Homeopathic Compounds
Homeopathy and Homeopathic Preparations
Homeopathy is a school of thought where illnesses are treated by giving small amounts of substances that, in larger doses, would cause symptoms similar to the illness being treated. Conventional medicine does not believe in the effects of homeopathy and considers its effectiveness in treating diseases to be comparable to a placebo effect. Homeopathic remedies are therefore not actually medicines in the strict sense, and proving their effects is based largely on people’s personal experiences.
Homeopathy for Treating a Cold or Other Illness
Homeopathic preparations were originally developed in the 1700s based on the research of the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann was frustrated with slowly developing medicine at the time, when many medicines were still in the research phase and their use often caused patients significant side effects.
In his research, Hahnemann concluded that diseases should be treated by giving the patient a small amount of a substance that, in a large amount, would cause symptoms similar to the patient’s illness. The idea was that “like cures like.” Homeopathy is therefore based on the concept that a substance that causes certain symptoms in a healthy person can cure a sick person who suffers from those same symptoms.
Another central belief in homeopathy is that the effect of a homeopathic substance becomes stronger the more it is diluted and shaken. This so-called potentization means that the medicinal solution is systematically diluted and shaken after each dilution.
Opinions on the effects of homeopathy vary, but one factor that can make the treatment feel effective is the popularity of such methods. A homeopath focuses carefully on the patient’s symptoms, listens and asks questions, and spends a lot of time finding the right treatment. This kind of attention to the person’s symptoms can make them feel that their problems are finally being taken seriously.
Holistic Treatment
In homeopathy, a person is viewed holistically and the aim is to find the root cause behind symptoms. In other words, treatment is not focused only on symptoms, but on the person’s overall well-being. The treatments are believed to affect the entire body, so correctly chosen substances are thought to increase overall well-being and health.
Although homeopathy has been studied extensively over the centuries, no clear reason has yet been found for why the preparations help patients. In conventional medicine, the effect is considered similar to a placebo effect, while among homeopaths there is belief in the healing effect of the substances. The effects of homeopathic substances can be assessed mainly in light of users’ experiences.
Kärkkäinen’s online store has a versatile selection of different natural products, dietary supplements, and a range of homeopathic preparations.