Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

2 - What is Classical Homoeopathy?

Although homoeopathy is only 200 years old, it is now practiced in a variety of ways, most of which bear little resemblance to what Hahnemann taught. In the public mind the word "homoeopathy" has become so vague that for some it means only an "alternative medicine" and for others a combination of homoeopathic medicines that you buy in the health food store, one mixture for allergies, another for headache, etc.

Classical homoeopathy (often called unitary homoeopathy) must be differentiated from all other so-called forms of homoeopathy. The hallmarks of classical homoeopathy are:

A thorough interview to discover the totality of signs and symptoms. This total picture is our most important guide to the medicine. By "signs" we mean that which can be objectively assessed by the physician. By "symptoms" we mean what the patient himself feels subjectively.

How a homoeopathic medicine acts is found out by administering it to healthy volunteers and recording the symptoms the volunteers report. By repeating these trials often, we get a complete profile of the medicine. Such trials are known as "provings." All homoeopathic medicines have been "proved" on healthy volunteers to learn how they act.

The total picture of the patient should be as similar as possible to the drug picture of the selected remedy. This is known as similia similibus curentur (let similars be cured by similars). The medicine should match the so-called characteristic (striking, unusual, and uncommon) symptoms of the patient as closely as possible.

Since a homoeopathic remedy corresponds only superficially to a particular disease, it must be customized to match the individual with that disease, a process we call "individualization." The very same illness in another patient will most often be cured with an entirely different remedy – thus we could have two different remedies that cure two different patients with the same disease.

According to the homoeopathic way of thinking, a disease originates from a disturbance of the patient’s "vital force." This is the life force energy that sustains life. As the origin of disease occurs on this energetic level, the homoeopathic remedy has also to be on this level.

Such an energetic medicine is made by diluting the remedy and succussing (shaking) it. All homoeopathic medicines are "potentized", i.e., diluted and succussed. This method of preparation imparts considerable energy to each substance.

"Classical" homoeopathy means that only one remedy is given at a time because only one remedy can correspond perfectly to the total picture of the patient. A prescription that does not aim for this totality is not homoeopathic.

3 - Why choose Classical Homoeopathy?

Classical homoeopathy implies the prescription of one homoeopathic remedy for the patient at any single occasion, based on the principle of "likes curing likes". The purists will assert that this is the only form of homoeopathy. However, homoeopathic remedies are sometimes prescribed using all sorts of diagnostic machines which tend not be trusted by classical homoeopaths.

Following are the ten reasons why individuals select classical homoeopathy as a tool for self-healing.

Effective where other methods fail - classical homoeopathy is an effective catalyst for healing even in the most seemingly hopeless circumstances. Because it addresses the emotional content that often underlies physical illness, it often provides breakthroughs where other approaches fail.
Long term results - once you've resolved the underlying issues using homoeopathy, you experience a permanent resolution of your symptoms.
Effective, but gentle care - healing with homoeopathy is a gentle process of letting go of physical tension and emotional charge - although gentle, it is extremely powerful in helping you resolve disease patterns.
Based on solid homoeopathic research - although homoeopathy is vastly different from conventional medicine, its principles are based on a solid foundation of clinical research. In addition, the body of knowledge that homoeopaths use in day-to-day practice (that is, homoeopathic materia medicas) is derived from many years of a very specific type of research.
Addresses both mind and body - homoeopathic remedies are holistic in that they affect the individual taking the remedy on all levels. This includes the subconscious mind (and accompanying beliefs and memories), the conscious mind (and accompanying thoughts and emotions), and the physical body.
Synergistic with other forms of holistic health care - homoeopathy can be used in conjunction with other forms of healing, including psychotherapy, massage, body work, reflexology, nutrition, flower essences, breath work, and chiropractic care.
Consistent with basic principles of self-healing - homoeopathy works with the "body wisdom" to resolve disease patterns, not against it. By assisting the body in expressing and releasing symptoms (as opposed to suppressing the symptoms), it assists the body in completing what it is already trying to do naturally. The result is that nature is in charge and being supported in doing what it needs to do.
Process based, not product based - homoeopathy is a tool for assisting you in your process of self-healing. It is not a magic product that you need to depend on.
Safe, no side effects - homoeopathic remedies are extremely safe - there has never been a case of side effects, only symptoms that are part of the healing response that a remedy may stimulate.
Affordable - Most remedies cost between Pak-Rs. 5/- to 25/- per day. Once you've made an investment in the consultation, the cost of the remedy is negligible.

