Homeopathy for Beginners

A Monument of Samuel Hahnemann, the great physician
who is almost solely responsible for the discovery and development
of homeopathy.

The Law of Similars

Similia Similibus Curentur The Law of Similars is a basic law of Nature. It exists everywhere in every situation. The light of a candle, when surrounded by darkness (its opposite) produces much light. The light of a candle, when surrounded by a similar, stronger light (such as the sun), produces no light at all. Its ability to illuminate is extinguished by the similar, stronger light.

Anyone suffering from tinnitus is well aware that the ringing grows louder as they lie in bed. The quiet (its opposite) results in a maddening roar in the ears! However, by increasing the sound (a similar) in the room (by turning on some music or a fan) the ringing is less noticeable, almost seeming to disappear.

These examples may seem simple, but simplicity is a strength, not by any means a weakness.

To prove to myself that this theory could be applied to aid in healing, I followed the examples set forth in the introduction to The Organon. As Hahnemann recommended, I treated my burns with heat, and my bruises with pressure. Here is what I did:

Sunburns
- After a sunburn, I did not use Noxzema (a cream that is cooling), did not take a cold shower, nor did I leave the window open and the covers off (ALL OPPOSITES), feeling tortured by the terrible burning. As anyone who has had a sunburn (especially a severe one with blistering) is well aware, these methods, while promising, are not effective.
- I took a long, hot bath (A SIMILAR). When I got out of the bath, I didn't let my body get cold, but quickly put on warm clothing. When it was time to go to bed, I curled up under the covers, and kept my warm clothes on. I sweated a lot, but the night was much more bearable, as I was not spending it fighting to keep cool. Moreover, the next day, I was pleased with the results (namely, that I had, for the most part, gotten over the pain of the sunburn).
- Since then, I have done it several times. If I get burned earlier in the day, I just keep on warm clothing once I get out of the hot bath. I suggested it to a kid that got sunburned, and though he thought it was stupid, he exclaimed to me the next day, happily, "It worked!" So, as far as I can tell, it is not some sort of belief based treatment. That is, it appears to work whether the subject believes in it or not.
Minor Burns
- After getting a minor burn on my hand, while cooking, I did not rinse it in cold water (AN OPPOSITE). I did not put aloe or any burn cream on it.
- I went to the sink and turned on the hot water (A SIMILAR). I tested it with my unburnt hand to make sure that it was hot, but not hot enough to burn. Then I put the burn under the water. It hurt! The water felt much hotter on the burn than it did on my healthy skin. But I kept with it, and eventually it did not feel hotter anymore, nor did it feel painful. A burn that apppeared to be bad enough to blister only was a little red and shiny after the process.
- I have done this many times since then. And I am very careful. I always test the heat of the water on my healthy skin to make sure that it is not hot enough to burn me. The longer that I can do this (if I am able to do this until the burnt skin feels the same as the healthy skin, the results are astonishing), the better.
- Hahnemann recommends soaking the burn in heated wine or other liquor. These both create a burning sensation, and that is why they are effective. Using heated alcohol is actually more effective, in my experience, however, I hate the smell.
Bruises
- After banging my head on the underside of a table, I did not limply cry out in pain and sit down unhappily. I took action!
- I first found the lump on my head. I began to rub it with increasing pressure (A SIMILAR). This hurt quite a bit. But I continued to press and rub. The lump appeared to be less pronounced and sensitive than it would have been had I done nothing. In fact, once I pressed upon the bruise of a friend, who instantly got mad at me (I would advise asking first). However, the next day she thanked me and said the bruise had unexpectedly improved.

These experiments demonstrated to me that the body can rapidly recover from insults, when the law of similars is appropriately applied. What is even more stunning, is that a person can recover from all sorts of health problems by applying these same principles!

It is important, that you are aware that IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM AN INJURY OR ANY TYPE OF ILLNESS, YOU SHOULD PERSONALLY CONSULT A QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WHOM YOU TRUST . Please read my disclaimer.

Many people use homeopathic remedies for minor injuries suffered in or around the home and for rashes, acne and other health problems which are bothersome. I do not recommend attempting to treat oneself for any chronic health problems. Nor do I (or should any competent homeopath, in my opinion) recommend the taking of remedies to remove rashes, fungus (such as ringworm or athlete's foot), parasites, or any single specific symptom of a single part of the body (such as a long-standing backache, chronic recurrent headache, persistent nausea, etc.). Treating such things goes against the proper direction of healing.

In cases of minor injuries, many people do self-administer remedies. It is important to see a physician in any serious injury and to use your own best judgment. There are several instances where a remedy is well-suited and, in my experience, has had a noticeably positive effect. The following table has some remedies and circumstances for some simple, acute problems that can come up:

Remedy	Potency	Circumstance
Arnica	30C or 200C	Upon getting a painful bruise. Anything that is sore to the touch, sore on moving (such as broken bones), broken noses, black eyes, especially with an intense bruised feeling.
Ledum	30C or 200C	Puncture wounds (from a nail, a cat or dog bite, an injection, etc.) where there is a feeling of coldness around the wound.
Hypericum	30C or 200C	Wounds to parts full of nerves (pinched fingers, bite wounds with torn flesh) especially when there is pain shooting from the wounded part towards the body.

Once again, if you are suffering from an injury you should personally consult a qualified health care provider whom you trust. WHENEVER A HOMEOPATHIC REMEDY IS INDICATED FOR ANY CRITICAL AND/OR LIFE THREATENING DISORDER IT SHOULD NOT BE USED INSTEAD OF ACCESSING MEDICAL CARE , but it may be used in an emergency until proper medical care is obtained.

The monument to Samuel Hahnemann, the great physician who was almost solely responsible for the discovery and development of homeopathy, located in our nation's capitol.

Copyright 2006 Michael Pinkerton
Update: Monday, March 20, 2006
11:30 pm
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