Transcript Basics of HOMEOPATHY Presented by Gregory Peechatt DHM, …

Basics of
HOMEOPATHY
Presented by
Gregory Peechatt DHM, ND, PhD
Dr. of Homeopathic Medicine (UK), Naturopath &
Certified School Psychologist
(Everything contained in this hand-out is meant for educational purposes only and as such should not be taken as medical
recommendations for any diagnosed disease. This may be reproduced and distributed only with the author's permission)
Session I
Recent changes in the practice of medicine
‘Happy’ Facts & ‘Sad’ Realities
Birth of Homeopathy
History of Homeopathy
Resurgence of Homeopathy
Homeopathy defined and some words explained
Electromagnetic and Homeopathic spectrum
Preparation of remedies & scales of dilution
Scientific basis of Homeopathy
Principles of Homeopathy: Classical & Modern
Recent changes in Medicine and Health
‘Happy’ Facts:
• Advanced technology & multimillion-dollar machines
show all our insides right before us on computer screens.
• Bio-chemical synthetic drugs effect ‘miracle’ cures.
• Organ replants are rescuing thousands from death.
‘Sad’ Realities:
• Steady decline in Americans satisfaction with their health
• More and more people getting sick & tired of getting sick
• Increase in number of heart disease, cancers, joint pains,
multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue etc.
• Dx. of childhood diabetes, Arthritis, Asthma, Allergies,
ADHD, Autism, Bipolar disease, Depression etc. on the rise
• Americans are becoming the heaviest people in the world.
• More persons depend on Rx. to get through their day.
• Thrill for education is declining among the youngsters.
Birth of Homeopathy
Homeopathy was originated by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann a German
Physician and Biochemist towards the end of the 18th century.
Dr. Hahnemann after his graduation in 1782 he practiced traditional
medicine for 9 years. He was quite disenchanted by the then treatment methods
of heavy drugging, purging, blood letting etc. which didn’t have much scientific
and clinical bases. He quit practicing and went on the mission of finding gentler
treatments & scientific basis of the healing power of many medicinal substances.
Besides being an MD, he was a brilliant bio-chemist and linguist who
spoke 22 languages. Translating books was his ‘work cum study’ at med. School.
He still continued it and while translating a work by William Cullen a leading
physicist of his time, he was startled by Cullen’s claim that the bitter property of
Peruvian bark (Cinchona) which contained quinine was responsible for the
healing of Malaria by the use of Cinchona
He found that it is the ‘whole profile of cinchona’ is what is responsible
for the amelioration of Malaria by Cinchona, because he experimentally
disproved the first and proved that repeated intake of cinchona in somewhat large
quantity produced Malaria symptoms in healthy individuals.
This made Dr. Hahnemann to coin the basic principle of Homeopathy
“Similia similibus curantur” = “similars are cured by similars”
Historical Overview
• Homeopathy stood the test of time for more than 200 years.
• From early 1800s on, it rapidly gained momentum in the field of medicine.
• It started spreading all over the world including United states.
• The end of the 19th century was the golden era of Homeopathy in U.S.
• The 1st AMA was the American Institute of Homeopathy founded in 1884.
• By the time there were 22 Homeopathic medical schools and several Hospitals
• Many illustrious Drs. are from the U.S. Constantine Herring, James Kent et al.
• Mary Alcott, Daniel Webster, Rockefeller and royal family in UK were patrons.
• 20 – 25% of MDs identified themselves as Homeopaths which boosted income
• In spite of all the above it started declining by the early 1900s. Some reasons are
• AMA making it against code of ethics for its members to include Homeopathy
• Orthodox physicians influencing legislations which limited its study & practice.
• Industrial revolution and the origin of big pharmaceuticals with ‘quick fixes’
Resurgence of Homeopathy
• In spite of all the above Homeopathy did not die out. It stood the
test of time.
• From mid 1980s there is a surge in the acceptance of homeopathy
among the general public.
• Lately it is getting approved to practice legally in some of the
states and lobbying is going on for approval in many more states.
• It is becoming increasingly popular in Europe where it is no
longer considered ‘alternative medicine’, instead it is an integral part
of mainstream medicine.
