This is from a series I wrote when I was blogging as a homeopathic health coach. It is basic information that I wanted to leave available for free but may not pertain to my most recent blogging venture :).
The most difficult and most important question that people new to homeopathy always want answered is, "What is it?" Admittedly I asked it at least twice in my early experiences with homeopathy.
The first was when I heard Joette Calabrese talk about it on an essential oil summit. I paused the interview, thought I must have misunderstood what she was saying, and then listened to the recording 2 more times to get a handle on this "new natural medicine". Just a couple months later when I tried a Hyland's brand remedy on my colicky baby, she stopped screaming within 15 minutes. I picked up that bottle and struggled my way through the label only to say out loud "What IS this stuff?"
~Before I begin I want to provide a quick disclaimer about how my brain works. I am not one to settle for a simple answer. There are many resources, such as this great graphic from the Center for Homeopathy, where you can find a quaint little description of homeopathy. What I'm hoping to offer you is a peak into my own process of gathering and sifting through information. There is far more to homeopathy than just taking sugar pills, and I want to show you that!~
So, now after only 4 years of what has felt like non-stop studying, I am going to attempt the impossible task of explaining what homeopathy is. I’m learning more all the time, so I may have to update this series in the future. But in the meantime, pull up a chair and let's chat!?
A History Lesson
Did I lose you? Don't worry, I won't include too many boring details. But it is very important to understand that homeopathy is not actually "new natural medicine". It has been around as a formal study for at least 200 years. But after studying its usage, I am of the opinion that it has been around much longer, maybe even as early as Hippocrates!
Samuel Hahnemann is the name of the German physician who developed the system of homeopathy that we know and love today. He wrote the standard textbook, the Organon, that we homeopaths use to form our foundational education.
Homeopathy made its way to the United States in the 1840s. There were over 100 homeopathic hospitals in the U.S. until the 1920s. Isn't it amazing that most Americans have never even heard of homeopathy, yet entire hospitals were devoted to using homeopathy in practice? New York hospitals even used homeopathy with great success during the Spanish Flu outbreaks in 1918.
Today homeopathy is regulated by an extension of the FDA called HPUS. It is set up like this because homeopathy, per the FDA, is not considered to be a "drug" in the normal sense of the word. Development of the remedies must still follow the guidelines for drug producers. The HPUS puts out requirements for homeopathic pharmacies and the processing and making of the remedies. However, the FDA often tries to manipulate its way in to clearing homeopathy from the shelves. If this concerns you, a great way to keep up with these battles is by following Americans for Homeopathy Choice.
Words You Need to Know
There are a few terms unique to users of homeopathy. If you don't know these simple definitions, you may get completely lost as you continue to read along in this series.
Remedy = the homeopathic preparation of a tincture.
Tincture = a mixture of water, alcohol, and the substance being used to turn into a homeopathic remedy, similar to an herbal extract.
Potency = how much a remedy has been diluted. The potency number actually goes higher the more a remedy gets diluted.
Pellets = typically made out of sugar, stored in vials or bottles, and used to dispense a remedy.
Symptom = anything that is uncomfortable in your body and makes you feel out of balance. Symptoms can be physical or emotional. Just because you've had a symptom for a long period of time does not mean it is normal to have it; it is still considered a symptom.
Dosing = the event of taking a remedy. Dosing can be manipulated in a few ways to better serve the person in need of the remedy.
Prescribing = choosing a homeopathic remedy. An actual prescription is not needed for most remedies, but when someone chooses a remedy they are "prescribing" it for themselves or a client.
Different Kinds of Homeopathy
The different opinions and types of training found online can be really confusing, so I'll mention some of the differences here.
Clinical homeopathy is what I study and how I practice. This is the most accessible philosophy because it focuses on lower potencies taken over longer periods of time to have an effect on the totality of the presenting symptoms. I may be a little obsessed with studying homeopathy (just a little) and I try to focus my studies on clinical philosophy when I choose my resources. My (and the most popular clinical) teacher was Dr. Robin Murphy.
Classical homeopathy is the most popular philosophy. If you believe there's only one way to practice and that only "professionals" should prescribe homeopathy, you have probably been influenced by the classical community. Classical homeopaths typically focus on higher potencies given less often to have an effect on the totality of the person. Miranda Castro and Willow Buckley are some popular classical homeopaths. Willa Keizer offers online classical education at the Caduceus Institute.
Banerji protocols have gained popularity in the last decade, mostly through the work of Joette Calabrese. The protocols tend to be middle to high potencies given more often. I have seen great success with Banerji protocols but prefer the gentler approach of clinical prescribing.
Combination remedies are also quite common. You will often see these in a naturopath's or functional medicine doctor's office. And many companies create combination remedies to reduce the frustration that can accompany choosing a single remedy. This is my least favorite way of prescribing, BUT a combination remedy is what convinced me to study homeopathy. So I'm not discounting them at all.
But What IS Homeopathy?
Do you feel like I didn't actually answer your question? That's probably because I only partially answered it. But I hope you can trust me when I tell you that this foundation is super important.
Knowing that we have a couple hundred years' worth of literature to study gives the remedies more credibility. Understanding that there are as many ways of practicing homeopathy as there are homeopaths reduces confusion. Learning some of the unique words I will be using in future posts turns you into a true student. Persevere, my friends!
Next post in series: How are Homeopathic Remedies Made?
Back to Homeopathy 101.