Helen Swan ~ Natural Health Answers

Homeopathic medicine uses small, safe amounts of natural substances to provoke a healing reaction.

It was created, in its modern form, around 200 years ago by Samuel Hahnemann, a German doctor. The principles of homeopathy originate long before that, some 2000 years ago, at the time of the ancient Greek culture.

Hahnemann (pictured left) developed homeopathy because he disliked the side effects of the strong drugs used at that time - a concern as relevant today as it was in the 17-1800s.

Hahnemann was also concerned about the lack of good scientific observation in treatment, and in homeopathic medicine, he created a rigorous rational and scientific base of observation, comparison, note-taking, and testing of remedies on healthy willing humans. We still follow his principles today.

Homeopathy and the Law of Similars

Homeopathy works on the principle of ‘let like be cured by like’, also called the Law of Similars. This means that what a substance is capable of causing, it can also cure, by stimulating the body to recognise and react against the illness.

Homeopathy uses a safe, small amount of an individually selected substance, to stimulate our bodies' own healing to protect us. A substance is chosen which, in crude amounts, could produce symptoms similar to those the patient suffers. Hence, onions make your eyes run, and homeopathic onion can be used to help hay fever. Hayfever is not caused by onions, but the symptoms are similar! Foxglove can be harmful to the heart, and homeopathic foxglove can help the heart. Heart disease is not usually due to foxglove poisoning, but the symptoms are similar.

It is important to realise that the remedy itself does not heal, it is our own reaction to the remedy that produces healing.

Contrast homeopathy with ‘allopathy’, the principle of opposites, which is the basis of most modern drugs. Modern medicines are commonly 'anti' medicines, for example, anti-inflammatories, anti-biotics, anti'depressants. These act against the symptoms instead of with the whole patient.

Homeopathy has similarities to immunisation. Immunisation also aims to stimulate a response which protects us. However, immunisation does not use individually selected medicines, or safe small amounts. It uses relatively large amounts of the same disease product for everyone.

Homeopathy Uses Latin Remedy Names

Homeopathy (homoeopathy) comes from Greek words meaning ‘like, similar’ and ‘suffering, illness’. However, at the time Hahnemann was formulating the system of modern homeopathy, Latin was the universal language of medicine and science. We write the principle of ‘like cures like’ in Latin: ‘similia similibus curentur’.

Homeopaths also use Latin for the names of homeopathic remedies. We don’t do this to confuse you! We find it helpful because it is a universal language that can be used by homeopaths in every country. Many of the names become abbreviated in common use, for example ‘Gelsemium Sempervivum’ (a flu and nerve remedy) becomes ‘Gels’. ‘Pulsatilla’ (often used in children’s illnesses) becomes ‘Puls’. You will soon find it quite easy to recognise the names.

Homeopathy is a Path to Health

Some people think the word ‘homeopathy’ sounds as if it is made of the words ‘home’ and ‘path’. This is a useful way to think of it. Homeopathy takes us on a path home, to a state of health and happiness – a path you have already begun by reading this.

How Homeopathic Remedies are Made

Your homeopathic remedy is usually a small pill or tablet, based on lactose or sucrose. Liquid formulations are also used.

Any substance can be used in homeopathy, whether vegetable (eg. herbs), animal (eg. snake or wasp venom), or mineral (eg. metals, stones or salts).

For more info on the sources of remedies, see

What are Remedies Made From?

Unlike conventional medicines or even herbs, all homeopathic medicines are safe and without side-effects, when used according to instructions.

We use many thousands of different homeopathic medicines, and each is available in a range of potencies. Potency is explained below.

Laboratory Conditions

The usual process is this:

1 part (unit) of the original substance is mixed with 99 parts (units) of a neutral substance. This makes a dilution of 1 part in 100.

This mixture is not only diluted, it is also vigorously shaken, known as ‘succussion’. The kinetic energy imparted, changes the mixture from a simple dilution.

At the end of this process, the mixture is termed the ‘first centesimal potency’. This is written as ‘1C’.

One part (unit) of this mixture is again mixed with 99 parts of a neutral substance, and succussed. This is the second centesimal potency, written as ‘2C’.

