What is homeopathy?
Homoeopathic medicines stimulate the natural healing processes of each individual patient. In this way the patient restores him/herself to health.
WHO on homeopathy
As declared by the WHO, homeopathy is the largest system of complementary medicine in the developed countries with a GDP > $15,000.[1] According to the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023,[2] Complementary Medicine is an important and often underestimated part of health care.
Figure E.1.4 Organisation mondiale de la santé. WHO global atlas of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine[M]. World Health Organization, 2005.
World Health Organization (WHO). WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014–2023. 2013. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2015.
Homeopathy in the world
According to different surveys and comparisons, it is estimated that across Europe the percentage of the various populations that have used complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) at least once in their lifetime is between 20% and 70%.[3]
Vincent C, Furnham A. Why do patients turn to complementary medicine? an empirical study. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1996;35(1):37-48.
How do homeopathic remedies work?
Evidence suggest that homeopathic remedies which are highly diluted can effectively have a pharmacological action, and so cannot be considered merely placebos. However, until now there has been no unified explanation for these observations.
“By similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like is cured” - Hippocrates (460-377 BC), ‘Father of Medicine’.
The main determining factor for successful treatment in homeopathy is the ‘ACCURACY’ of prescription. The remedy should be ‘similar’ enough to you so as to kick off the healing work from within. A well chosen single homeopathic remedy has amazed millions of people in the past 200 years.
DFerential AI is designed by our pioneer team of experienced and reowned homeopaths, who have crystalised years of clinical experience and simulated the face-to-face consultation for common first aid and acute siutations.
With DFerential AI, you can now find a first aid remedy with experts’ experience anytime, anywhere!
DFerential AI bring you closer to professional homeopaths in your region, who are available not only to give professional instructions in acute situations, but also for individualised constitutional treatment.
DFerential AI suggests homeopathic remedies as a first aid in several health conditions. Ever since the beginning days of homeopathy, it appeared that certain remedies were more often useful in a given condition than others. Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy, gained a solid reputation by treating cholera. He observed that, many times, camphora, cuprum metallicum or veratrum album were the successful remedies.
DFerential AI does not suggest using the same remedy for the same condition for everyone. That would go against the important need of individualization in homeopathic prescribing. On the contrary, DFerential AI offers a set of well-thought questions that allow to individualize the prescription.
The scenario leading to the suggested remedy is not a superficial scheme, based on too limited variables. In the background, DFerential AI consults probably the largest professional database of solid homeopathic symptoms, available today.
One of the techniques used is a so called repertorization or symptom analysis. All remedies related to the first symptom are matched against the second symptom and so on. When a pattern is recognized, DFerential AI suggest a remedy.
This is the techniques used by the most skilled professional homeopaths, based on facts and precision.
Depending upon your replies, different patterns may even lead to the same remedy: DFerential AI offers a more individualized and precise reply than rigid schemes.
Here you will find some of the references consulted by our team to create the data used by DFerential AI.
A critical reminder: even if our team is happy to offer you a state-of-the-art tool, DFerential AI should never distract you from seeking advice with a professional health care provider. If your complaints are important, if the reaction to the suggested remedy is confusing, do not delay contacting a professional health care provider.
Have you ever noticed how we are all so different from each other? Homeopathy, which is a system of natural health care with 200 years of history, realizes the importance of individuality, and that’s why it treats the person, not the disease. Every disease affects each of us in our own individual way because no two people are the same. That is why homeopathy finds different treatments to suit different people, even they are suffering from the same disease.
The name homeopathy is derived from the Greek words for ‘similar suffering’ referring to the ‘like cures like’ principle of healing. The practice of Homeopathy is based upon a few principles since its originator, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.
‘Like cures like’
This principle, stated by the ancients and again by Paracelsus (1495-1541), was given an empirical basis in the field of therapeutics by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. In Latin the law is stated similia similibus curantur, ‘like is cured by like’. Its therapeutic application states that a substance that causes symptoms to occur when given to healthy subjects acts as a curative medicine when given to sick persons exhibiting similar symptoms.
‘Minimum dose’
The object of a homeopathic prescription is to effect maximum benefit for minimum effort, and above all to leave the organism unaffected by possibly noxious side effects of the dose. This is achieved by reducing the mass while simultaneously increasing the energy. The method, called potentisation, involves subjecting the substance to serial dilution and succussion (vibration, or banging), or in the case of insoluble substances, trituration, or grinding. These steps have the effect of liberating the medicinal activity, while at the same time reducing g the mass and consequently the possible iatrogenic affects.
The process may be carried out with a dilution constant of one-in-ten (decimal scale, designated by the suffix ‘x’), or with a dilution constant of one-in-one hundred (centesimal scale, designated by the suffix ‘c’), or one-in-fifty thousand (LM scale). For example, a potency of 30c implies that the original material (in the case of a plant extract, the mother tincture) has been subjected to 30 successive dilutions of one-in-one hundred, each stage having been energized by succession.
