A homeopathic doctor, also known as a homeopath, practices homeopathy, which is a medical system based on the belief that the body can cure itself. Homeopaths use tiny amounts of natural substances, like plants and minerals, which they believe stimulate the bodys natural healing process. Homeopathy was developed in the late 1700s in Germany and is common in many European countries.
A basic belief behind homeopathy is "like cures like." In other words, something that brings on symptoms in a healthy person can, in a very small dose, treat an illness with similar symptoms. Homeopathic doctors weaken these ingredients by adding water or alcohol and then shake the mixture as part of a process called "potentization". They believe this step transfers the healing essence, and that the lower the dose, the more powerful the medicine. In fact, many of these remedies no longer contain any molecules of the original substance.
During an appointment with a homeopath, they will ask a number of questions about your mental, emotional, and physical health. They will prescribe the remedy that best matches all of your symptoms and tailor the treatment for you. Homeopathic remedies come in a variety of forms, like sugar pellets, liquid drops, creams, gels, and tablets. Over-the-counter homeopathic remedies are also available at drugstores and health food stores.
Homeopathic medicines are made from a variety of sources, such as plants, animals, and minerals, and are considered safe and free from serious adverse reactions. Homeopathic medicines can be in the form of liquid, granules, powder, or tablets. To determine a treatment plan for a person, a homeopath will consider all of the persons symptoms (physical, mental, or emotional) and identify the remedy that is capable of producing in a healthy person, symptoms most "like" the symptoms the person is suffering from.
It is important to note that there is no strong evidence for homeopathys effectiveness greater than a placebo. Critics of homeopathy suggest that any results or outcomes are due to the placebo effect, where symptoms may improve although no real medicine was taken. Another criticism of homeopathy is that the medical practice focuses on symptoms instead of treating their underlying causes.
