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Homeopathy is incorrectly called herbal medicine. However, homeopathy itself is a method of treatment not only with herbs, but with various substances of natural origin, including minerals and animal raw materials. In addition, homeopathy treats the symptoms of the disease, not the disease itself. In Poland, treatment with homeopathic medicines is very popular and as many as every third person admits to using them. But there are conflicting opinions about the effectiveness of drugs. What is worth knowing about this treatment method?
Homeopathy was created at the turn of the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. He used herbs and other natural ingredients to treat common diseases. However, homeopathic remedies are remedies that derive from the principle of simile, or similarity. The treatment with this method uses the effects of, for example, herbs that, when diluted, will give the same symptoms as the disease, thus showing their healing properties.
The action of homeopathic remedies is best explained by the example of cutting an onion. The juice of freshly cut onions irritates the mucous membranes in the nose, causing us to sneeze, water our eyes and develop a runny nose that can be caused artificially in this way. On the other hand, onion juice is a great remedy for a runny nose or cough, so the patient is given diluted onion juice, often with added sugar. In this case, the onion is both the cause of the runny nose and the cure for its symptoms. Medicines in homeopathy work the same way.
There are three types of homeopathic remedies:
- herbal medicines,
- animal drugs,
- mineral drugs.
Herbal medicines are most often tinctures or macerates of plants in alcohol. In turn, animal drugs are nothing more than a raw material of animal origin, e.g. venom. Mineral drugs are mineral salts such as calcium, sulfur compounds, etc., which can be administered in various forms.
First of all, homeopathy medications are designed to cure symptoms, not the disease itself. Therefore, they are not intended to treat permanent changes in the body. Homeopathic remedies cannot cure a heart attack, appendicitis, or bone fractures. However, it is possible to successfully treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system, inflammation of the urinary system, sinusitis, neuralgia, migraines, respiratory diseases and skin diseases.
- See also: One in three cancer patients uses homeopathy
Homeopathy – opinion
There are many different opinions about the effectiveness of homeopathy. This is because very often patients buy homeopathic remedies themselves without proper consultation. For homeopathy to work, first the homeopath doctor must interview the patient and select medications individually for him. Two people with the same condition will almost never be given the same medication. When drugs are selected in the right doses, homeopathy will certainly have a reputation as an effective therapy for many people.
A lot of controversy is the fact that a person who is not a doctor can become a homeopath. However, anyone who wants to be treated with this method must complete a course with a curriculum approved by the World Health Organization. In addition, special courses are prepared for doctors and pharmacists to supplement their knowledge about treatment with substances of natural origin.