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"Homeopathy" comes from the Greek words for
"similar" and "affliction." Its
principle is "like cures like" (also known
as the "law of similars") - substances
that cause symptoms of an illness will, in much smaller
doses, help the body to heal the illness. Homeopathy
maintains that symptoms of illness are the body's normal
and natural way of healing itself, and microscopic doses
remind the body of these symptoms and stimulate the
healing process.
How small are the doses? A fairly common strength is
6X, which is made by diluting one part of the substance
in nine parts of water, and then diluting the result
in the same 9:1 ratio five more times, for a total of
six 9:1 dilutions. This results in a one-in-1,000,000
dilution. Greater dilutions are held to have deeper
and longer-lasting effects; doses can get up to 200X,
or 200 repetitions of a one-in-10 dilution, which is
roughly equivalent to one molecule in 160 mL of
water.
Homeopathy was founded in the late 1700s, and its fundamental
principles remain unchanged, but it has gained greater
regulation and standardization in more recent years.
Currently, homeopathic dilutions are not regulated
as closely as prescription medications and may contain
other substances that could be harmful to certain people.
Some critics caution that the concentration of active
substance in a particular homeopathic dose is too dilute
to have any health benefits. Homeopathic remedies should
not replace traditional treatments for serious illnesses.
Most provinces have a centre for homeopathic medicine
or a listing of registered homeopaths.
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