Homeopathy

Describe the experiment conducted by Samuel Hahnemann which established the fundamental principles of homeopathy.

Samuel Hahnemann was in strong disagreement with conventional medicine. Conventional practitioners believed that quinine cured malaria because it was a bitter substance, since other bitter substances had no effect on disease. Samuel Hahnemann designed his own experiment to find out more about the drug Cinchona or Peruvian Bark that was used as a treatment for Malaria. He took large doses of the drug and recorded each symptom he endured. Some of the symptoms he incurred were his feet and fingertips became cold, he became drowsy, his heart began to palpitate, his pulse quickened and he experienced trembling in all his limbs, and a thirst and redness of cheeks. The symptoms were repeated each time he took the drug.

Therefore, he wrote in his book, “Cinchona bark, which is used as a similar remedy for intermittent fever (Malaria), acts because it can produce symptoms similar to those of intermittent fever in healthy people. This was the basis for homeopathy; ‘Like cures Like’.

Define the Law of Similars and explain the derivation of the work Homeopathy.

The Law of Similars occurs when the homeopathic remedy produces similar symptoms in a healthy body to the symptoms in the diseased body. The two similar symptoms do not get along and leave the body and a cure is instilled. “To state the Law of Similars another way, homeopathy employs substances which are capable of inducing similar (or like) symptoms in a healthy person to those symptoms exhibited by the patient.”

Homeopathy is taken from two Greek words; Homo meaning “similar” or “like” and Pathos means “suffering”. Therefore, “similar suffering”. Thus, if diarrhea occurs in a dog, a homeopathic remedy that causes diarrhea (in large doses) in a healthy dog would be given to the ill dog. “Homeopathy is concerned with restoring the equilibrium of the vital force.” The vital force is responsible for maintaining the body’s state of health and balance. It is constantly assaulted by outside influences toxins, suppression, poor diet, and pollution. When the vital force is weakened it displays symptoms. The vital force include the neuro, immuno, endocrine systems. A cure occurs when the symptoms disappear and the vital force is restored.

What led Samuel Hahnemann to develop the principle for the Minimum Dose and how did he interpret the results of his experiments?

Samuel Hahnemann believed that large dose treatments used in conventional medicine produced the end result of death in its patents rather than the disease itself. Therefore, his homeopathic remedies were used in the smallest dose while having the utmost therapeutic benefit. He found the small doses of homeopathic remedies had enhanced the therapeutically effectiveness, completely safe, and had no side effects. Homeopathic remedies are ultra-dilute preparations of common (or even toxic) substances but they are so dilute that they have very little or even none of the original item in them.

These remedies retain the imprint (vibrational frequency) of the remedy and work on a deep, energy related level. Since each successive dilution is stimulated (potentiated, successed, shaken), it gains strength at each dilution.

This is why a more dilute level or a higher potency has much less substance but much stronger in action. It is the energy acting and not the actual amount of substance. Hahnemann explained the results of his experiments through the use of Avogadros number. Any substance contains the same number of molecules when given one mole or one gram of that substance dissolved in one litre of a solvent at STP. Therefore, it is this small number of molecules that creates that most effective therapeutic remedy. Avogadro’s number is 6.023 X 10 molecules.

What is meant by the Homeopathic Aggravation? List the possible reasons for its occurrence.

Homeopathic Aggravation occurs when the remedy is given at too large a dose. The patient’s symptoms get worse or new symptoms are produced.

The dose needs to be reduced or stopped. Aggravation means that the remedy is working but not properly. “Aggravation does not occur if the homeopathic remedy is given in low potencies which are gradually increased and modified by higher potencies.” Reasons for its occurrence include; too large of a dose, new symptoms produced that make the disease worse, the vital force is weakened more by the large dose, and more side effects are produced.

Generally, the disease gets worse until the remedy dose is adjusted.

What is a Nosode?
The two main sources that nosodes are prepared from are diseased human or animal tissue and diseased viruses ( ie. bacteria;, viral, or protozoal disease) . The actual agent that causes the disease does not need to be present in the nosode. The response of the tissue to the invasion of the causative agent is in effect what makes up the nosode. Nosodes are homeopathic remedies prepared by using the Hahnemannian procedure. Nosodes are used in two different methods: 1. Therapeutically, in the treatment of a wide range of animal conditions. 2. Prophylatically, as oral vaccines, prepared from the causative organism of the specific disease.

