Dorothy FarrarHomeopathy (naturopathy)
Homeopathy is a method of alternative medicine that treats with substances that would cause the patient’s symptoms similar to those of his disease undiluted. This is administered extremely diluted – so much so that the substance in the carrier substance can no longer be detected according to current knowledge.
What is homeopathy?
At the heart of homeopathy are globules. These are small sugar balls that are administered in diseases of all kinds and are said to contain extremely diluted active ingredients. Samuel Hahnemann, to whom homeopathy goes back, assumed that a disease could be treated with an active ingredient which, administered in its pure form, would trigger similar symptoms in the patient as the disease to be treated. Since many of the substances prescribed by Hahnemann were toxic, he potentiated them.
So they were dissolved in water or ethanol or rubbed with lactose to dilute them. He assumed that this process would create a “spirit-like force” in the respective diluted substance. Today, homeopathy is not only considered an alternative medicine, but often a pseudoscience, since the molecular density of the substance contained in the globules is below the Avogadro constant, which specifies the minimum density of a substance for it to exist at all. Thus, according to current knowledge, homeopathic medicines do not contain any active ingredient.
Applications
Typical applications of homeopathy :
Homeopathy claims to be able to treat a number of mild to severe and even life-threatening diseases like conventional medicine. In practice, however, many homeopaths refrain from treating serious or life-threatening diseases without the basis of conventional medicine. Homeopaths who claim to be able to treat or even cure cancer, Alzheimer’s or AIDS are considered highly dubious even in professional circles. On the other hand, many patients like to use homeopathy as a supposedly gentle, natural medicine if they suffer from mild diseases such as colds or gastrointestinal problems.
What methods and procedures are there?
Certainly the best known dosage form of homeopathy are globules. These are small, white balls consisting of sugar, in which the potentized active ingredient should be contained. In fact, however, they contain only sugar. For external application to the skin, there are also ointments, gels and creams that were prepared by the same process and consist of a carrier substance and the potentized active ingredient.
The doctor uses homeopathic repertories, which type the personality of a patient and advise him an active ingredient that harmonizes with it. Homeopathic doctors are often also open to other methods of general medicine, for example for acupuncture, Bach flowers or Schuessler salts. Strictly speaking, however, they no longer belong to homeopathy, although other alternative medical methods also work with the potentiation of the active ingredients.
What does the patient have to consider?
The actual homeopathy consists of an anamnesis in conversation with the doctor, a preliminary examination and possibly also of methods of conventional medicine such as the preparation of a blood count. This now varies from homeopath to homeopath. Since homeopathy usually dispenses with invasive or risky examination procedures, the patient does not need to pay attention to anything in preparation. Aftercare is also simple, there are no side effects of homeopathic medicines. However, the doctor could prescribe bed rest or rest, which the patient should naturally adhere to in order to recover. This applies just as much as when visiting a doctor practicing conventional medicine.
Execution – How does the investigation work?
An examination by a homeopath will initially be similar to that of a general practitioner. The doctor will ask questions about the patient’s symptoms, complaints and observations and, if necessary, will want to feel, tap or take a closer look at affected parts of the body. Some homeopaths work with conventional medical tools, for example using suitable devices to look at the throat, inner ear or the affected part of the body.
This way they can diagnose with certainty. Unlike the family doctor, however, a homeopath will also ask what the patient’s lifestyle is like, how healthy he is and what vices he may have. He works holistically and will also advise the patient on steps that could improve the general state of health. He then either prescribes a Homeopathic Remedy and gives a recommendation for its use, or if necessary he sends the patient on to an alternative medicine specialist. Homeopaths are usually open to other disciplines of alternative medicine and prescribe acupuncture for back pain, for example.
Who bears the costs?
Homeopathic treatment is usually not reimbursed by health insurance. The patient pays for examinations, prescribed medicines and applications themselves. However, some health insurance companies now reimburse initial homeopathic services at the express request of their policyholders. Either the assumption of costs is part of your standard program or it can be booked as an optional service, which usually has to be paid for additionally.
In particular, the medical consultation is then taken over by the health insurance company, but the patient still pays for homeopathic medicines himself. Several health insurance companies have started to take over those alternative medical services that have empirically proven effectiveness, even if it has not yet been possible to prove it why they are effective. An exemplary service is acupuncture, which is often recommended by homeopathy.
Risks, complications and side effects
According to current scientific knowledge, homeopathic medicines are completely ineffective. So there are no risks, complications or side effects from them and they cannot be overdosed. Diabetics should point out their illness, since homeopathy works with sugar globules. The main risk of homeopathy is that the underlying disease is not treated due to the ineffectiveness of the drugs – apart from the placebo effect – and can continue, prolong or worsen. Depending on the disease, the patient faces the same risks as if he had never had his underlying disease treated.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.