This serial dilution and succussion is repeated as many times as necessary to produce the desired potency. The most commonly used potencies in the UK are: 6C; 12C; 30C; 200C; IM (=1000C).

If the process uses a dilution of 1 part in 10, it is termed a ‘decimal potency’. For example, the third decimal potency is written as ‘3X’ or ‘3D’. Decimal potencies are common in France and Germany.

LM potencies are liquid homeopathic potencies using a dilution of 1 part in 50,000. They are particularly gentle and easy for the patient to control.

No Animal Testing Used in Homeopathy

No animal testing is used in homeopathy, and most remedies are vegan in origin. Vegetarians/vegans can opt not to use any of the animal-derived remedies. Even most of the animal-derived remedies are made without hurting or killing any animal; they use animal fur or feathers, milks, or poisons. However, there are exceptions, so please ask if this concerns you.

If you are lactose-intolerant, or prefer not to use lactose (milk sugar), please request lactose-free formulations. Lactose may be used in the initial stages of preparing any remedy, as it is considered a neutral substance. However, the finished tablet or pill may be lactose or sucrose.

Modern Homeopathic Research

There is a considerable amount of modern research into the effectiveness, and mechanism of action, of homeopathic medicines. This includes studies of animal treatment (not animal experiments) and responses of plants and micro-organisms under laboratory conditions. Research also includes many studies of human illness including asthma, arthritis and childhood diarrhoea.

There is no space to print all results here. For more information please visit the site of the Society of Homeopaths.

Certain people are very critical of homeopathic medicine, and you may read that there is no positive research evidence. This is not true.

What Happens During

Homeopathic Treatment?

Treating the Whole Person

Good quality constitutional homeopathic treatment treats you as a whole person. In homeopathy, we understand that each symptom on the surface originates in a deeper imbalance within. Your symptoms are a guide to the nature of that underlying imbalance.

Your remedy is individually chosen to mirror as many of your symptoms as possible. In this way, we aim to match the deeper state of imbalance. The correctly chosen remedy can activate and support your own healing, in body, mind and spirit.

How to Take Homeopathic Remedies
A guide to getting the best results, from over-the-counter remedies and treatment by your homeopath.

No Side Effects

As homeopathic remedies are not chemical in nature, they cannot cause ‘side effects’. A ‘side effect’ is an unwanted action of a medicine, on a part of the body for which it was not intended. As homeopathic remedies treat all of you, this cannot happen.

What to Expect after Treatment

Short-term or acute symptoms can resolve extremely quickly. In treating a cough, for example, I look for significant improvement in 24 – 48 hours.

Long-term or chronic problems may resolve more slowly, I look for significant improvement (maybe not 100%) in a month.

Symptoms may change from more distressing to less distressing, become less frequent, or be less influenced by outside circumstances.

You may experience ‘detox’ symptoms as your body gets to grips with old problems, for example, going to the toilet more frequently, a headache of a cold.

It is common to feel greater well-being, energy and relaxation.

As your natural health and energy improve, old symptoms may return, and heal naturally.

The exact way that your symptoms change is a guide to the direction of healing, and may also be a guide to further remedies needed.

also read
How to Take Homeopathic Remedies

A guide to getting the best results, from over-the-counter remedies and treatment by your homeopath.

Over the Counter Remedies

All this is very different from the effect of over-the-counter remedies. These are usually taken for specific problems, in fact the law now permits some of them to be labelled with conditions they can be used for. Unlike a constitutional remedy from a homeopath, they are not individually tailored for the whole person. They work best on short-term or acute problems. They are unlikely to effect a long-term cure.

Never take ANY homeopathic remedy for more than 1 month without supervision from a registered homeopath. Do not be disappointed if over-the-counter remedies do not give the results you want. They are not a substitute for qualified advice.

If you are receiving homeopathic treatment, please do not use other homeopathic remedies without discussing it with your homeopath: it may affect the treatment.

You can learn to use homeopathy yourself!

More Information

I will always give you clear instructions, and support you during your homeopathic treatment.

If you have more questions about homeopathic treatment, see:

Online Homeopathic Consultations

What Can Homeopathy Treat?

FAQ