Homeopathy is a Greek word," homeo" meaning similar, "pathos" meaning disease or suffering.

Homeopathy, what is it? It is a  type of alternative medicine, that may seem a bit unusual to many of us who are used to traditional or allopathic medicine. It employs tiny amounts of natural substances from plants, animals and minerals, to help bring the body's immune system back into balance. Based on the theory, "like cures like", this idea dates back 2000 years ago, to the time of Hippocrates, a Greek physician,  who is considered to be the father of medicine. He showed that the cause of something can also be the cure. For instance, most of us are aware that poison ivy (scientific name Rhus Toxicodendron) can cause itchy and annoying skin eruptions, a natural cure for this is Rhus
Tox, which is taken sublingually or dissolved under the tongue.


Homeopathic practitioners believe that symptoms, while uncomfortable, can actually be a good thing because they are our body's way of ridding itself of sickness. Their main objective is not to merely keep symptoms in check, like traditional medicine, but to cure the cause of the illness.

One in five physicians living in urban areas of the U.S.A used homeopathy in the mid-nineteenth century.  As the 20th century began, homeopathy fell out of favor due to strong opposition from the American Medical Association.  Also, advances in modern medicine helped to overshadow it. Splits among homeopathic practitioners was another reason for its decline.  A resurgence began again in the 1970s and continues to grow today.  Though it is spreading in the United States, it is far more popular in Europe, Asia, Latin America and even more widely used in India.


Next Up!  More on the substances and handling.