An Introduction to the Basic Principles of Homeopathy and More

Learn the basic principles of homeopathy. Learn how homeopathic medicine is made, what it is made from and more. Get your homeopathy questions answered here.

What is Homeopathy?

What is homeopathy? Everyone seems to have different answers. Some will say it’s herbs, essential oils or your grandma’s recipe for chicken noodle soup? But what is it really?

It’s actually none of those things, although I applaud all natural and holistic means to health. Homeopathy is an actual form of medicine, discovered over 200 years ago. Because there is a lot of confusion as to what homeopathy truly is, I wanted to write a post that just covers some of the basic principles of homeopathy.

Homeopathy is a beautifully complex medicine. My goal is to help you understand the basic principles of this medicine. I want you to be empowered as the healer of your home. My objective is to make all things simple when it comes to managing your home and caring for your family. This includes your healthcare. I hope this post will give you some basic knowledge around homeopathy and how it can be beneficial.

Who developed homeopathy?

Like I mentioned, homeopathy is a type of medicine that was developed over 200 years ago. In 1796 a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann is credited with developing this amazing system of medicine that we know and use today. One of the reasons that Hahnemann worked so diligently to develop homeopathy was because he was disturbed by the medical practice of his time and wanted a better way to care for his family. (this is often the reason people turn to homeopathy today) Practically all of Hahnemann’s life was devoted to experimenting with different substances to determine what types of medicinal cures they could evoke in the body.

What is the basic principle of homeopathy?

Hahnemann’s thesis around homeopathy was the law of similars, or that “like cures like.” This is the basic principle of homeopathy. A simple explanation of this principle is that when a healthy person takes a raw substance it will cause symptoms within that person’s body. That same substance, given in small doses in homeopathic form can help achieve wellness and health when given to a sick person who is presenting the same type of symptoms that the healthy individual presented.

An simple example of this principle can be taught with an onion. When someone cuts an onion their eyes might itch, water with tears and they might possibly sneeze. When onion is prepared as a homeopathic medicine it has the ability to help these same symptoms that a sick individual is presenting.

One of the foundational principles of homeopathy is that the body has the ability to heal itself and to correct problems that might arise within it. As an example, when a person becomes sick and they express symptoms, this is a normal response of the body. Symptoms are a natural response as the body tries to return to balance and regain optimal health.

With homeopathy, symptoms are used as clues to help understand the root issue that is happening within the body. The goal of homeopathy is to enhance the bodies normal healing process.

What are homeopathic medicines made from?

Most all remedies are created from either plant material, animal material or minerals found within the earth.

How are homeopathic medicines made?

During Hahnemann’s time he tested thousands of substances on himself and his family. He would monitor the patient who took the substance to observe any symptoms that presented and then he would record all of the information. After trial and error Hahnemann came to discover that when the medicine was diluted it actually contained higher healing potential than in its raw form. This became known as the Law of Infinitesimals.

To explain this in layman’s terms it simply means that when a substance is diluted to the point of no longer containing any molecules of the original substance, the power of healing still remains within that substance.

The process of making homeopathic medicines is very complex and scientific but here is a quick overview of how they are made. Remedies typically come in the form of lactose pills or sucrose/sugar pellets. The actual homeopathic medicine is not contained in the pill but is sprayed on the outside of the pill/pellet. This is why it is suggested that you do not touch the medicine when administering it, for fear that the medicine will come off on your hand rather than in the person’s mouth.

The Detailed Process

When creating the medicine to be sprayed onto the pill/pellet, a process of dilution and succussion is used. The original substance is taken, often in a tincture form. One drop of the original substance is mixed with ninety nine drops of alcohol and then shaken vigorously for a certain amount of time. This substance is then considered to have the potency of 1. A drop of liquid is then taken from this vial and mixed with ninety nine drops of alcohol and shaken again. This process is continued over and over again until the desired potency is reached such as 6x, 30c, 200c, or 1M. Again, this is a very simplistic explanation but I hope it helps you to visualize the process a little more in your mind.

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Are homeopathic medicines toxic?

“I’m not taking that, it’s toxic!” This is the number one comeback response I hear or people tell me they receive when trying to share homeopathy with others. Without fail a person will be recommended a homeopathic remedy and they will immediately go to google to look it up. Don’t get me wrong…I’m a FIRM believer in informed consent and I believe it’s important for us to question everything. It’s good to study and be knowledgeable about a topic, but I think we can all agree that a quick google search usually just gives us enough information to be dangerous and usually wrong.

Are there several homeopathic remedies created from toxic substances? Absolutely. Does the toxic substance still remain in the medicine in it’s homeopathic form? Absolutely not. Once a medicine is taken through the process of dilution and succussion there is no toxicity remaining. Homeopathy is completely safe and effective.

What forms do homeopathic medicines come in?

Homeopathic remedies come in a variety of forms. You can get homeopathic medicine in ointment or lotion form, to be administered topically. There are also homeopathic liquid tinctures as well as the lactose or sucrose pills/pellets that we mentioned earlier that are to be taken internally.

Where are homeopathic medicines produced/manufactured?

Homeopathic medicine is actually monitored by very strict guidelines. The FDA has monitored homeopathy in the U.S. since the 40’s. Remedies are prepared by following standards laid out by the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States. The HPUS is a federally recognized reference for homeopathic medicine.

Homeopathic medicines are manufactured and produced in actual pharmacies. There are pharmacies located all over the world that make these remedies.

Where do I recommend you purchase remedies?

• Boiron
• Washington Homeopathics
• Hylands
• Helios
• Taproots

Homeopathy Resources to Increase Your Learning

This is one of the beautiful things about the internet. There is so much free information out there! I encourage you to read as many blog posts as you can, check out my 75 part homeopathy podcast and continue to study. The subject of homeopathy is endless, which makes it exciting.

As you learn more, I would encourage you to purchase a materia medica and a repertory. These are valuable resources to have in your possession that you will use for a lifetime to benefit you and your family. Stay tuned for a future post all about these important resources.

Homeopathy is a medicine that is safe, effective, with no side effects. This is something that allopathic medicine cannot claim. It has the ability to uproot conditions rather than simply masking symptoms. Having the knowledge of this amazing medicine makes an individual feel empowered to take their healthcare into their own hands, which is where it should be.

This is what I want for you, to learn more about homeopathy and to feel empowered. I hope that the information I’ve shared has provided a strong introduction to the basic principles of homeopathy.

This information is for informational purposes only. I am not a medical doctor or certified homeopath. No material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen. Please never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this correspondence.