When we use nosodes for treatment we use them in the condition from which the nosode was derived. For example, we use them in two different methods: 1. Homeopathic and 2. Isopathic. The homeopathic treatment means taking a substance from an animal that is suffering from a similar disease. This would be the case for Psorinum used to treat a special type of eczema which appears in the provings of that nosode. The isopathic treatment means we take a substance from an animal suffering from the same disease. For example, we would treat distemper with distemperinum.

A vaccine prepared from a nosode is very safe and effective without any side effects. The vaccine can be prepared from the actual organism which causes disease and may be derived from filtrates containing only exotoxins of bacteria, or from emulsions containing both bacteria and their toxins.

Psorinum is prepared from the fluid taken from a scabies vesicle. This nosode has had an extensive proving and is used in veterinary practice in the treatment of intractable skin diseases of a suppressive nature; also in ear canker. One of the guiding symptoms which point to its use is an offensive smell with a desire to seek warmth. The skin is usually dry and the coat harsh when this remedy is indicated.

What does Arnica treat?
Arnica [leopard bane] is used for bruises or traumatic injuries like sprains or strains; it is not to be used on open wounds or abrased skin. This would be the medicine to reach for after a dog fight, when animals exhibit soreness or sensitivity to touch. Arnica is not used only for trauma, shock, bruising, injuries, or sensitive body but a wide array of problems. Arnica can be used for tooth extractions and cleaning, and it is excellent for use with brood bitches before and after labor to reduce the swelling to tissues. Groomers occassionally are bitten and one dose of Arnica stops the pain. If you see the dog injure itself or fall, use it immediately. Also, give it before and after any surgical procedure.

Animals who are involved in competitions whether it be racing or shows, etc can injure themselves. (For example, racehorses, show dogs, greyhounds (racing), house pets running, any animal who over exerts itself and injures a part of their body, etc. ) Therefore, sports animals and sportsmen can exhibit the same problems. It doesn’t matter what species, if the symptom is present it can be treated with the correct homeopathic remedy. Arnica can treat shock or trauma (sports related or not) in both animals and humans.

What is Aconite used to treat?
Aconite is one of the great fever remedies. Associated with fear nearly always, its symptoms are sudden in onset. Eyes are red and inflamed with watery discharge. There is usually photophobia. Ear pinna becomes red, hot and swollen. There may be nosebleeds of bright red blood usually with a sneeze. There may be signs of soreness of the throat. Vomiting and thirst is seen and a painful abdomen. It is an excellent pain reliever. Urine is usually red and hot. There is a hoarse cough with Aconite, tachycardia, full bounding pulse. Symptoms are usually brought on by or aggravated by cold, dry winds.

Keywords for Aconite are shock, fear, injury, trauma, surgical operation. If a patient is experiencing any of these keywords then aconite is the first remedy given.

Tension is another excellent keyword. Tension can mean for both physical and mental. Aconite can be used for those in shock or fear which is mental instability. It can also be used to treat physical tension for example body damage from a pet being hit by a car. It can be used for those that are bleeding from injury.

It is for all acute conditions of sudden onset. It treats feline influenza, fever, coryza with sneezing, dry cough, acute bronchitis, otitis media, allergic, moist asthma, distemper, etc. It is good for those with excessive thirst.

It treats a variety of problems therefore it is a polycrest remedy. For example, anger, asthma, headache, heart, hip-joint disease, Hodgkin’s disease, Numbness, Neuralgia, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Pregnancy, Vaccinations, effects of, Vertigo,

It is good for acute cases because it is quick-acting. It is also good for chronic cases too but generally is used to obtain a quick response. Many of the symptoms listed for what Aconite treats are those of acute symptoms. For example, shock, trauma, fear are all things that happen suddenly and are treatable by using Aconite. Aconite is a good choice for those health problems that occur all of a sudden.

The above information is intended to give you more information about the use of Homeopathy. If you have more questions, please consult a Homeopathy professional or a holistic veterinarian.