Homeopathy is a holistic medical practice that treats patients, not the symptom or disease. As the patient gets healthier, the disease disappears. In the words of Socrates, “Don’t just treat part of the body, for the part can never be well unless the whole is well.” It is based on the process of individualized therapy, as one prescription will not cure all and one symptom may not mean the same disease for all patients.

Known as the father of homeopathy, German physician Samuel Hahnemann, originally set forward the principles of homeopathy in a book called The Organon of The Medical Art in 1810. Dr. Hahnemann’s discovered that a micro dose of a naturally occurring substance, such as a plant, mineral or animal product, which produced similar symptoms as he saw in the patient’s illness, would in fact stimulate the body to fight the disease.

He began the task of recording the symptomatic effects of nature’s substances which produce physical reactions so he could use tiny harmless doses to help his patients.

Dr. Hahnemann codified the preparation methods of these doses, which have changed over time. Homeopathic medicines are made by a series of successive steps to diluting a starting base or substance into a weaker or infinitesimal dose. Available in three forms — pellets, drops or tablets — all are taken under the tongue.

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