work in this area
too, nothing is yet conclusive. 'espite the problem of not knowing with certainly how homeopathic
medicines work, it is quite possible that this present lack of understanding will not seriously diminish
the acceptance of homeopathy, 0ust as many medical treatments today have been readily accepted even
though physicians still remain unaware of how or why they seem to work.
"hile managed care organi$ations have helped to reduce medical care costs by trimming the
>fat> from the medical care system, the cost reductions have been less and less recently, suggesting that
there may not be much more fat to trim. @erhaps what is needed is a more significant change in how
medicine is practiced. @rofessional homeopathic care provides one viable alternative.
#or instance, a child with otitis media may receive round after round of antibiotics and may even
have eartubes inserted at a significant cost of several thousand dollars. -nd yet, it is e*tremely common
for children with otitis to receive homeopathic medicines and not e*peri.ence another ear infection. .ne
study showed that /D./U of children with otitis medica showed that those given an individually chosen
homeopathic medicine e*perienced no recurrent ear inflammation and 2F.3U had a ma*imum of three
relapses, while :C.:U of children given a placebo were free of relapses and =3.CU had a ma*imum of
si* recurrences.
CF
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