“Homoeopathy is equivalent to conventional medicines in the treatment of illnesses, in both humans and animals” World Health Organisation

“Homoeopathy cures a greater number of people than any other method of treatment” Mahatma Gandhi

Homeopathy is a scientific, reliable and natural system of health care that is fast becoming the preferred mode of treatment around the world. It is a holistic and complete medicinal therapy, which has been in existence for over 200 years. This system restores health, by stimulating the body’s own mechanisms of defense and repair. Homoeopathy is safe and only employs medicine that specifically corresponds with the needs and profile of the particular patient. Homeopathic medicines are mainly of plant, mineral or animal origin.

Homeopathy is a complete therapeutic system that was developed by the observations and investigations of a German Physician Dr Samuel Hahnemann in the late eighteenth century. Its philosophy is governed by specific laws and principles:

The Law of Similars:

This founding principle is still used today in the formulations of new Homoeopathic medications, the basis being that these collective symptoms, if found in a sick person, can be removed or cured by the diluted medicinal substance that produced them in the healthy individual. The homeopathic medicine, which is matched with the patient’s symptoms, is called a simillimum.

The Law of the Minimum Dose:

The selected homeopathic medicine should be given in a form that is not harmful to the patient. Only the minimum amount is necessary to execute a favourable reaction within the patient.

The Law of Individualisation:

It is naïve to believe that disease is a unilateral progression and will only affect one organ or system in the body. Homoeopathy as a primary health care profession, acknowledges the importance of individualization, by this we mean that the entire circumstance of the person is taken into consideration. Disease affects the entire person - body, mind and spirit, and the Homeopathic medicine is selected on holistic principles in order to bring about a cure on all levels of the being. The homeopath regards each patient as unique and individual, and the disease processes are seen in the context of the person as apposed to its medical terminology. The medicine is therefore selected based upon those aspects that make the patient and his/her complaints unique – symptoms, life experience, personality, values, beliefs, habits, emotions, etc.

HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH VS THE ALLOPATHIC APPROACH:

Both approaches to the person in theory have the same principles where the whole body is considered and symptoms are seen as the body’s reaction to disease and illness, as it attempts to overcome them. The treatment however is different in that allopathic medicine and pharmaceuticals are based on the suppression of symptoms and processes in the body such as elimination. Whereas Homoeopathy provides a tool to strengthen the body’s system to take care of itself, which is why when undergoing homoeopathic treatment for an ailment it can get transiently worse before subsiding.

There is no doubt that modern allopathic drugs can be lifesaving in acute situations, as can advances in surgery, but they realistically do not provide the ideal treatment option for chronic diseases. Many people suffer with chronic conditions such as allergies, asthma, migraines, eczema etc. These are at best controlled or suppressed with drugs, with the consequent return of all symptoms when the drugs are stopped. Homeopathy offers real hope of relief and lasting cures in chronic disease, and can have a significant effect even if the patient chooses not to stop their allopathic medication.

HOMOEOPATHY FOR ALL

Everyone and anyone despite their health condition can be helped one way or another by Homoeopathy. Conventional drugs can be taken concurrently because their method of action is completely different. Despite exaggerated claims that are made from time to time, Homoeoapthy cannot cure type 1 Diabetes, Cancer or AIDS, but they can effectively used to relieve many of the symptoms of these illnesses.

GOVERNING BODIES AND REGULATION:

The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) is the statutory council that regulates homeopathy in South Africa, in accordance with Act 63 of 1982. AHPCSA controls all matters relating to students and practitioners - disciplinary matters, educational standards and professional fees.

The Medicine Control Council (MCC) is a government body that examines, revises and regulates the registration and control of all homeopathic medicine.

The Homeopathic Association of South Africa (HSA) concerns itself with all matters relating to the interests of practitioners, maintaining and promoting the good name of the profession.