Homeopathy is one of the most debated alternative treatments, yet it is also among the most widely used. There are many who argue against it, yet advocates of its immense strength and effectiveness insist it is undeniable. Just how does it feel when homoeopathy is used?
How did it evolve into its current form, and what can we learn from it about contemporary medicine?
When treating using homoeopathy, the primary rule is that “like cures like.” Ingredients in remedies are chosen for their ability to bring on the very symptoms you hope to alleviate.
This means that belladonna, which also produces fever, could be used to create cures for the condition. Itchy bumps, etc., can be treated with a mixture based on bee venom. Potentization, a novel way of preparation, is the basis of the second principle.
The substances’ healing properties are released and amplified through the mixing and dilution process. This is accomplished by dissolving the component in a solvent such as alcohol or distilled water.
Homeopaths take the concentrated solution and dilute it to a tenth of its original strength by adding water part by part until they have a diluted solution that they shake vigorously.
You now have a 1X potency, so-called because it consists of one part active ingredient and nine parts solvent. 10 (the Roman numeral) parts ingredient to 9 (the Roman numeral for 9) parts solvent.
This procedure is now being carried out again. Blend 1 part into 9 parts of clean water and shake well. As of right now, you possess 2X.
Repeat as necessary to achieve the appropriate intensity level. The completed medication is then either ingested orally or administered topically in the form of tiny sugar pellets marketed under the trade name “globuli.”
For comparison, one aspirin pill diluted 20 times would require an amount of water equal to the Atlantic Ocean. Many, however, are much more extreme, such as 30C. C indicates that there is one part of the ingredient to 99 parts of water in the brew.
As so, the 30C mixture that is so widely available has a component concentration of 1,000,000,000,000,000,000:1. The diameter of our globuli pill would be the distance between Earth and the Sun if we wanted it to contain a single atom of the original substance.
150,000,000 miles A pill so huge it would cause a black hole to form when it dissolved. This is why potentization is a major point of contention for those who oppose homoeopathy.
It is claimed that the substances’ potency is increased by being diluted to absurd levels, however this defies physical logic. The active component in most homoeopathic treatments has been diluted away completely.
Shaking the mixture after each dilution leaves behind a spirit-like essence of the component, which is why the mixes remain work even after being diluted multiple times. The basic premise is that whatever is put into water will be recalled at a later time.
If this were the case, however, every substance that came into contact with water would leave behind an essence that may have disastrous consequences if swallowed.
Imagine everything that swims and lives in the seas. Each glass of water would contain a potent homoeopathic concoction. How then did homoeopathy come to be the most popular form of alternative medicine? Medicine in the 18th century was substantially different from what it is today.
When a patient was made worse with treatments like bloodletting, the doctors gave up. Since German doctor Samuel Hahnemann preferred a more natural and non-invasive approach to healing, he created homoeopathy. Homeopathic hospitals quickly gained popularity for the simple reason that they caused no harm.
Hahnemann was extremely rigid in his requirements of his patients. Coffee, tea, wine, spicy foods, and sugary foods have to be avoided initially.
No stale meat, onions, or cheese allowed. No sheepskin garments, of course, but also no indoor plumbing, no heating, no riding horses, no sleeping, no games, no masturbating, and no reading of sexual literature, among many other things.
The creator of homoeopathy claimed that his treatments would be effective only under these conditions. Of course, none of these directives are followed, and we don’t even talk about them now.
None of these directives are followed, and nobody talks about them now. A lot of progress has been made in medicine over the past 150 years. Our current state of health is unparalleled in human history.
Our newfound longevity is partly the result of our advanced technology. Due in major part to our advanced technology, people are living longer than ever before.
Scientific review, double-blind research, and state-of-the-art diagnostics to determine whether methods actually work. After innumerable investigations and reviews, we can say with absolute certainty that these instruments have shown homoeopathy to have no effect beyond the placebo effect.
Still, if it helps people, it doesn’t matter how it works. There are many anecdotal tales of homeopathy’s success, including your own, as well as reports of its success with children and animals. To what extent do we interpret these events?
There is no denying the reality of the Placebo Effect. IQ has nothing to do with immunity. Simply having faith that something will improve one’s mood might have that effect.
Additionally, it has been demonstrated that the Placebo Effect can be transmitted to another person. Both children and animals are sensitive to the feelings of their caregivers.
When a parent puts their faith in a treatment and takes their foot off the pedal, it can do wonders for a child’s ability to unwind and experience some relief from their symptoms. Animals who are very responsive to the nonverbal cues of their caretakers may exhibit similar behaviour.
Time, however, is homeopathy’s greatest weapon. Our bodies were designed to keep us alive. Usually, infections clear up on their own after a few days. On the other hand, if you take a medicine after you’ve already started to feel better, you might think the medicine cured you when, in reality, your recovery was inevitable.
There’s a common perception that the homoeopathic sector is a nicer alternative to pharmaceutical giants. However, homoeopathy is Big Pharma itself.
Profit margins can reach hundreds of millions of percent on transactions worth billions of dollars. The homoeopathic sector has its own lobbying groups and works tirelessly to defeat its detractors. There is a substantial sum at stake. By 2024, experts predict that the global market will be worth over $17 billion.
There are others who believe the homoeopathic industry is harmful to society as a whole because it promotes scepticism toward established medical practises.
Homeopathy believers tend to be less trusting of conventional medical practises like immunizations. This can prevent people from getting the treatment they need, even if their own or their children’s lives are in danger. However, there is a secret to homeopathy’s success that we can and should emulate.
First appointments with homoeopaths are in-depth and may take many hours. Even if the talk wasn’t the objective of the therapy, the fact that the doctor took the time to listen and show compassion for the patient who had previously been on a pilgrimage from doctor to doctor can make a tremendous impact in the patient’s recovery. The effectiveness of modern medicine is undeniable.
Millions of lives are saved annually as a result. However, it is also a highly structured system. Doctors and nurses are overworked due to limited resources. Time pressures need rapid consultations, prompt diagnosis, and rapid treatment, yet this can leave patients feeling ignored, afraid, and abandoned.
Herein lies the wisdom of homoeopathy for conventional medical practise. In doing so, it satisfies a long-felt desire among the human race.
Once again, we must prioritise the needs of the individual. Look at actual individuals, not just the statistics. Empathy is vital, but it can’t take the place of medical care. Sugar water won’t heal cancer, but believing in a miracle can move mountains.