Homeopathy

What is homeopathy?

People often think homeopathy is synonymous with “holistic” medical therapy.

In truth however, homeopathy is just one of many types of “holistic” therapy options and is actually very different from herbal medications and nutritional supplements.

For a bit of background and explanation of homeopathy, it is worth noting that this modality has been around for over 2 centuries and is the 2nd most utilized form of alternative medicine in the world. Modern homeopathy was developed by a German Physician named Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, based on the principle of: “like cures like’”. In other words, homeopathic prescriptions are chosen for effects that best match the patient’s specific symptoms, which include mental, emotional and physical symptoms. This is different from conventional medicine, which views disease symptoms as a part of the illness, and aims to suppress or abolish the symptoms. In contrast, homeopathy sees symptoms as the body’s reaction against an illness in the attempt to overcome it, and therefore seeks to stimulate the body’s natural responses rather than to suppress them.

Homeopathic medicines, or remedies, are derived from plant, animal or mineral substances. These substances are processed through multiple dilutions, to result in a very small concentration of the original element. This extreme dilution process actually enhances the curative properties of the medicines while the toxic side effects are lost. In fact, the aim of homeopathic treatment is to find the smallest effective dose to stimulate a healing response in the body without the risk of side effects. Homeopathic remedies are chosen with the goal of stimulating the entire body to heal itself, not to merely suppress symptoms.

Is homeopathy safe and effective for the treatment of animals?

Homeopathy can be very effective, and is also inexpensive. It has been widely used in dogs, cats, horses, farm animals and exotic species. Homeopathic remedies are prepared according to modern standards of quality, from pure, natural sources. They are extremely safe, do not interact or interfere with other medications (conventional or herbal), and do not cause any harm to the liver, kidneys or other organs in the body.

How are homeopathic medicines administered?

These are usually given as an oral medication, in the form of liquids or tablets, and are placed in the mouth to be absorbed by the oral mucous membranes; (i.e. the gums, tongue, or inside of the cheek). In other words, homeopathic remedies are not intended to be “swallowed”, and actually work better if they are allowed to be absorbed from the oral tissues rather than being ingested. Therefore, it is best to give them separately from food in order to get the fullest effect.

#holistic #homeopathy