Fibromyalgia Homeopathy

By: TERRY S.

Homeopathy, or homeopathic medicine, is a medical therapy that is designed to stimulate the body’s natural healing ability. Homeopathy was invented in Germany more than two centuries ago; it has been practiced in the United States since the 1800s.

The premise of homeopathy is “like cures like,” meaning that a disease or symptom can be ‘cured’ by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy individuals. Homeopathy is performed by administering extremely small, diluted doses of substances that would normally produce illness or symptoms if administered in larger amounts. This “law of minimum dose” posits that the lower the dose, the more effective it is at treating the disease. For the purposes of homeopathy, substances are diluted incrementally and then shaken in between each dilution – a process known as potentization. The process of potentization is thought to transmit information in the form of energy from the original substance to the final diluted product. In reality, many homeopathic remedies are diluted so thoroughly that none of the healing substance remains following the final dilution. Homeopathy controls for this, however, by purporting that the substance has left its “essence” in the solution, which then stimulates the healing processes within the body. This particular theory is known as the “memory of water.”  Homeopathic remedies are extracted from natural substances found in plants, minerals, or animals.

Homeopathic practitioners typically take into account patients’ personal health history and genetic history, as well as their body type, and current symptoms. Treatments are often lengthy in duration, as they are individualized to each particular patient and their needs. As such, two individuals with the same condition may received completely different homeopathic treatments. Homeopathy has been used for a variety of health conditions, including allergies and asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, digestive problems, ear infections, headaches, and skin problems. In addition, some individuals use homeopathy to promote overall well-being and prevent disease.

Homeopathic remedies are required to be prepared in accordance with the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States (HPUS) guidelines, which were included in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act passed into law in 1938. As such, homeopathic remedies are regulated in the same way that over-the-counter drugs are, however they are not required to undergo the same rigorous safety and efficacy testing. In addition, the US Food and Drug Administration requires that homeopathic remedies meet various legal standards with regard to their potency, purity, and packaging materials, and some remedies require a prescription in order to be obtained for use. In general, there are no widely known side effects of homeopathy, and it is generally considered safe; however, individuals considering homeopathic treatments should always consult with their doctor before starting any homeopathic therapy.