The word homeopathy comes from Greek hoboes, like and pathos, suffering, and the principle underlying homeopathy is like us cured by like.
In other words, substances which in healthy people cause certain symptoms can significantly help sick people who are experiencing those symptoms.
A German physician established the principles of homeopathy in the late 18th century and is regarded as the father of homeopathy.
The doctor devoted his life to testing an huge number of animals, vegetable and mineral substances.
He recruited healthy volunteers on whom he could test these before he tries them out on the sick and between 1790 and 1805 he tested sixty remedies.
Homeopathy is very different to orthodox medicine, which tries to suppress symptoms.
If you have trouble sleeping, for example, a doctor will prescribe tablets that will bring on sleep artificially.
A homeopath, however, will do exactly the opposite and prescribe minute quantities of a substance, such as coffee, which in large doses would almost certainly keep you awake.
If you have hay fever, you may be prescribed a remedy made from a range of pollens.
The reactions of healthy volunteers, a process known as proving, have been documented in homeopathic handbooks, the best known of which is homeopathic material medicine.
Different herbs are classified as cold, cool, warm, hot or neutral depending on the way in which they alter the balance of energy within the body.
The taste and smell of a herb is also important.
Ginger is used for its warming properties.
In addition to its use as a food, it can be made into a hot poultice and applied directly to expel cold from the internal organs.
In other words, substances which in healthy people cause certain symptoms can significantly help sick people who are experiencing those symptoms.
A German physician established the principles of homeopathy in the late 18th century and is regarded as the father of homeopathy.
The doctor devoted his life to testing an huge number of animals, vegetable and mineral substances.
He recruited healthy volunteers on whom he could test these before he tries them out on the sick and between 1790 and 1805 he tested sixty remedies.
Homeopathy is very different to orthodox medicine, which tries to suppress symptoms.
If you have trouble sleeping, for example, a doctor will prescribe tablets that will bring on sleep artificially.
A homeopath, however, will do exactly the opposite and prescribe minute quantities of a substance, such as coffee, which in large doses would almost certainly keep you awake.
If you have hay fever, you may be prescribed a remedy made from a range of pollens.
The reactions of healthy volunteers, a process known as proving, have been documented in homeopathic handbooks, the best known of which is homeopathic material medicine.
Different herbs are classified as cold, cool, warm, hot or neutral depending on the way in which they alter the balance of energy within the body.
The taste and smell of a herb is also important.
Ginger is used for its warming properties.
In addition to its use as a food, it can be made into a hot poultice and applied directly to expel cold from the internal organs.