Enhance Your Knowledge of Homoeopathy

What is Homoeopathy?

Homoeopathy is a system of scientific therapeutics based on specific principles & laws. It is founded by a German physician Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann. Homoeopathy is derived from the Greek word ‘Homoeos’ which means ‘Similar’ & the word ‘Pathos’ which means ‘Suffering or Disease’. In Homoeopathy, those remedies are given which can produce similar symptoms of the patient’s suffering. On 10th April, World Homoeopathy Day is celebrated every year.

What are the Homoeopathic Cardinal Principles?

Homoeopathy is based on some cardinal principles:

Law of Similia: Law of Similia means those remedies which produce similar symptoms during drug proving in healthy human beings.
Law of Simplex: Law of Simplex means only one remedy is given at a one time, for a particular case.
Law of Minimum: A minimum quantity of medicine is given to the patient that is sufficient to produce an artificial disease on a vital force similar to the natural disease.
Doctrine of Drug Proving: It is the systematic & orderly process of investigation of the medicine’s pathogenetic power, i.e. disease-curing power, by applying it to different healthy human beings of both sexes of different ages and of various constitutions.
Doctrine of Drug Dynamization: It is a process, which liberates the inherent power of curative properties of a drug that remain in a latent state through the process of succussion or trituration.
Theory of Vital Force: It is a spiritual power that animates the organism & keeps all the parts of the organism in harmonious order regarding sensation & function, known as ‘Vital Force’.
Theory of Chronic Disease: The actual cause of chronic diseases is miasms (disease-producing agents), There are 3 miasms Psora, Syphilis & Sycosis.

What are the different sources of Homoeopathy?

Homeopathy medicines are prepared from different sources like Vegetable Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Mineral Kingdom, Sarcodes, and Nosodes.

How are Homoeopathy Medicines Prepared?

Homoeopathy medicines are prepared in three scales. They are as follows-

Decimal Scale: In this, the first potency is made by mixing 1ml of the selected medicine’s drug substance with 9ml of alcohol, and 100 times succussion is given to the mixture. The second potency is made by mixing 1ml of 1st potency with 9ml of alcohol.

In decimal scale, potency is denoted by ‘X’.

Centesimal Scale: In this scale, 1st potency is made by mixing 1ml of mother tincture of the selected medicine with 99ml of alcohol & and 100 times succussion is given to the mixture. 2nd potency is made by mixing 1ml of 1st potency with 99ml of alcohol.

In centesimal scale, potency is denoted by ‘C’.

50th Millesimal Scale: In this, the first potency is made by mixing 1 drop of mother tincture of the selected medicine with 100 drops of alcohol, and 100 times succussion is given to the mixture. 2nd potency is made by mixing 1 globule of 1st potency with 1 drop of water for dissolving &100 drops of alcohol.

In the 50th millesimal scale, potency is denoted by LM/1 or 0/1 to LM/30 or 0/30.

What is the Dosage of Homoeopathic Medicines?

Homoeopathic medicines dosage depends on the nature of the disease, the nature of the medicine, and the susceptibility of the patient. It is different for different patients.

What is the Vehicle in Homoeopathy?

The vehicle is a substance, in which medicines are prepared or mixed. It is given for internal administration either by oral or olfaction method & external application for medications, like the sugar of milk, globules, tablets, distilled water, alcohol, glyceride, olive Oil, Vaseline, and Lanolin.

What are the Various Methods of Administrating Homoeopathic Medicines?

Oral Method: Medicines are taken by mouth. e.g., syrups, aqueous solutions, powders elixirs, emulsions, mixtures, capsules & pills.
Sublingual Administration: Put the medicated globules or tablets under the tongue.
Olfaction: Inhalation of the medicine through the nose and mouth.
Skin Application: Rub or apply the medicine on the surface of the skin.