• In France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland etc. almost 50% pf family
physicians prescribe homeopathic medicines.
• In Britain it is the Royal Family’s medicine. (WHO) World Health
Organization has qualified it as the medicine of the 21st century.
Homeopathy defined and words explained:
• Dr. Hahnemann combined two Greek roots ‘homoios’ = similar and
‘pathos’ = what one feels or suffers to create the word Homeopathy.
Hence the literal definition is ‘Similar suffering’
• Homeopathic medicines are natural substances which are ‘proven’ to
have the ability to produce a totality of sufferings very similar to
those the given patient is currently going through. Homeo. medicines
are made from all the three (plant, animal, mineral) kingdoms
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What is Homeopathic ‘proving’ and ‘repertorization’?
What is the theory of ‘signatures’?
What is ‘potentization’? ‘mother tincture’?, ‘Avagadro limit’?
What do the numbers/letters like 6x, 9c, 12x, 1M, CM etc. mean?
What is ‘trituration’ and ‘succussion’?
What is a ‘nosode’?
Why few homeopathic medicines have names of poisons & toxins
How safe are homeopathic Rx? What is a ‘healing crisis’?
Preparation of remedies & scales of dilution
• Preparation processes and the names of the remedies (in Latin) remain the same.
• Processes are serial diluation, succussion and trituration
• Serial dilution means each dilution is made from dilution that immediately
precedes it. This is what reduces the toxicity of the original crude substance.
• Succussion and Trituration are the methods by which mechanical energy is
delivered to the preparations in order to imprint the pharmacological message of
the original (plant, animal, mineral) substance upon the molecule of the diluent.
Succussion (violent shaking) is used for soluble drugs and trituration (prolonged
grinding to the level of 1/10 6) for insoluble drugs (silica or aurum). The diluents
used are alcohol water and lactose.
Samples scales of dilution
Potency
# of succuss/trituration
Dilution
1c
1
1/100
2c
2
1/100 X 100
1x
1
1/10
1 M (= 1000 c)
1000
1/100 1000th power
CM (=100000 c)
100000
1/100 100000th power
Scientific Basis of Homeopathy
• According to Trevor Cook, DHM, PhD, principal of the British
Institute of Homeopathy and the President of the UK Homeopathic
Medical Association, the scientific basis for the therapeutic action
of highly diluted homeopathic remedies appears to lie in the
domain of quantum physics.
• A study by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed
distinctive reading of sub-atomic activity in 23 different remedies
used in the study. Placebos did not show this.
• Other studies in Italy and Germany revealed electromagnetic
signals in specific frequencies in different homeopathic remedies.
• Conclusion can be that a homeopathic remedy may convey an
electromagnetic ‘message’ to the body that matches the specific
electromagnetic frequency or pattern of an illness in order to
stimulate the whole person’s natural healing response.
Principles of classical & modern Homeopathy
• Likes are cured by likes – similia similibus curantur – law of Similars
• Higher the dilution, greater its potency – law of Infinitesimal Dose
• An illness is specific to an individual – law of Wholistic Medical Model
3 more laws (Hering’s laws of cure) were added in the mid 1900s
Healing progresses from:
• inside to outside (from the psychological/emotional aspects to the physical)
• the upper parts of the body (head, neck ears, throat) to the lower parts (arms,
hands, fingers, abdomen, legs, feet, toes) of the body.
• the most recent maladies to the oldest (in the reverse of chronological order)
Classical Homeopathy is the one which strictly adheres to all the above
principles starting one constitutional remedy in a somewhat high potency and
increasing the potency using the ‘plusing’ technique.
Modern Homeopathy is the one which uses many remedies, or combination of
many at the same time mostly based on the symptoms or differential diagnosis.
This is very popular in Europe, India etc. It is becoming popular in US also.
Session 2
• Survey findings on Homeopathy
• Some myths surrounding Homeopathy and the facts
• Principles of Homeopathy
• Difference between Allopathy and Homeopathy
• Suppressive versus supplementary
• Bio-chemical medicine versus Bio-energetic medicine
• Basis for Homeopathic prescription
• Practical tips for everyday dis-ease free living by Homeopathy
Pediatrics
ENT
Cold & Flu
Female problems
Psychiatric
First Aid
• Where do we find Homeopathic Remedies? How much it costs?