4 - What is the difference between Homoeopathy and Naturopathy?

Homoeopathy is a unique system of medicine. It differs from Naturopathy and herbal medicine.

Naturopathic Medicine has a different scope of practice. For example, a naturopath may use vitamins and herbs, together with counseling and bodywork. A naturopath may, or may not, prescribe homoeopathic remedies.

Homoeopathy treats the individual by finding the one homoeopathic medicine that treats all the symptoms. Only a single remedy is given at any one time. Homoeopathy therefore has to be more exact and individualized to each person.

Both naturopaths and homoeopaths prescribe healthy nutrition, and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

5 - What is the difference between Homoeopathy and Herbal Medicine?

Herbal medicine uses herbal remedies. Although homoeopathic medicines are made from natural substances, they are highly diluted and act in a very different way than herbal medicines. For example, a homoeopathic preparation of Chamomile will treat very different symptoms than a herbal tincture of Chamomile.

6 - What is the differences between the Conventional Medical Approach and Homoeopathy?

Homoeopathy stimulates the body's natural defenses and acts to restore a state of health rather than to simply treat the symptoms. Homoeopathic remedies work by strengthening the body's healing system, thus enabling it to heal itself, and lessening its susceptibility to disease.

Conventional medicine is based primarily on the concept that diseases are caused by harmful organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Treatment aims to either kill these organisms or to oppose the resulting local symptoms with drugs. Conventional medicine tends to suppress symptoms rather than creating a curative response.

In homoeopathy, the whole person is considered when determining a remedy. A central principle of homoeopathic practice is that the mind, body, and emotions are interconnected and influence each other. The human body functions as a system and not as a collection of separate parts. Conventional medicine treats the mind and body separately, and different body parts and organ systems are often treated separately also.

For example, if a patient comes in with symptoms that include anxiety attacks, a skin rash, and arthritis, in conventional medical treatment that patient will receive a prescription for an anti-anxiety medicine, some cortisone lotion for the skin rash, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for the arthritis.

Homoeopathy looks for the single correct remedy that will match the person's whole health pattern, and will stimulate healing on all levels. If given the correct remedy, there should be a healing or amelioration of all the person's symptoms, including the anxiety, the skin rash, and the arthritis.

Homoeopathy does not simply suppress the symptoms, it works to strengthen the body's healing system so that it can heal itself. It is a process in which a person attains a higher level of health and the disease resolves naturally.

7 - How does the work of a Homoeopath differ from that of a Medical Doctor?

Homoeopathy's aim is the cure: "The complete restoration of perfect health," as Dr. Samuel Hahneman said. It attempts to stimulate the body to recover itself.

Whereas, homoeopaths are practitioners that make remedy selections based on the law of similars. They concern themselves with the exact nature of your physical and emotional symptoms and then assist the patient through the process of self-healing.

They do not diagnose, run or evaluate medical tests, theorize about the physical origin of your symptoms, theorize about how to reduce or remove symptoms, or make any comment or recommendations about medical tests, pharmaceutical drugs or surgery.

Homoeopaths are trained to recognize disease conditions as a safe guard for the purpose of helping clients recognize when they should go back to a Medical Doctor for testing. They do not identify or label disease conditions or treat them through physical intervention.

8 - What exactly do Homoeopaths do in their practice?

