Homeopathy

Overview

The principle of Homeopathy dates back 2600 years to Hippocrates, the ancient Greek founder of European medicine. It was not until the late 18th century that Samuel Hahnemann, a German chemist and physician, rediscovered and verified the concepts. The Greek word Homeopathy means equal or similar disease.

The homeopathic principle is best illustrated by the phrase "let like substances be used to treat like diseases". To do this the homeopath uses small dilutions of botanical, mineral and other substances to treat specific ailments. For example, what better medicine to give for the stinging pains and swelling of a bee sting than a prepared homeopathic remedy of Apis mellifica (Honey Bee). Homeopathic medication does not replace missing substances, but has a regulatory effect on the body's central processes (homeostasis).