What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a system of medicine using highly diluted preparations of different plant, mineral and animal substances to heal many different types of illnesses. Developed by Samuel Hahnemann more than 200 years ago, it is based on the law of similars—that like cures like.

What is the role of the vital force in homeopathy?
In his Organon of Medicine, Hahnemann writes that there is a spirit-like vital force that animates our bodies, maintaining “a harmony that obliges wonderment.”

There is a vital, non-material, dynamic force that keeps us alive and healthy. When we experience disease, that vital force is in a state of untunement. We can sense when we—or our children—are out of tune. Whatever this source may be, it exists deep within us, creating health and disease. To help people heal, you must get to that source. Homeopathy works at that deeper level.

What conditions can homeopathy treat?
Homeopathy can treat a wide variety of medical conditions including behavioral and mental health issues, many common acute illnesses, minor trauma and injuries, as well as various chronic conditions.

Homeopathy is also a wonderful, gentle way to assist children and adults who are basically healthy to maintain their overall health and well-being. Homeopathy can enhance immune functioning—children and adults who are treated with homeopathy over some time tend to fall sick less often and their illnesses tend to be less severe and shorter in duration

How was homeopathy discovered?
Homeopathy was discovered by Samuel Hahnemann. Born in Germany in 1755, Hahnemann was trained in various sciences including chemistry, botany, astronomy and meteorology. He authored The Pharmaceutical Lexicon, one of the standard reference texts for pharmacists of his day.

Hahnemann practiced in an era of medicine characterized by treatments such as blood-letting, purging and leeches. Soon after he began his practice he became very discontented and disgusted with the medical practice of the day.

He discovered homeopathy when he questioned the validity of a treatment in a medical text he was translating. Through experimentation, he found the law of similars. He then conducted a series of systematic experiments on healthy subjects—known as provings—where subjects were administered various substances, one at a time, noting their reactions in great detail. Later in clinical practice, Hahnneman confirmed that substances causing a certain set of symptoms in healthy subjects could heal sick individuals with similar symptoms.

What is the Law of Similars?
The core principle in homeopathy is the Law of Similars—that like cures like.

Basically, it states that a medicinal substance that can create a set of symptoms in a healthy individual can treat a sick individual who is manifesting similar symptoms.

This law has been found in writings of Hippocrates as well as in ancient Indian and Chinese texts. While Hahnemann wasn’t the first to discover the law of similars, he was the first physician to conduct extensive systematic experiments that put this law into clinical practice.

Who uses homeopathy?
Homeopathy is widely used throughout the world. It is integrated into the national health care systems of many countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Mexico. Since the 1830s it has been the preferred medicine by members of Britain’s Royal Family and is common in Europe as a whole, with 25 to 50 percent of the population using homeopathic treatments. Almost all French pharmacies dispense homeopathic remedies. It is even covered by the national health insurances of several European countries.

In the United States, more than 6 million Americans used homeopathy in 1999.

Sources: Homeopathic Educational Services (Dana Ullman MPH) (http://www.homeopathic.com)
National Center for CAM (NIH) - research report (modified October 2007) (http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy)

Is there any research to prove homeopathy is effective?
Yes. There have been numerous studies that show that homeopathy is effective against various medical conditions including allergies, childhood diarrhea, influenza, post-operative ileus, rheumatic diseases, seasonal allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory infections and vertigo. In several such recent studies (listed below), all but one conclude that homeopathy has an effect greater than a placebo.

• Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. (Linde et al. in Lancet in 1997 )

• Clinical trials of homeopathy (Kleijnen et al. in British Medical Journal in 1991. )

• Report to the European Commission in 1996. Critical literature review on the effectiveness of homeopathy: overview of data from homeopathic medicine trials. (Boissel et al. in 1996 )

• Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Randomized controlled trials of individualized homeopathy: a state-of- the art review. (Linde and Melchart 1998. Cucherat et al. 2000 European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology)

• Evidence of clinical efficacy of homeopathy: A meta-analysis of clinical trials. (Cucherat et al. in 2000. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. )

• Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homeopathy and allopathy. (Shang et al. in Lancet in 2005. )

In treating various epidemics—such as cholera, yellow fever, typhus fever and bacterial pneumonia in the 1840s and ‘50s—homeopathy was more effective than conventional, allopathic treatment, both in hospitals and at home.

Studies that follow patients with different chronic conditions treated with homeopathy over a period of time show positive results. For example, clinical outcome surveys at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital and Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital show a 60 to 70 percent clinical improvement in various chronic diseases with a reduction in the need for conventional therapy.

However, more research is still needed.

Sources: British Homeopathic Association (http://www.trusthomeopathy.org)
The Logic of Figures (1900) Edited by Thomas L. Bradford, MD (http://books.google.com/Logic+of+Figures)

How are remedies prepared?
Homeopathic remedies are prepared from natural substances, found in the animal, mineral and vegetable kingdom, that go through a process of serial dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking). Hahnneman discovered, through extensive experimentation, that the more a remedy is shaken and diluted, the more its curative power is increased while simultaneously decreasing toxicity.

Are homeopathic remedies safe?
Homeopathic medicines are safe with very rare side effects. They can be taken along with conventional medicine. Remedies are made according to strict guidelines found in an official manual, Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the US. Homeopathic medicines are regulated by the FDA.

Where can I get homeopathic remedies?
Many homeopathic remedies can be purchased over the counter at health food stores and grocery stores. Remedies can also be obtained through pharmacies such as Washington Homeopathic Products (www.homeopathyworks.com) and Hahnemann Laboratories (www.hahnemannlabs.com).

What is a homeopathic session like?
An initial homeopathic session generally lasts 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours. During this time, Dr. Khaneja acquires a full picture of you and your illness.

First, she will take a normal medical history—much like a regular medical visit—paying attention to psychosocial and dietary influences on your health. Then she will ask more detailed questions about who you are as a person on all levels. These may include what kind of weather and environment you like best and when your energy level is highest and lowest. She will also ask questions about sleep patterns, digestion, appetite, stool patterns, personality traits, behaviors and moods as well as your anxieties and fears. Additionally, she will look into past and current stressors and traumatic events that may have an impact on your current health.

How long will my treatment last? How many follow-up appointments will I need?
For acute illnesses, such as ear infections, colds and flu, results should be seen within 24 to 48 hours, sometimes within the same day. The remedy is often given every few hours. Once a treatment shows effectiveness, no further follow up is needed.

For chronic conditions, several follow-up appointments are usually necessary at monthly intervals.

Homeopathy works with the body’s innate ability to heal. As everyone’s ability to heal is different, some people’s illnesses take more time than others’ to fully heal. However long a chronic condition takes to be alleviated, homeopathy gets to the root cause to eliminate disease—helping the body to heal from the inside out.

Why choose homeopathy?

• Uses the scientific method

• Evidence-based

• Cost-effective

• Minimal to no side effects

• Can use with conventional medications

• Holistic approach

• Works with the body’s innate ability to heal