Homeopathy and Autoimmune Disease – A Non-Invasive Approach
Homeopathy has been used for decades in countries all over the world as a main part of treatment for a variety of illnesses. In the United States, however, homeopathy is very much categorized in the field of alternative treatments, despite the growing evidence to support its efficacy. Little is understood about how exactly homeopathy works, but growing scientific technology is starting to look into the nano-particles that make up homeopathic remedies to identify their differences and how they may have an effect on the body.
For those unfamiliar with homeopathy, it describes the practice of using certain diluted substances to elicit a system response in the body that triggers healing in specific areas. Homeopathic remedies are selected based on the principle of “like affects like”; this means that substances that cause certain symptoms or reactions in the body in large doses will be able to heal those same symptoms when given in diluted quantities. Skeptics of homeopathy argue that the effect of homeopathic remedies are negated by the fact that remedies are often diluted past Avogadro’s Number, meaning that solutions are diluted past the point of having any measurable molecular quantity. In essence, their argument is that the remedies are just water and the effects seen are attributable to the placebo effect.
As science advances in its ability to measure molecular bonding and electromagnetic forces that influence molecular structure, we are beginning to learn more about how homeopathy actually works. There are many clinical and prospective studies that show that homeopathy can be effective for specific effects, such as healing fractures or improving chronic sinusitis, but these only show that homeopathy serves as a potential treatment and not what is actually happening in the body. Current thought is that, as homeopathic substances are mixed with water and succussed (mixed through generating a force), the network of water molecules that acts as the diluting solvent changes into a structure that is different from plain water. This may be the basis of how homeopathic remedies are actually affecting the structure of water and is only the tip of the iceberg on the ways in which they can affect our bodies.
But until science can fully prove the exact mechanism of homeopathic remedies, we work with the premise that clinical evidence shows that homeopathic remedies may have a dramatic effect on not only acute conditions, but chronic conditions as well. Autoimmune diseases are a great candidate for homeopathic remedies, as these treatments work gently to get the immune system back on track while reducing the chances of side effects.
It is challenging to classify and recommend each homeopathic remedy for certain diseases because remedies are prescribed based on symptom totality in each patient. For example, a patient with diabetes will have different overall symptoms from someone else with diabetes (e.g. some may have neuropathy, fevers, shakiness, and fatigue, and some may not). Many different remedies can be given for the same condition. For example, someone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis may benefit from the remedies Ammonium carbonicum, Calcarea carbonicum, or Kali iodatum, depending on which symptoms accompany their condition. It is important to consult a knowledgeable physician to help find the right remedy for a particular condition.
While there are many different approaches to treating autoimmune diseases, homeopathy should be considered in combination with other adjunctive care. With little chance of side effects and the potential for increasing health benefits, it can be a great resource for those with chronic illness. It is also a good therapy to help decrease the likelihood of autoimmune disease in children with a high family risk. If you have questions about how homeopathic treatments may be helpful for your condition, contact our knowledgeable physicians today. We offer complimentary 10-minute phone consultations to those looking to establish care.
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