Through research, many substances when administered to healthy individuals, produce
symptoms similar to those experienced by sick ones and thus illnesses could be cured
by using small, specially prepared doses of these substances, as long as they were
prescribed on the basis of similarity of symptoms.
Homeopathic medicines are derived from many sources, including plant, animal, mineral
and microbiological sources. Usually in the form of liquid or small tablets, they
are prepared following strict homeopathic pharmaceutical guidelines. A single dose
or, more often, a series of doses of the medicine may be given. Usually the longer
the complaint has been present, the longer the treatment will take to heal it. Sometimes
there is an immediate improvement, but at other times the symptoms may actually
get worse before they get better. The benefit of homeopathy is that there is no
risk of toxic side effects, because the ingredients in the medicines are so diluted.
People often find it hard to believe that a remedy can be effective when it is diluted
to a degree where sometimes only a single active molecule, or parts of the active
molecule, remain. However there is an increasing body of scientific research that
shows that these dilutions are extremely effective.
Although finding the correct remedy to treat a certain condition is important, often
a closely related substitute will also be effective. Homeopathy is very forgiving
and generous in this regard, which is why it has been effective even during times
when there was hardly any training or information available on the subject.*
*Extracts from J Mackenzies’ article, SAH, Oct 05
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