Homeopathic Glossary
- In
homeopathy, an aggravation is an intensification of symptoms
experienced after the remedy is taken. A healing aggravation,
in which current symptoms temporarily intensify or old symptoms
temporarily reappear is often a positive sign that a curative
process has begun. This phenomenon is also known as a 'healing
crisis'.
- Something
that blocks, reduces or eliminates the action of a remedy.
This can be a substance that is ingested or applied topically,
as well as an experience or situation such as a trauma, dramatic
change in life circumstances or medical procedure. A homeopathic
remedy can act as an antidote of previously taken remedy.
-
A group of energetic essences derived from various flowers
by the British physician and homeopath Edward Bach in the early
20th century. Though somewhat similar in nature to homeopathic
remedies, they are not created by potentization and are prescribed
exclusively on the basis of emotional states.
-
The use of plants for medicinal purposes, generally in the
form of tinctures or powders. Also called 'herbal medicine'.
-
A set of 12 mineral salts created by a German homeopath, W.H.
Schuessler, in the late 19th century. Although produced homeopathically
and incorporated into the homeopathic pharmacopeia, they were
originally meant to be used as agents to restore the body's
biochemical balance.
-
A homeopathic remedy that is produced by a series of dilution
of one part substance to 99 parts water or alcohol. Also known
as a 'C potency'.
-
A recognizable manifestation of disease which is peculiar to
the individual nature of the person who experiences it. For
example, a headache that recurs daily at 4 pm is characteristic
symptom. This is in contrast to a 'common symptom'.
-
Preparations made by combining two or more homeopathic remedies.
-
A recognizable manifestation of disease which is generally
experienced by most people with that disease. For example,
itching is a common symptom of poison ivy. This is in contrast
to a 'characteristic
symptom'.
.
-
A symptom or other phenomenon that occurs at the same time
as another symptom or phenomenon.
-
The practice of homeopathy founded on the selection of remedies
based on a comprehensive understanding of the state and nature
of the patient, and not merely on the basis of a single symptom.
- A
state or disposition of the body, most often present from birth,
to be susceptible to certain types of disease
-
A homeopathic remedy that is produced by a series of dilution
of one part substance to 9 parts water or alcohol. Also known
as a 'X' or 'D' potency.
-
The concept that something is marked with a sign which indicates
its purpose. For centuries this has been used in herbal medicine
to draw a correspondence between a particular plant and its
medicinal use.
- Electro
Acupuncture according to Voll. Originally, a system of stimulating
and balancing the energies of the body invented by the German
physician Reinhold Voll in the 1950's. It has evolved into
a diagnostic and treatment modality that measures the presence
of toxins, deficiencies, allergies and other imbalances along
with the efficacy and compatibility of medicinal agents.
-
A school of thought that proposes that all theory and knowledge
should be based on observation. This is in contrast to 'rationalism',
which proposes that reasoning is the basis.
-
The group of symptoms which characterizes an epidemic. This 'symptom
complex' is then used to select a particular homeopathic remedy
which can be used both curatively and prophylactically during
the epidemic.
-
(1755-1843) The German physician who founded and brought to
prominence homeopathy.
-
A temporary intensification of symptoms that occurs as part
of the healing process. It occurs as the body detoxifies and
rebalances.
-
see 'Botanical Medicine'
-
A medical science on the stimulation of the inherent vital
energy of the body by energetically potentized remedies. The
selection of the remedies is based on the Law of Similars (see
below). It was formalized in the late 18th century by Samuel
Hahnemann.
-
One of the guiding principles of homeopathy which delineates
patterns in the change of symptoms that indicate a curative
process is occurring. The four patterns of cure are: symptoms
moving from the top of the body downward, symptoms moving from
inner or central parts of the body outward or toward the peripheral
parts, symptoms shifting from essential parts or organs to
less essential, and symptoms appearing in reverse chronological
order.
- A
system which undertakes to cure a disease by means of the agent
which causes the disease. While in certain aspects similar
to homeopathy and often using homeopathically prepared substances,
Isopathy does base the selection of remedies on the 'Law of
Similars'.
-
James Tyler Kent was a major force in homeopathy. He practiced
in the mid to late 19 th century. He was one of the first to
really understand the importance of the mind symptoms in homeopathy.
He also championed the use of higher potencies.
- A keynote
symptom is one which has been shown over time to appear in
many different individuals who need the same certain remedy.
Such a symptom then becomes associated with that remedy. When
it appears strongly in an individual case, that remedy would
be more strongly considered.
-
The principle tenet of homeopathy stating that a substance
which is capable of inducing a symptom or set of symptoms in
a healthy individual has the curative power to eliminate similar
symptoms when they manifest in an individual as part of a disease
state.
- See "Vital
Force"
-
A homeopathic remedy that is made by diluting the original
substance at a ratio of 50,0000 to 1. LM potencies are not
in general different remedies from centesimal potencies (dilutions
of 1 part to 100), just a different method of preparation.
This method of dilution was developed by Hahnemann at the very
end of his life and remained undiscovered for some 80 years
after his death.
-
In homeopathy the material medica refers to the written descriptions
of the effects of homeopathic medicines. Literally meaning "medical
material", it comprises thousands of volumes of remedy descriptions.