‘Single medicine’
Homeopathic medicines stimulate the natural healing processes of each individual patient. In this way the patient restores him/herself to health. The least degree of medicinal stimulus necessary to induce a curative response is the ideal. Obviously. lf only one medicine or drug is prescribed at any one time then it is reasonable to ascribe any subsequent effects to it. lf more than one medicine or drug is prescribed at any one time it is impossible to be sure what is having what effect. Professional homeopaths prescribe one simple medicine at a time and in the least amount necessary.
As declared by the WHO, homeopathy is the largest system of complementary medicine in the developed countries with a GDP > $15,000.[1] According to the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023,[2] Complementary Medicine is an important and often underestimated part of health care.
The WHO called for closer incorporation of homoeopathy into “western medical systems” as early as 1999.[3] “The development of research and evaluation structures, combined with a critical education in the discipline, would help to improve practices and define homoeopathy’s potential role in relation to the other therapies, conventional and unconventional, used in Western health systems.”
In 2009, WHO further initiated steps towards standardisation in preparation of homeopathic medicines.[4]
In 2014, it published the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy, the goals are to support Member States in harnessing the potential contribution of complementary medicine to health, wellness and people centred health care -promoting the safe and effective use of complementary medicine by integrating complementary medicinal products, practitioners and practice into health systems, where appropriate.
WHO suggested that, these goals will be reached by:
- building the knowledge base and formulating national policies,
- strengthening safety, quality and effectiveness through regulation, and
- promoting universal health coverage by integrating complementary medicine services and self-health care into national health systems.
[1] Organisation Mondiale de la Santé. WHO global atlas of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine. World Health Organization, 2005.
[2] World Health Organization (WHO). WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014–2023. 2013. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2015.
[3] Poitevin, B. “Integrating homoeopathy in health systems.” -Bulletin World health Organization 77 (1999): 160-166.
[4] “Safety issues in the preparation of homeopathic medicines.”,2009
According to different surveys and comparisons, it is estimated that across Europe the percentage of the various populations that have used complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) at least once in their lifetime is between 20% and 70%.[1] Homeopathy is one of the most used CAMs in Europe: 36% of the French, 32% of the Belgian, 31% of the Dutch and 20% of the British public report taking homeopathic medicines in recent public opinion surveys, and its popularity is increasing. In Belgium, CAM treatments are one of the fundamental rights of patients (law passed in 2002 regarding patients’ rights). In the United Kingdom, the market for homeopathy is continually growing. Growth is more rapid in some southern countries, while in countries with well developed markets (such as France and Germany) the growth rate is slower. The total European market for homeopathic medicines in 2001 was €1,612 million - the largest markets are Germany and France, with 36% and 33% respectively of the total market.[2],[3]
According to ECHAMP, the European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products, three out of four Europeans know about homeopathy and of these 29% use it for their health care, i.e. over 100 million European citizens use over-the-counter or prescribed homeopathic medicines. There is significant to high demand for homeopathic medicinal products in at least two thirds of European Union Member States.[4] There are 60,000 prescribers of homeopathic medicines in the European Union, that is 11.4 homeopathic prescribers per 100,000 inhabitants.
In the United states, there are more than 500 physicians and 5000 non-physicians using Homoeopathy in clinical practice, and 2.5 million Americans currently use Homeopathic medicines – of which two-thirds are self-prescribed spending more than $250 million annually.
In India over 100 million people depend solely on homeopathic medicine. Further, according to an A.C. Neilsen survey in India, 62 percent of current homeopathy users have never tried conventional medicines and 82 percent of homeopathy users would not switch to conventional treatments. There are hundreds of State and Central government owned homeopathic hospitals in India having inpatient facilities.
Homeopathy also has a strong following in Russia, Mexico and South America, particularly in Brazil and Argentina.
[1] Vincent C, Furnham A. Why do patients turn to complementary medicine? an empirical study. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1996;35(1):37-48
[2] Jenny S, Monckton J, Schulze-Pillot T, Van Wassenhoven M. Supplement to the final report of the management committee COST B4 1993-98. in: Report to the commission of the european union. Approved march 1999;EUR 19110 EN.
[3] Monckton J, Belicza B, Betz W, Engelbart H, Van Wassenhoven M. Final report of the management committee 1993-98. in: COST action B4 – unconventional medicine. report to the commission of the european union. . 1998;EUR 18420 EN.
[4] http://www.echamp.eu/our-sector
Evidence suggest that homeopathic remedies which are highly diluted can effectively have a pharmacological action, and so cannot be considered merely placebos. However, until now there has been no unified explanation for these observations.
Three major physiochemical models for how this happens are currently being investigated: the water clusters or clathrates, the coherent domains postulated by quantum electrodynamics, and the formation of nanoparticles from the original solute plus solvent components.
You may learn more about the quantum coherent domains from the Homeopathy Research Institute: https://youtu.be/ArrcXfnz6vY
On the other hand, high-dilution pharmacology is emerging as a pioneering subject in the domain of nanomedicine.
A number of molecular, cellular and systemic targets of homeopathic remedies have been described in laboratory model systems.[1] The remedy that has been chosen according to the similia principle may be perceived by specific regulatory systems that have a crucial role in the dynamic of the diseases as specific signal which may trigger a homeodynamic reaction that shifts the global disequilibrium of the ill person toward a new dynamical behaviour, proximal to the healthy state. The more sensitive a system is to a particular regulation, the lower should be the dose (or the energy) required to regulate it in an effective way.
