What is homoeopathy?
01/10/2005
Homoeopathy is a system of medicine which “kick starts” the body’s healing process. It can be used to treat acute illnesses such as influenza, diarrhoea and vomiting, cuts and sores, trauma and bruising. It can also be used to treat long-standing or chronic conditions of all kinds.

The medicines are small sugar based pills, powders or liquids. They prompt the body to start the healing process. Florence Nightingale says in “Notes on Nursing” “Neither medicine nor surgery can do anything but remove obstructions; neither can cure; Nature alone cures.” “Surgery removes the bullet from the limb, which is the obstruction to cure – but Nature heals the wound………….and what nursing does in either case is to put the patient in the best possible condition for Nature to act upon him.”

Homoeopathy can remove obstacles to cure and put the patient in a better position for Nature to act upon his/her body; to stimulate and promote healing.

Background and development
Homoeopathy is a system of medicine developed by Samuel Hahnemann a nineteenth century doctor, chemist and linguist. He tested remedies made from plants, minerals and animal material on himself, his family and colleagues. His premise was based on work by Paracelsus that there is a substance on the planet to cure each ailment and this substance would cure symptoms, which it would cause a healthy person to have. We call this the principle of “Like cures like” [see home prescribing] Hahnemann diluted the remedy substances to infinitesimal amounts so that even the toxic substances were not harmful but the healing properties were even more powerful.

Homeopathy has had a resurgence in the late 20th and 21st century and is being used, around the world, for both acute and chronic conditions. New substances are being discovered (and ‘proved’) all the time. Many of the new remedies are particularly appropriate to 21st century ailments.

Homeopathy can be used with, or as an alternative to, conventional medicines.