Homeopathy and the Healing Process

By Caroline S. Walrad, Ph.D., CN

Many inside and outside the medical world are puzzled that so many people in the USA are chronically ill with diseases ranging from arthritis to memory loss.
Statistics illustrate the heart-breaking facts that some of us are dying in our 50’s and 60's when our bodies, many say, are capable of functioning for 100 years or more. Its time we all took a step back and try to determine just what are we doing to ourselves that creates such an early exit. We may discover that very things we are now doing to enrich and lengthen our life span are actually contributing to our early demise. For instance, children are given many drugs some of which are not necessarily for any physical reason except to make it easier for their parents and teachers to co-exist with them. Even if drugs are legitimately needed, teenagers forget to take them while stuffing themselves with junk food. As a result of our upbringing, adults automatically demand drugs from their doctors, whether they are needed or not. Even in holistic healing, people like to ‘take something’ to feel better.

Too many people in this country wake up every day feeling depressed. We are plagued with the after effects of insomnia. We wake to urinate 2-6 times a night, have consistent aches, wheezing spells and cannot remember details. In holistic healing, all of these signs are on a continuum from acute to chronic disease with time. But, why are we considered not ill unless the doctor identifies our pain and other symptoms as a disease? So many times one is sent home from the doctor with a mood-altering drug if our symptoms do not fit the requirements of a labeled ‘disease’. We are told it is all in our heads and to get a grip on ourselves.

Enter Homeopathy where the ‘I do not feel well’ symptoms are very important. A homeopath looks at healing and disease as a process. Either you are on a healing path or you are getting worse in some way. And, if you are healing, it is not just from the evident symptom(s) you experience, but you are healing from symptoms you forgot you had. Sleep is better, mood is elevated, social situations are not ‘situations’ anymore, the pain in the toe you have lived with disappears and finally you can eat potatoes without heartburn! So, what if you went to the homeopath for a pain or aches or hot flashes? Other symptoms magically dissipate on a mental, emotional and physical lever - and that, my friends, is healing!

Looking at all of your symptoms is important in finding the best remedy. A Homeopath looks through books or software programs called ‘Repertories’. These books list all types of symptoms from head to toe, morning to night and from sadness to fears and dreams. Remedies are listed in the Repertory for these symptoms. Pulling all of one’s symptoms together and locating the most repetitive remedy is the goal of the search. Although much more study and theory underlines the homeopath’s selection, this is the basic idea. The more symptoms a patient gives the doctor for their remedy search, the better opportunity for his deeper and more lasting healing.

Homeopathic remedies are safe and can be used by children and older adults. They do not interfere with medications (it is usually the reverse statement), but a homeopath will not take a patient off their medications, unless the homeopath is an MD. The remedies are made by diluting and energizing natural substances. The most minute dose of a substance is then prepared as a remedy to be taken, usually under the tongue, in the form of a small lactose pellet. The energized remedy then is received by the brain and is instantly transmitted to all cells of the body like a missing computer chip gives the missing information for the computer to operate smoothly again.

So, how do we know if we are getting well or getting worse? Most holistic practices understand and utilize ‘Herring’s Law of Cure’. There are three main ideas of this Law that explain the direction the body takes in balancing to renewed health. First of all, Herring says that we heal from the top down. This means we heal from our head to our toes and the constant headache should go away before the foot pain. The second law says that we heal from the inside to the outside. A person’s heart will heal first before the skin disorder clears. Lastly, we heal from the most current symptoms to those we had in childhood. It is always a good idea to ask yourself if your symptom is a new one or an old one. The elbow begins to hurt at every bend. Is this a new pain or do you remember having this before? Are you going back in time with your symptoms? If so, you are probably on a healing path.

Some homeopathic remedies are available over the counter in health food stores and holistic pharmacies. Before you buy a remedy it is important to read about them in one of the many books available to you in the same store or online. Buy the book and take it home. There are important rules in taking homeopathic remedies. One of them is the rule of ‘Less is More.’ The remedies have been diluted and energized to a very small, yet powerful, dose. If your symptoms do not go away with the first dose, try another dose 15 minutes later. Then, wait. The selection of the correct remedy is very important. The books will give accurate information and the professional salesperson should be educated to help you as well.

Many times we can treat an acute headache or a bruise or a new cough with homeopathy. It is an empowering experience to have your cough leave within minutes and not return from just a couple doses of the proper remedy. Plus, it is not a ‘drug’ and you helped to heal yourself. Homeopathic remedies have no side effects. The remedy is only intended to match your symptoms and send your body on a healing path. For chronic or long term or severe symptoms, it is always best not to treat yourself, but make an appointment with a classically trained homeopath. It is best to consult an educated homeopath for most of your ailments.

If you would like to learn more about homeopathy, the National Institute of Homeopathy has a large web site. The Desert Institute of Homeopathy is in Phoenix and offers study groups and classes for the public, as well as a highly professional institute for advanced study. Dr.Caroline Walrad, Ph.D. offers personalized educational classes.