A Return to Order ~ How Homeopathy Works
This morning my daughter asked me, what do homeopaths believe about how homeopathy works? It’s a good question which remains largely unanswered, though of course, over the years, theories have been sugested. Some scientific and some mysterious, and perhaps the answer lies somewhere in between, for balance is the desired outcome of any healing modality. Here I propose a humanistic idea, but first, some underlying principles.
Even though homeopathy is only a few hundred years old, its founding principles are as ancient as the first scriptures, or older. Much of folk law is founded on the same ideas as homeopathy, namely, the Doctrine of Signatures and the Law of Similars.
The Doctrine of Signatures says that every plant in nature has a unique signature, which points to its healing properties. This signature is expressed in the plants individual shape and form, its color, smell, and taste, its poisonous properties and its habitat. Today we better understand the biological mechanisms through which these healing properties work, but this may be an unnecessary limitation. When we live with a healthy respect for nature, we recognise so much more about the healing properties of plants simply by exploring their unique charachter. And so, it becomes apparent that the humble tomato is a healing food for the heart, that broccoli clears the lungs, mallow lubricated the mucous membranes and walnuts feed the brain.
The Law of Similars, states that a substance that causes a symptom in a healthy person, can cure that same symptom in a sick person. An example, found in ancient biblical texts, is when Moses throws the bitter tree into the bitter waters, to sweeten them. The smallest imprint of a (bitter) substance corrects the similar disturbance — the bitter waters. Homeopathic Aconite will calm a shocked organism, even if the cause of shock is not from eating a poisonous plant, for which Aconite is best known. Homeopathic Sulphur will heal an ongoing volcanic eruption on the skin and homeopathic Apis — made from the honeybee, will calm down an intense, swollen, hot and itchy sting.
Homeopaths refer to this process as the action of the remedy, but what is the nature of this action?
The early homeopaths theorized that perhaps the stronger pathogen imposed on the organism by a toxic or diseased agent imprinted in the remedy, prevented the weaker pathogenic influences — the disease, from taking hold of the organism. But because the stronger pathogen was only imposed on the organism via the remedy, after its action was complete, no lasting effect was left.
In more recent times, water memory became a popular theory. Developing on this, I found quantum-biologist, Dr Glen Rein brings something more significant to the conversation in his theories on Water Consciousness and its role in Healing. Here Dr. Rein defines consciousness as, “a fundamental energy which underlies and manifests all other biological processes. It forms matter at the biomolecular and sub-atomic levels. And it is our link to the Divine”. He shows how different water structures exhibit different susceptibility to influence specifically, in the areas of energetic intention, such as love, prayer and healing. I am tempted to add homeopathicalyy potentised remedies.
Resonance frequency is another popular theory which suggests the remedy facilitates the transmission of a specific frequency which vibrates with the disordered system. This resonance provides the organism with the correct frequency ‘tuning’ it back to a state of order, much like a tuning fork.
Master homeopath George Vithoulkas proposed a theory suggesting remedies may influence the direction of the electronic spin of the atoms in the body. His paper on the subject can be found here. But it was his more recent ideas that really spoke to me. After a lifetime of service, restoring Homeopathy to its rightful place in Medicine, he concluded that perhaps the true healing action of the remedy is love, expressed through the dedication of the homeopath to his patient. Those who recognise the esteemed professor know that he does not make this statement lightly.
Carl Rodgers, the father of the humanistic school of psychology, speaks of the healing that takes place when the therapist is simply present to the unfolding of the patient’s story. To meet an-other being with simple humanity; this is the healing action. It is a powerful energetic exchange that says to the other, I see you, I recognise you. And in being seen, the secret, the disorder, the dis-ease, is given an opportunity to come out from a state of suppression in the psyche (shadow) and express and ultimately clear itself. But were this the only action of homeopathy, we could do away with the little sugar pills, for they would be nothing but placebo.
Essentially, the work of the homeopath is to recognise the remedy picture in the patient. The Hebrew word to recognize (makir) shares its roots with the word conscious as well as with the word alienate, repel or reject.Our work is to see the essential nature of our patient as well as their presenting symptomatic picture, to receive some information and reject other information, to discern. To recognise what needs immediate attention and what can be put on hold. To recognise what is pathology and what is personality and to differentiate between the two. We need to recognise ancestral layers imprinted on the organism — predispositions, and we need to differentiate between real symptoms and those imprinted temporarily by a remedy. This re-cognition requires true dedication.
It is not enough that the patient is seen, the disordered state must be seen too, internally, met as it were, by an agent. When a patient takes a well-matched remedy — the similimun, as it touches the organism, perhaps the unique imprint held in the remedy, recognises the specific, matching disorder in the organism. It speaks to it, it sees it, it resonates with it, and acknowledges it. And in being recognised, in being seen, the disturbance awakens to itself, becoming conscious and so begins the transformation towards order. The homeopath simply acts as a matchmaker in this holy union.
I am certified Classical Homeopath, Dip Hom IACH, and Voice Dialogue practitioner, available for online consultations.
www.rebhomeopath.com , rebhomeopath@gmail.com, +972 (0)547793606