Survey Findings
• All over the world more and more people use
Homeopathy occasionally.
• Lately an increasing number of people have
heard about or read about it.
• World Health Organization has called it ‘the
Medicine of the 21st Century’.
• In spite of the above, only very few select a
Homeopath as their primary health consultant
or use homeopathic medicines as the first line
therapy of choice in every-day living.
Certain Myths and Facts:
Myth 1. Homeopathy is an unproven science
Fact: Homeopathy is based on experimental pharmcalogical and clinical data. Over 200 years homeopathic
medicines have been studied for their efficacy in a variety of
indications. In fact the term ‘Allopathy’ was coined by the
founder of homeopathy, whom the allopaths regard as the
founder of experimental pharmacology.
Myth 2. Homeopathy has no medicinal value, they are just
sugar pills which act merely as ‘placebos’
Fact: Although many homeopathic medicines are in the form
of white sugar pills/alcoholic drops and from the appearance
or taste can be misunderstood as having no medicinal value,
in fact those pills/drops are just base materials or vehicles
for the said medicines which are sugar/alcohol based.
Homeopathic medicines have been scientifically studied the
world over and found to be effective in a wide range of
diseases. Thus they are in no way just ‘placebos’.
Myth 3: Homeopathy is slow acting and cannot be used in acute cases of
diarrhea, fever, cough, cold, ear infections, tonsillitis etc.
Fact: Homeopathy is fast acting in acute cases and can be
effectively used in treating infections, Cold & Flu, fever etc.
Unfortunately, people go to a homeopath only when the acute
problems become chronic or the conventional approaches fail to be
effective. Naturally these cases take longer time to treat. Also most
people take recourse to homeopathy in cases of arthritis, allergic
asthma, chronic skin conditions like psoriasis etc. which take longer
time to treat with any other medicines.
Myth 4: Homeopathy is a ‘magic remedy’ which can treat any
disorder.
Fact: Homeopathy like any other field of medicine, has its
limitations. For example, it cannot treat cases where surgery is
unavoidable, dental cases etc.
Myth 5: Homeopathy is only useful in chronic cases
Fact: Very often it is - where everything else has failed! But the true
reason for this perception is because people turn to homeopathy so
late when everything else has failed! After years of allopathic
treatment often an illness becomes chronic. The treatment can now
naturally take longer time than usual. It may be also because
Allopathy was initially used.
Myth 6: Homeopath gives the same white pills in all types of
illnesses. How can they be really effective?
Fact: Depending on the illness, homeopaths medicate with different
medicines. The sugar pills serve only as a vehicle for transfer of the
medicine. The selected medicine, out of a range of more than 1200
different medicines, is targeted to the individual problems.
Myth 7: Diabetic patients cannot use Homeopathic medicines.
Fact: Yes, they can. The minute amount of sugar globuli taken daily
does not matter. Sugar intake in daily diet is much higher than that.
Myth 8: One has to follow strict dietary restrictions while on
Homeopathic Medicines
Fact: Some patients are asked to abstain from coffee, tea,
tobacco, alcohol etc. as these substances interfere with the
action of certain homeopathic medicines. This is true only
of very few medicines. Moreover, restricting alcohol and
tobacco is also safe and healthy.
Myth 9: Homeopaths give the same white pills for all
types of illness. How can they be really effective?
Fact: Depending on the illness, Homeopaths medicate
with different medicines. The sugar pills are only the
vehicles for the transfer of medicines. The selected
medicine, out of a range of more than 1200 different
dilutions, is targeted to the individual problems.
Myth 10: Homeopathic Doctors are quacks who have no
formal training in the field of medicine.
Fact: In most parts of the world qualified doctors practice
Homeopathy. For example, in India there are over 160 medical
colleges which offer degree and post-graduate studies in
Homeopathy. Sometime back that was the story here in U.S.
too. But now it is different, although most of the genuine and
immensely effective Homeopaths here are still well trained.
Myth 11: Homeopathy also has side effects as any Rx.