Homoeopaths see their clients face to face, or in some cases talk over the phone. During this interview, they collect information about the client's symptom picture, both physical and emotional.

This means not only collecting details such as "throbbing headache in the right temple area that comes on suddenly at 3pm and is better with ice and worse with jarring noise and light" - it also means attaining a solid feel and understanding of where the client is emotionally at this time in his or her life. In sum, it means trying to grasp the essence of what's going on with the client.

In the case of children, Homoeopaths interview the parents and observe the child. If the child can talk to the Doctor, that's helpful. However, they usually get most of the information through observing the child's behaviors and talking to the parent about recent events and outstanding physical symptoms.

At the end of the interview, they either recommend a homoeopathic remedy which would best assist the individual in their healing process, or take time to further analyze the information and reconnect with the client at some later time to give a recommendation.

After the individual (or child) has taken the remedy, the Homoeopaths closely monitor their response, and provide guidance to the individual or parent about the resulting healing process.

Supplements - Although a cornerstone for many practitioners, Homoeopaths can recommend a minimal amount of nutritional supplements. Most Homoeopathic Doctors are fairly well versed in western herbology and nutritional supplement products - and they do occasionally recommend these - but it is likely to stay focused on homoeopathy and emotional healing.

Flower Essences - flower essences to recommended to support the healing process. Flower essences work similarly to homoeopathic remedies - but are usually much more subtle, and therefore more gentle. They can be powerful tools for people who are going through emotional crises (e.g. a dark night of the soul) - or people who are stuck in a common life pattern.

9 - What is the difference between an Acute condition and a Chronic condition?

An acute condition is defined as a sudden illness of a temporary nature. Some examples of acute illnesses include: ear infections, bladder infections, colds and influenza, coughs, typhoid, vomiting, diarrhea, tonsillitis, food poisoning, cholera, childhood infectious illnesses such a measles and chickenpox, broken bones, sprains, insect bites and stings, etc. Homoeopathy can very effectively treat almost all types of acute cases. The word almost has been used because some cases like road accidents and severe burns etc. where surgery or immediate blood transfusion is required, may need to be treated by some one other than a homoeopath.

A chronic condition is defined as being longer lasting, degenerative in nature, and it is unlikely to clear up on its own. Some examples of chronic illnesses include: skin problems such as psoriasis and eczema, recurrent asthma, arthritis, migraine headaches, recurrent bladder infections, sciatica, cirrhosis of liver, menstrual disorders, etc are only a few examples. Perhaps for such problems, Homoeopathy is the only ultimate solution.

10 - Can Homoeopathy successfully treat any disease?

Yes. Homoeopathic can successfully treat any diseases. Following are the few which can all be treated effectively.

Acne, Allergies, Arthritis, Asthma, Freckles, Hemorrhoids (Piles), Hepatitis, Hot flushes, Hypertension, Migraine, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Skin diseases, Tumors, Warts, Diseases of kidneys and gall bladder, Diseases of liver, Heart diseases (including Coronary Thrombosis), Male and female diseases, Stomach problems including Ulcers, etc.

11 - How long does it take for symptoms to be cured?

In first aid situations, healing can be noticed in a matter of seconds or minutes. In an acute illness (bladder infection, ear infection, etc.), the healing effect can be noticed in hours. In a chronic illness, it takes longer for symptoms to be cured, but the first improvements in your health will be noticeable within a week.

In chronic conditions, the length of cure is often related to how long you have been ill. Long-term chronic illnesses often take longer to heal than more recent illnesses. And not all symptoms will be cured at the same rate or at the same time. The body attempts to heal those symptoms that it considers to be most important, and then moves on to other symptoms.

12 - Is there an alternative to Antibiotics?

There are many homoeopathic medicines for viral, bacterial, and yeast infections. The homoeopathic remedy works to strengthen your immune system, thus helping to restore a state of health rapidly and effectively.