[1] Bellavite, Paolo, et al. “High-dilution effects revisited. 2. Pharmacodynamic mechanisms.” Homeopathy 103.1 (2014): 22-43.
There is a wide variety how to get remedies, depending upon your country of residence. In some counties, they are forbidden, while in other countries they can be bought at regular pharmacies, or in storehouses. There are also several homeopathic pharmaceutical companies who will dispatch the desired remedies after you fill out their form on the website.
If you have problem finding a homeopathic remedy, you can contact us and we will assist you to our best knowledge.
Do not touch the pellets by hand as they can be contaminated by a foreign substance or fragrance. To avoid handling the remedies any more than necessary, open the bottle and gently tap the number of pellets you need, usually three, into the cap, returning any extras from the cap back into the vial. If you touch a pellet or it falls on the floor, throw it away; returning it to the vial might de-potentize the remaining pellets.
All remedies are absorbed in the mouth. Ideally, the pellets will dissolve against your mucous membranes, or you can chew the pellets till it dissolves. It is however not advised for the remedy to be swallowed. Avoid anything by mouth for at least 5 minutes before and after each dose (unless urgent). This includes toothpaste or tobacco, food, and drinks except water.
Children can safely take the same dose. Give 3 pellets under the tongue or crush them in a clean paper and pour into mouth. For infants, dissolve 3 pellets in 1/2 glass of water and give two teaspoons into mouth.
If in doubt, please consult a qualified homeopath.
In homeopathy, single dose strategy or repeated dose strategy may be used, both in acute or chronic cases. In the first place, DFerential AI suggests remedies as first aid, mostly for (sub)acute situations. In these cases, repeating the dose may often fasten the reaction to the remedy.
The following rules may help you to select a dosage for success. Be aware that these suggestions may be overruled by your professional health care provider, also according to your constitution.
INITIAL DOSAGE
A safe start:
- for average acute conditions: 4 times daily (before meals and before sleeping)
- for more chronic conditions: 1 x/ week.
The more severe the symptoms, the more frequently the initial dose can be repeated: every two hours, every hour or even every half hour.
30 C(H) of 30 K are probably most readily available for most remedies. Repeated doses need to be succussed (granules) or stirred (liquid) before each administration.
WHEN TO ASSESS THE REACTION
Acute conditions
In an average acute condition, the reaction to the remedy should be assessed after 1 or 2 days, not later than 48 hours.
The more severe the symptoms, the faster a reaction should be expected.
With more severe symptoms, the reaction should be assessed within 24 hours, maybe after a few hours only.
In case there is no clear reaction within this time frame, consult your professional health care provider as soon as possible.
Chronic conditions
Several weeks, maybe months, may be needed before evaluating the more chronic conditions (given that the health of the patient does not deteriorate in the meantime).HOW TO FOLLOW UP
There are 3 possibilities:
1. The symptoms have improved
The faster the symptoms have improved, the faster the frequency of repeating the dosage should be diminished or even stopped. A safe average would be: if symptoms diminish by 50 %, you can double the interval of administration (1 x/ 30’ becomes 1 x/ hour, which becomes 1 x/ 2 hours, which becomes 4 x daily, etc.).
2. The symptoms have not improved (a lot)
If none of the symptoms have improved at all, and the state of the patient permits so, a second remedy can be looked for and given.
If there has been some improvement, maybe only at the beginning, the same remedy can be prescribed in a higher potency (200).
3. The symptoms have worsened
Consult your professional health care provider as soon as possible.
CAUTION
More chronic and long-standing situations may need the guidance of a professional health care provider as constitutional prescribing may be needed (this is not the scope of DFerential AI).
If a strong aggravation follows the first dose, the remedy should not be repeated any more. In case of a beneficial homeopathic aggravation, this should be followed by an improvement, without further doses.
If the patient repeatedly reacts with initial aggravations, you can dissolve the pellets into 4-6 oz. of drinking water and take a sip for each of the subsequent doses.
In case of the least doubt, consult your professional health care provider.
If you have a good improvement taking a remedy selected by DFerential AI, inform your professional health care provider showing the symptoms used to select the remedy.
Homeopathic remedies should be stored in a dry, odorless place, protected from sun and heat. Many people store them in their sleeping room. It is not a good idea to store them in the kitchen. Although they should be kept out of reach of children, accidental swallowing of some granules will almost never lead to any symptoms.
It is recommended that you maintain your relationship with your homeopath, general practitioner or specialist. When necessary homeopathic and conventional approaches can be used alongside one another to give the most appropriate medical care.
Click here to find a homeopath next to you.
Some people choose homeopathy because they are unhappy with side effects from their current conventional medication. However you should continue with any conventional medical treatment that may have already been prescribed as it can be dangerous to stop this suddenly. Any change in use of conventional medication should be discussed with both the prescribing doctor and your homeopath.
If at any stage of your treatment you are concerned about changes in your symptoms, you should contact your homeopath and/or medical practitioner immediately.