Fact: False with homeo medicines potentized 3c or higher.
Can be true with medicines which are in mother tincture form
or triturates of 2c or lower. Also be aware that potencies 200c
or higher should be used only by professional homeopaths as
they can bring on ‘healing crisis’ which layman cannot handle.
Principles of Homeopathy
• ‘similia similibus curantur’ = ‘likes are cured by likes’
This means, the disease syndrome which is caused by the
intake of a substance in large enough quantity can be cured
by the very same substance when administered in the
Homeopathically prepared from.
• The more a substance is diluted, the greater its potency
This is done through an alchemical process called
potentization. In this, a substance is systematically diluted
(sometimes even to the point of leaving no original
molecule in it) and then either by grinding it a certain
number of times (trituration) or by shaking it vigorously in
liquid solution (succussion). This decreases the material part
of the drug and increases its effectiveness as a remedy. This
is the reason why there is no side effect.
• An illness is specific to an individual (wholistic model)
Difference between Allopathy & Homeopathy
- Allopaths often prescribe the same medicine (at
least generically) for all the persons who has the
same diagnostic disease name.
- Homeopaths almost always recommend entirely
different medicines for persons with the same
diagnosis.
- This is because homeopathic prescription is based
on the matching of the profile of a whole person
with the total symptom picture of a remedy.
Homeopathy focuses on the whole person than the
differential diagnosis.
Matching patient’s Profile with Remedy Picture is the
basis for a Homeopathic Prescription
For determining the patient profile data relating to many
areas are crucial:
- In the area of physical health & development
- Psycho-social history,
- Any particular physical or psychological symptom
which stands out as a hallmark.
- Responses relating to ‘modalities’. It means collecting
the answers to the questions like whether the prominent
symptoms get aggravated or ameliorated by heat/cold,
covered/exposed, by rest/movement, by soft/hard touch on
the body,while sitting/standing/lying down, in different
seasons, during day/night etc.
Supplementary Versus Suppressive
• Homeopathic Rx. is supplementary to the immune system and
concurrent with the vital energy (Chi) and healing process.
• Conventional Rx. is said to be mostly suppressive
• A Classical Homeopath does not prescribe one Rx. For headache,
another for upset stomach and a 3rd for depression etc.
• Although one may have numerous physical and psycholog.
symptoms simultaneously, she/he has only one disease, namely
the underlying susceptibility. If the right remedy (similimum) is
given it effectively stimulates the person’s natural defense and
vital energy (Chi) and helps to heal the current illness and raises
the general level of health.
• Single remedy approach shows whether it works or not.
• Research has shown that hospital patients receive an average of
nine medicines at the same time. The synergetic and side effects
of many medicines at the same time to an already disordered
physiology may be frightening.
Practical tips for everyday ‘dis-ease’ free living:
A. Pediatrics: Homeo is proven quite effective in Pediatrics
(i) Ear Infections - Mercurius Solubilis 6th –30th tid
(ii) Otitis Media with fever - Hepar Sulf. & Ferrum Phos 15c
alternate it.
(iii) Fever with Cold & Flu Symptoms - Give the following
three meds. in 30c potency one after the other every hour –
Aconitum, Belladonna & Chamomilla known as the ABCs.
(iv) Tonsilitis – Start with Phytoplaca 15 c and do plusing.
(v) Enuresis (bed wetting) – Enukind – a combination Rx. From India
(vi) Sleep disturbance with vivid dreams –Stramonium 30 bd
(vii) ADD/ADHD – CSE (Cell Signal Enhancers) 14 & 15
with a constitutional remedy (1M+) prescribed by DHM.
(viii) Autism spectrum Disorders – CSE 12 & 20 together
with Chelation, diet changes and behavioral approaches.
• Whooping Cough
• Petrussin 30, bd. Additionally, Dorsera 30, 4-hourly,
especially if the cough is worse after the midnight. Give
Ipecacuana 30, 4-hourly, if much vomiting associated with it.
• Acute Bronchitis: If this develops as a complication of cold
or flu, at the very early stage few doses of Ferrum Phos. 30, or
Phosphorus 30, 4-hourly may abort the descent of infection.