13 - Are Homoeopaths opposed to vaccination?

There are different schools of thought about this within the homoeopathic community. Some homoeopaths support vaccination.

Others are concerned that the long-term effects of vaccination on the immune system are not fully known and therefore not taken into consideration in cost/benefit calculations. There is evidence within the mainstream medical literature that vaccination may predispose towards auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The NCH believes that:

	Parents have a right to make their own informed choice about whether to vaccinate their child or not.
	More research is needed to elucidate the long-term balance of costs and benefits arising from vaccination

14 - What are the Medicines?

Homoeopathic medicines are drug products made by homoeopathic pharmacies. Within the homeopathic pharmacopoeia there are over 2,500 different medicines or remedies, each with its own pattern of symptoms. The sources of these medicines are taken from natural substances that may be made of plants or herbs such as chamomile, aconite, dandelion, plantain; from minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, iron phosphate, arsenic oxide, sodium chloride; from animals products such as the venom of a number of poisonous snakes, or the ink of the cuttlefish; or even from chemical drugs such as penicillin or streptomycin. These substances are diluted carefully until little of the original remains.

A plant substance, for example, is mixed in alcohol to obtain a tincture. One drop of the tincture is mixed with 99 drops of alcohol (to achieve a ratio of 1:100) and the mixture is strongly shaken. This shaking process is known as succussion. The final bottle is labeled as "1C." One drop of this 1C is then mixed with 100 drops of alcohol and the process is repeated to make a 2C. By the time the 3C is reached, the dilution is 1 part in 1 million! Small globules made from sugar are then saturated with the liquid dilution. These globules constitute the homoeopathic medicine.

Although such infinitesimal quantities are considered by some to be no more than placebos, the clinical experience of Homoeopathy shows that the infinitesimal dose is effective: it works upon unconscious people and infants, and it even works on animals.

It is important to remember, however, that a medicine is homoeopathic only if it is taken based upon the similar nature of the medicine to the illness. A medicine labeled as "homoeopathic" will work only if it is homoeopathic to the symptoms presented.

15 - Are Homoeopathic Medicine Safe?

Homoeopathic is a very friendly system of treatment and now it is well known that homoeopathic medicines have no harmful side effects. Homoeopathic remedies are very safe medicines and they can be used in pregnancy and for very young babies. Side-effects are almost non-existent although very occasionally the patient's symptoms are aggravated before they improve. They can safely be given alongside orthodox medication and there is no reason why first-aid Homoeopathy cannot be prescribed by qualified nurses.

The remedies may be prescribed as powders, pills or tinctures. They dissolve easily in the mouth and are pleasant-tasting and therefore popular with children. They can safely be taken in conjunction with orthodox medication.

In general, homoeopathic doctors would not alter their patients' existing medications initially. It is prudent to advise the patient to remain on all their current treatment and to take the homoeopathic remedy in addition. When the symptoms improve one can consider slowly weaning patients off their conventional medicine (with their general practitioner's knowledge and consent, of course).

16 - Are there any Side Effects?

Homoeopathic medicines do not have any harmful side effects, as they are administered in minute doses and do not have a chemical or mechanical effect on the body. However, there are some precautions which should be taken to make it more effective. While starting your treatment, your Homoeopath will tell you the precautions you need to take, yet any thing that contains Caffeine, Coca (e.g. Coca-Cola), Menthol, Camphor, Peppermint, excessive Salt etc. should be avoided because these may antidote ( but not always) the effects of homoeopathic medicines.

When a homeopathic medicine is properly prescribed, based on the symptoms of the whole person, it can be given in such a tiny, non-toxic dose that it will not cause side effects. This differs from conventional medicine, where strong drugs are given in high doses, and thus have the potential to create side effects.

17 - How to take Homoeopathic Medicines?

The medicine is usually taken away from food or drink, or as directed by your practitioner.

