Homeopathy

Homeopathy - does it work?

Do homeopathic remedies work? Yes, they most certainly do, "but" there are some "buts". The homeopathic remedies I am referring to are those such as Bach Flowers and preparations that consist of many successive dilutions so that there is less than one molecule of the original substance left. The stance of orthodox science/medicine is that such preparations cannot possibly work, and therefore any beneficial outcomes are the result of the placebo effect (a phenomena which isn't understood, but is neatly labelled as a scientific fact and therefore explained!).

Conspiracy theorists say that the big drug companies would lose a lot of money if the population at large shifted to natural remedies. Therefore, the drug companies release negative propaganda against naturopathic and homeopathic remedies!

Homeopathic remedies do indeed work, but not for everyone, and this is part of the difficulty of making greater use of them. Note the following:

Homeopathic remedies will not work for everyone. They work best for people of predominately sattvic nature. That rules out the greater percentage of the population.
Homeopathic remedies need to be correctly prescribed. The health practitioner needs to spend a bit of time with the patient in order to determine which remedy/remedies are required. The wrong remedy won't have any affect. This doesn't suit the modern doctor's practice where a fast turn-around of patients is required - it is easier to prescribe an aspirin and tell the patient to go home.
A certain amount of trial-and-error seems to be involved to find the right remedy. Honesty on the patients part, and skill/art from the homeopath. What works for one person will not necessarily work for another. This is hard in a scientific world where doctors want to prescribe a medicine that has predictable effects in a high percentage of applications. Homeopathic remedies do not work this way.
The patient needs to follow certain rules, such as avoiding stimulants like coffee and peppermint whilst taking remedies. Homeopathic preparations can be rendered ineffective if the patient ignores the guidelines. This discipline is too hard for many people.

Homeopathic remedies are complementary to allopathic medicine. A homeopathic remedy is not going to mend a broken arm, or fix a decaying tooth. The remedies can be very effective with the problems that allopathic medicine has trouble with, such as migraines, eczema, allergies, stress and anxiety, etc.

I have used homeopathic remedies for years. However, it took many visits to a number of naturopaths before I was given remedies that actually worked for me. I tried quite a number of potions and some seemed to have absolutely no affect at all. So much for the placebo affect! Then I found some that worked, and worked consistently for me. I have used them with consistent results for many years.

If homeopathic remedies are so difficult to use, why use them at all? There are some significant benefits:

Few, if any, side effects
Low cost, natural substances

In my case, the homeopathic remedy provides a cure for which I have never been able to find an allopathic equivalent. If I had been able to find a pill or cream or drug from a pharmacy, I would have used it. I tried homeopathic remedies because I hadn't been able to find a standard cure, and the homeopathic cure remains the only one I have ever found that works. So when I hear traditional medical practitioners scoffing at homeopathy they instantly lose credibility with me. I absolutely agree that prescribing natural remedies can be a hit-and-miss affair. They don't work for everyone, and their correct application requires considerably more time, skill and attention than some doctors are prepared to invest in their patients. Homeopathic preparations are not necessarily going to be a cure for cancer or other serious medical conditions, especially if the patient isn't going to make any other changes to their lifestyle. But homeopathic remedies do work for some individuals in some situations, and this alone should be reason enough for scientific investigation to continue which hopefully one day will lead to greater understanding of the intricate workings of the universe.