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Homeopathy Advantages
Types of homeopathyUnlike several other unconventional practices, such as acupuncture and Ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy is a system of medication therapy with a long tradition in Western culture. The training its practitioners receive, the language of medicine it uses, and the way it is used are similar to conventional medicine. As a Western system, it is fairly easy to grasp by those of us familiar with modern medicine. Yet its concepts are not the same and its science is, for the most part, old and outdated. It is not surprising that forms of homeopathy have developed that tend to obscure the differences between it and conventional medicine. As homeopathy has spread throughout the world, different cultures have interjected their unique conceptions as to how it is best applied, from selecting and making remedies with fine-tuned electronic machines to entering a trance or using a pendulum for deciding on the best treatment. A complete history and physical, using the patient's signs and symptoms, is the basis for diagnosis in classical homeopathy. Since homeopathic practice is not regulated in detail by medical organizations or governments, it is possible that when seeking homeopathic care, you will encounter some of these variations of homeopathic practice. The classical approachThe fundamental ideas that make homeopathy unique are that the single similar remedy will bring about improvement or cure, that the minimum dose is needed to stimulate the natural self-healing processes, and that the process of cure should occur in a global way with more serious and central problems improving first. These are the central assumptions that make homeopathy different from conventional medicine, and that, some would argue, are necessary in order for a treatment to be considered homeopathic. There are two main variations of the classical approach that attempt to combine homeopathy and conventional medicine. One approach applies homeopathic remedies to conventional disease classifications or pathology. This is the so-called complex or clinical approach. The second variation attempts to incorporate disease causes and biological processes into the homeopathic method. This is called isopathy. Current research indicates that the classical and clinical/complex approaches are about equally effective and are the preferred methods. Many homeopaths work with mixed approaches depending on the needs or preferences of the patient. The clinical or complex approachIn the first variation from classical homeopathy, practitioners attempt to treat every symptom complex that a patient has with a different remedy. This approach, called complex or clinical homeopathy, uses only a few symptoms to match with a given remedy. This results in taking several different medications at the same time, often repeatedly. This approach is a mixture of allopathic and homeopathic ideas in which specific remedies are given for specific diseases or problems. Complex or clinical homeopathy is conceptually little different from conventional medication therapy, except that the doses used are small and unlikely to have direct toxicity. Mixed-up approachesFinally, a variety of alternative healing systems have adopted the dilution and potentization process and combined this with treatments such as herbs, anthroposophic medicine (a system developed by Rudolf Steiner), cellular extracts, vitamins, and many other combinations. These approaches pay no attention to the idea of similars or other homeopathic principles and yet call themselves homeopathic medicine. These "mixed-up" methods, of which there are hundreds, cause great confusion for those unfamiliar with homeopathic principles. Those who practice these methods will continue to claim they are "homeopathy" until clearer definitions and regulations are developed. Combination remediesCombination remedies are becoming increasingly popular, especially in over-the-counter preparations. These remedies consist of a combination of several different remedies that are known to be useful for a particular symptom or illness. The idea behind combination remedies is that rather than spending the time to determine the one homeopathic medicine most appropriate for a specific situation, it is easier and faster to give a combination of the most likely remedies for that illness. When treating a cough, for example, a combination remedy might include the eight most common remedies used for coughs. In situations where the homeopathic picture of the illness is unclear and an individual remedy cannot be chosen, or when someone does not want to devote the time to individualization, combination remedies are useful. There is also some concern that taking repeated doses of the wrong remedy or combination of remedies might adversely affect the body's ability to heal, and little is known about how several remedies interact together in the body. Combination remedies exist for many common acute illnesses, such as colds, flu, headaches, back pain, and sinus problems. Some combination remedies spill over into the area of chronic problems, however, such as insomnia, fatigue, arthritis, and constipation. Combinations are best not used for problems on a long-term basis; it is worth working with a practitioner to determine the individualized single remedy that is right for you. What homeopathy is not good forWhen disease involves major anatomical changes, homeopathy alone will usually not reverse those changes. Sometimes this is obvious. One would not treat a broken leg or a foreign body in the eye with homeopathic medicine. At other times this is not so obvious. Croup is usually a self-limited cough in children that is treatable with homeopathic medicines. Another disease called epiglottis can look like croup but may cause massive swelling in the throat that can block the child's airway. This is a medical emergency that should definitely not be treated with homeopathy. The same principle holds true when chronic disease has developed to the point of major anatomical change. Arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which leads to certain types of heart disease, cannot be treated by homeopathic medicine. People with cancer often do not have very many symptoms, and homeopathy should not be used as the primary treatment of this disease. Arthritis begins with many symptoms and few anatomical changes until it is quite advanced. Homeopathy is very useful for the symptoms of pain and inflammation in early stages of arthritis but will not restore deformed joint function once this has developed. When major anatomical changes exist, homeopathy should be thought of as complementary or supportive of other more conventional therapies but not as the primary therapy. Another area where some have recommended homeopathic medicine is in place of vaccinations or to remove toxins from the body. While there are reports in the old homeopathic literature, and some recent animal research, indicating that homeopathic prevention and treatment of infections and toxins may have a place in medicine, homeopathy should never be used instead of conventional vaccinations or antitoxin treatments. A similar pattern is seen in studies with toxins. Poisons are best removed with conventional methods with homeopathy as a backup. There are many other conditions and situations where homeopathy should not be considered as the main treatment approach. Common homeopathic remedies
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