Tablets or pills should be dissolved under the tongue in a clean mouth. Therefore, smoking, eating or drinking (except plain water, if need be) for at least 15 minutes before or after taking the medicine should be avoided. Smokers should prefer to have a mouth wash with plain water before taking medicine. If your medicine is in the shape of drops, it should not be taken soon after the meals. Take it in 1/2 cup of plain water either 15 minutes before meals or an hour after, unless your homoeopath has advised differently.

18 - How to keep Unused Medicines?

Homoeopathic medicines have a long storage life and can be used for years without any deterioration of quality.

Storage Guidelines: Medicines must be kept at normal room temperature, in a dry, dust free and dark place, away from strong smelling items like perfumes, mentholated liniments and camphor. Never store it in your kitchen (which has maximum variety of smells) or place it near a TV set etc. You need not keep it in a refrigerator. Try to avoid touching the tablets by hand.

19 - Can diabetic patients take the Sweet Sugar Pills?

Diabetics can take the sweet sugar pills because the amount of sugar present is very small. Also, medicines can be administered in distilled water, thereby avoiding pills.

20 - Can I treat myself and my family using Homoeopathic Remedies?

Yes, you can learn to treat simple first aid and acute conditions effectively and safely with the aid of homoeopathic self-care books or by attending homoeopathic classes, but serious conditions should be treated by an experienced homoeopathic practitioner.

21 - Scope of Homoeopathy

Hahnemann believed that homoeopathy was a complete system of medicine and was destined to replace conventional medicine entirely. A few modern homoeopaths would still adopt this extreme position today, but most - and certainly almost all medically qualified homoeopaths - recognise that there are many illnesses that demand orthodox treatment. Even Hahnemann recognized that surgery would be necessary in some cases. Nevertheless, because it is prescribed on the patient's symptoms, homoeopathy can be prescribed as a supplementary treatment in almost any situation.

Homoeopathy lends itself well to self-treatment, especially for acute disease. It is possible to buy an emergency kit containing medicines that can be used to treat colds, coughs, sore throats, and minor burns, bruises and sprains.

Another field of application is psychological problems. There is certainly a place for homoeopathy in the management of mild to moderate anxiety, depression, and other mood disturbances, but it is not suitable for severe depression or schizophrenia except in the hands of a suitably experienced doctor or psychiatrist.

Children seem to respond particularly well to homoeopathy and they enjoy taking the medicines, which are sweet. Animals, too, can be treated successfully in many cases.

22 - Where is Homoeopathy popular?

This system of treatment is rapidly gaining popularity all over the world specially for the treatment of chronic cases. Homoeopathy is particularly popular in France, England, Germany, Greece, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa. Approximately 40% of the French public have used homoeopathic medicines, and 39% of the French physicians have prescribed the medicines.

About 20% of German physicians occasionally utilize these natural medicines, and 45% of Dutch physicians consider them effective. According to a survey in the British Medical Journal (June 7, 1986), 42% of British physicians survey refer patients to homoeopathic physicians, and a New York Times article reported that visits to British homoeopaths is growing at a rate of 39% a year.

23 - Is Homoeopathy licensed in Pakistan?

Homoeopathy is officially recognised by the Federal Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan. The National Council for Homoeopathy is the award giving institutions for all the qualified 4 year diploma holder DHMS students. The National Health Laboratories at Islamabad, has a homoeopath research officer working in collaboration with the experts of the other systems of medicine. The State Life Insurance Corporation, Oil and Gas Corporation and other Corporate Bodies have also appointed homoeopaths on their panel of doctors.

24 - How can I learn more about Homoeopathy?

You are encouraged to read about the history and principles of homoeopathy to become more informed about this system of medicine. Introductory books are available at your local bookstores or library.

Diploma and degree programs are also available at different Homoeopathic Medical Colleges to train you in homoeopathy. If you have any further questions concerning Homoeopathy, please contact the concerned college in your area.