-
Materialism is the philosophical belief that the world is comprised
of small units of "material" These small substances are what
comprise the body. The theory postulates that the body is like
a machine made up of various parts. If we understand the parts
well enough, we can "fix" the broken ones and restore the body
to health. This is in contrast to the vitalistic belief of
homeopathy which postulates an immaterial vital force or dynamic
energy as the basis of all life.
- This
term is used in homeopathy to describe an underlying pattern
of energy. These patterns of energy are similar in nature to
specific diseases. Thus, they are named after these diseases.
There are many theories about miasms. Hahnemann originally
described them as inherited tendencies passed down from generation
to generation. For example, if a grandfather had Tuberculosis,
the grandson might have asthma. Although asthma is a different "disease",
it would never the less be energetically connected to the grandfather's
T.B.
- Modalities
are modifiers of symptoms. They are descriptions of conditions,
times, localities etc. that make a symptom or set of symptoms
feel better or worse. In the example "wet weather makes my
headache worse", the headache is the symptom, and the wet weather
the modality. Modalities may also be general, and apply to
the state of the whole person. An example would be " Wet
weather bothers me"
-
Naturopathy is a medical approach to natural healing that uses
many different modalities. Naturopaths may use homeopathic
remedies in addition to other methods. The initials N.D. stand
for Doctor of Naturopathy.
- Homeopathic
remedies that are made from diseased tissues are termed 'nosodes'.
An example is Tuberculinum,, which is made from a minute sample
of tissue affected with the tubercular bacteria.
-
Nutritional medicine is based on the belief that when the body
is supplied with the correct balance of foods, vitamins, and
nutrients, it will be healthy. When disease is present, an
attempt is made to fortify the affected organs or organ systems
through supplemental targeted nutrition.
- The
Organon of Medicine is the title of Samuel Hahnemann's book
outlining the principles of homeopathy. Hahneman was the "discoverer" of
modern homeopathy and his book was written in six additions
over a thirty two year period. The final addition was finished
in 1842.
- This
refers to the "strength" of the homeopathic remedy. The higher
the potency the less original substance is in the remedy. The
process of potentization involves dilution and sucussion(shaking)
of the original substance.
- A homeopathic
proving is an experiment undertaken by a group of healthy individuals
in order to test the medicinal effects of a particular substance.
After taking one or more doses of the remedy , the symptoms
produced are recorded, collated and organized into a comprehensive
description of the action of the remedy. Provings can
also happen during the therapeutic process if the homeopath
has not properly taken into account the healing path of the
vital force, and repeats an incorrect remedy too often. Proving
symptoms usually disappear of their own accord with a little
time.
- According
to Hahnemann, Psora is the original miasm or inherited disposition
that is shared by most of humanity. It is represented by intense
itching and is often correlated with scabies. In psychological
terms, it is seen by hardworking, continued struggle to reach
a goal.
- A
homeopathic repertory is one of the chief tools of the professional
homeopath. It is an exhaustive list of symptoms, each of which
is followed by a list of remedies that have either produced
the symptom during a proving or cured it clinically.
- A rubric
is a symptom in the repertory. Under this symptom may be listed
any number of remedies which have produced and/or cured this
symptoms. An example would be "VERTIGO, Relaxation after".
The two remedies are Calcarea carbonica and Lachesis
- A sarcode
is a homeopathic remedy made from a minute portion of tissue
taken from a healthy organ. This is in contrast to a nosode,
taken from diseased tissue.
- A
sensation in homeopathy is an internal feeling. It can be as
simple as describing a pain or as subtle as describing the
feeling of being lonely. It is not an emotion such as sadness
or anger, but rather how one would experience such sadness
or anger. Sensations have always been very important in finding
the correct homeopathic remedies, because they express more
directly the particular nature of an individual's vital force
-
The concept of the simillimum refers to a homeopathic remedy
that perfectly matches the state of an individual for whom
it is prescribed. This one remedy will heal in a profound and
long lasting way.
- The
source refers to the substance from which a homeopathic remedy
is made.
-
Strange, Rare, and Peculiar is a homeopathic term referring
to symptoms that are unique to the individual. They refer to
symptoms that sound odd or out of context. An example might
be if someone describes their headache "as if my head were
made of glass and could shatter at any second". Most people
would not say this.
-
This is one half of the process of making a homeopathic remedy.
It involves striking the bottle of homeopathic medicine firmly
against an object such as a thick book. The C potency is succussed
100 times per dilution. In the 3C potency, the original substance
is diluted 1part to 100, and then shaken 100 times. This process
is repeated 3 times.
-
The totality of symptoms is a somewhat scientific and somewhat
artistic method of determining which symptoms represent the
entire state of the vital disturbance of the patient. It does
not simply mean taking all the symptoms and adding them together.
It means taking all the important symptoms without including
too much or too little.
-
This is a method for beginning to prepare a homeopathic remedy.
The crude substance is mixed with milk sugar and ground together
in a mortar and pestle for 20 minutes.
-
The concept of the Vital force is central to homeopathic philosophy.
The Vital Force is the life energy that keeps us alive and
breathing. It is the energy that helps us grow and evolve.
In homeopathy, we become sick when the Vital Force become "mistuned" or
misdirected. The correct homeopathic remedy will "retune" us.
-
The concept of the Vital Sensation is of a basic sensation
that is linked directly to the vital force. This sensation
is a verbal expression of the individual's unique energy pattern.
It is expressed in a manner that transcends the "human" language.
It is spoken in the language of the substance of the remedy. |
