When you’re feeling under the weather, you may decide to look beyond the pharmacy counter for help in fighting your symptoms. If you’ve done any research into alternative treatments, you may have come across references to homeopathy and wondered what does homeopathic mean? Here’s a breakdown of what homeopathy is and how its principles are used in treating illnesses.
What Is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a form of medicine that serves as an alternative or complement to traditional treatments. It was developed in the late 18th century by a German physician who believed that the same substances that cause illnesses or maladies can also be used to treat them. Although research is divided on the efficacy of treating symptoms solely with homeopathy, the principles behind the practice are at work in many modern remedies.
What Are Homeopathy’s Three Basic Principles?
The core principle of homeopathy is that “like cures like.” To treat an illness, a homeopath will administer a substance that typically elicits the same reaction in an effort to stimulate a response that will fight those symptoms. It’s similar to the thought process behind modern immunizations, in which a small amount of killed virus is used to protect against becoming infected by that virus.
Another principle of homeopathy is that remedies should typically be applied singularly. This is done to better observe the effectiveness of the treatment, and to ensure that a cure is individualized to the person who is suffering. In modern usage, however, it has become common to use homeopathic combinations of various substances to increase efficacy. Such combinations are frequently found in over the counter flu medicine, or in treatments for minor aches and pains.
The final principle of homeopathy is that minimal amounts of curative substances should be administered. Practitioners seek to dilute each dose to achieve results with as few side effects as possible. This idea is also seen in modern medicine, as many physicians have become concerned that prolonged or excessive use of medications can cause more harm than the malady itself.
What Are Some Examples of Homeopathic Remedies?
Practitioners believe that alternative treatments can be applied to a wide variety of ailments, and a check of Brillia homeopathic reviews shows that even psychological issues such as stress and anxiety can be addressed in this way. One popular remedy that has its roots in homeopathy is the use of capsaicin to send pain signals to the brain to reduce the perception of achiness. Allergy medicines often include onion extracts that produce additional tearing to flush away irritants, and caffeine is being used to treat anxiety. This shows that the homeopathic concept of “like cures like” isn’t as far-fetched as it might initially seem.
Homeopathy and its principles are still at play in today’s medical practices. Using remedies in small doses and incorporating the process of stimulating a defensive response by introducing “like” substances are common features in modern medicine. The next time you’re looking for a different way to treat your symptoms, shop online for cures that incorporate homeopathic methodologies.