• If Bronchitis is established with dry cough and if the patient
is thirsty and if the chest is sore when coughing, it is usually
treated by alternating Bryonia 30 and Phosphorus 30, 2-hourly
• Influenza (Flu) In its very earliest stages may be arrested by
the timely administration of Oscillococcinum 200 4-hourly 2
to 3 doses. If it has deveoloped and tends to be the chameleonlike behavior of common cold, have recourse to classical way.
B.Diarrhea & Acute Gastrointestinal affections of all ages
• Generally used homeopathic medicines are the following:
• Arsenicum Album 6 to 30th : every hour when the
pt.has violent vomiting and diarrhea followed by a
great deal of pain in the stomach and intestines.
• Ipecacuana is indicated when there is persistent dry,
unproductive cough and extreme nausea.
• Colocynthis and/or Magnesia Phos. are indicated
when the person has cramping and clutching pains
ameliorated by pressure and warmth.
• Podiphillum is one of the most common medicine
in cases of acute diarrhea.
• Bryonia is the remedy for acute gastroenteritis.
C. For first aid and other conditions of all ages:
• Arnica Montana for bumps and bruises in any accident or after
surgery (by Rx. Intake & external gel application)
• Calendula cream : for skin rashes, minor burns, eczema, sun burn
• Rhus Toxicodendron: best remedy for poison ivy.
• Sulphur : the major remedy for different kinds of eczema
• Arsenicum Album : for several skin problems
• Arsenicum Iodatum: best known remedy for psoriasis
• Sanguinaria Canadensis, Bryonia, Belladonna, Gelsemium
Pulsatilla: different kinds of headaches including migrane
• Arsenicum, Euphrasia, Nux Vomica or Sabadilla: are indicated if the
allergic symptoms of upper respiratory tract symptoms progressing
to mild wheezing or Asthma
D. Female problems: Apis Mellifica, Belladonna (pain),
Cantharis (cramps, burning pain, UTI), Colicynthis (sharp
pains in overies), Cimifuga (menstrual cramps), Chamomilla
(PMS with extreme mood swings), Pulsatilla (PMS & during
period very irritable, sensitive, moody, weepy, depressed),
Caulophillum (problems during pregnancy and with delivery)
E. Psychiatric/psycho-somatics : Ignatia : ill effects of
prolonged grief, rapid alteration of mental state, hyterical,
hypersensitive, globus hytericus, more functional than organic.
Pulsatilla: mild, yealding, tearful, passive, girlish women,
better for consolation, changeable and delicate, easily ‘tipped’.
Sepia: ‘he woman’, control freak, depressive, irritable, no
interest in sex etc. Natrum Muriaticum: Can never be free of
sickness, can’t stop complaining, victim complex, depressed.
Aurum Metalicum :Chronic depression with suicidal ideations.
Where do I get the Homeopathic medicines from?
• Dolisos America in Las Vegas : 1-800-876-9505 : They have many
combinations besides the single one we discussed.
• Boiron: in California : 1-800-264-7661 www.boiron.com They carry
many poly pharmacy Rx. like Oscillococcinum
• Sinusalia : for Sinus problems and associated headaches
• Roxalia : for Sore throat and hoarseness
• Sedalia : for stress, Alleraide : for allergies
• Optique 1: for eye irritation, Camilla : for teething of babies
• Similisan – Eye drops (Swiss made) – excellent for most eye problems
• Biomed in Seattle for CSEs 1-888-637-3516 www.biomedcomm.com
• Emerson Ecologies in N.H. 1-800-654-4432 has homeopathic Rx
You can also get many of the medicines locally from
1- LORI’S Natural Foods Center, 900 Jefferson Road,
(Genesee Valley Mall) 585-424-2323
2- Dr. Peechatt has a collection of many remedies.
They include : (a) high potencies (200c - cm or infinitesimal),
(b) rare or hard to find remedies and (c) combination remedies
from India, France, Germany, Switzerland and USA
Tel: (585) 242- 8565 or (585) 281-0899,
(585) 436 - 2560 Ex. 1350 only in emergency
E-mail: [email protected]
website : www.homeopathyweb.org