Prof Care Mother Child. 1994 Jun-Jul; 4(5): 151-2.

Homoeopathy: 1--What is it?

Kaplan B.

Homoeopathy is a form of medical therapeutics discovered by Dr Samuel Hahnemann. It is not synonymous with "natural medicine". The principle is of "likes being able to treat likes". Medicines capable of curing symptoms are able to produce those same symptoms in a healthy person. The aim of the homoeopathic remedy is to stimulate the body's immune system to fight the illness Homoeopathic remedies may be drawn from herbs, metals or poisons but are safe because given in very dilute amounts. Homoeopaths treat the whole person rather than the disease itself and a detailed history of the patient's likes, dislikes and habits is taken before a remedy is prescribed. How homoeopathic remedies work is not fully understood but in practice they appear to be effective, as some double-blind studies have shown. Not all illnesses are suitable for homoeopathic remedies alone.