What is Homeopathy?

"I believe what prevents men from accepting the homeopathic principles is ignorance, but ignorance is criminal when human lives are at stake. No honest man faced with the facts of homeopathy can refuse to accept it. He has no choice. When I had to face it, I had to become a follower. There was no choice if I were to continue to be an honest man… Truth always demands adherence and offers no alternative."- Sir John Weir, physician to King George VI and to four generations of British monarchs.

Over the last 10 years, homeopathic remedies have increasingly come into the mainstream. You may have even tried one without realising it: arnica for bumps and bruises is readily available for sale and No Jet Lag can be found at most NZ airports, along with a host of other remedies for common ailments.

The English Royal Family has been under homeopathic care since 1830 and since then has always had a Royal Homeopathic doctor. It used to be one of those things that made them look quirky like Prince Charles interest in organics, but as time has gone by, public opinion has swung their way so that these interests now look cool and progressive.

So What Is It?

Homeopathy was founded in Germany in 1786 by Doctor Samuel Hahnemann on the revolutionary principle of 'similis similibus currentur' which is commonly translated into 'like cures like'. A more accurate translation is 'Let conditions be treated by things which are similar', a very different principle from traditional medicine which tries to cure illness by treating it with substances intended to suppress its symptoms. Homeopathy seeks to cure illness by stimulating the body's own defence system to fight the introduction of extremely diluted substances that provoke very similar symptoms to the original illness.

Remedies are based on extracts, mainly from plants and minerals, which in concentrated doses would produce the symptoms they are treating. However these extracts are diluted down to ratios like 1:100, 2: 100 or 3:100 so unlike conventional medicines, they are highly unlikely to cause adverse reactions.

When you go to a homeopath for the first time, you might be surprised at the extent of the questions they ask you. The initial consultation is typically very thorough, as the homeopath takes a holistic approach rather than an illness-focussed approach. Homeopathy is now not only practised around the world, but there are dedicated homeopathic hospitals in the UK and Europe.