Homeopathy is a holistic form of healing. This means that it takes account of the unique­ness of each person in the treat­ment of illness. Whereas orthodox medicine might treat a number of people with a cold in the same way, homeopathy will treat patient-specific symptoms as closely as possible. Thus each per­son might end up with a completely different remedy, Homeopathy is word derived from the Greek word homois meaning 'similar' and pathos meaning 'suffering', It is based on the natural Law of Similars, and works on the principle that like can cure like* - in other words, that a disease can best be cured by a medicine, which when given to healthy people, produces symptoms similar to the disease, Essentially homeopathy works by help­ing the body's defense system to fight the disease itself. The Greek physician Hippocrates was the first proponent of this principle in the fifth century. In subsequent years the theory was abandoned in favor of other alternatives.

However, treatment in accordance with this Law of Similars was re-dis­covered and refined about 200 years ago by a German physician called Samuel Hahnemann. He is considered to be the founder of homeopathy as we know it today While the like' principle is also the theoretical basis for the use of vaccines and allergy treatments, in homeopathy, it is taken a step further. Homeopathic medicines are prepared by dissolving a natural extract - plant, mineral or animal - in an extremely diluted solution and shaking it, then repeating the process over and over again. Hanemann used these in his system of 'provings' which methodically tested the affectivity of medicinal substances used at the time by giving those to healthy human volunteers and record­ing the observed changes. From these provings detailed remedy pictures have been compiled which have subse­quently been confirmed by clinical experience.

Hahnemann also observed that only minute amounts of the appropriate medicine were needed to stimulate the human body into building up resistance to disease and restoring health to the system. In fact he found that the weak­er dilutions (or solutions) acted more quickly and were more effective than the more concentrated solutions.

Homeopathy can be used by anyone of any age for most physical and mental complaints; it can also help where other forms of medicine find the symptoms too vague to treat conventionally. Its gentle, non-invasive nature means many are first attracted to it as an alternative during pregnancy or for children’s health problems, such as asthma and eczema. It alleviates arthritis, hypertension, hayfever, allergies, menstrual and digestive disorders, and also emotional states such as grief, trauma, depression and anxiety which can manifest themselves in physical symptoms.

Homeopathy treats the whole person all of you -body mind and spirit !

There are other advantages as well:

• The medicines are easy to take and pleasant-tasting.
• They are non-toxic and non-habit forming.
• The practice of homeopathy encourages the body to heal itself.
• Homeopathy is effective in the permanent cure of chronic diseases.