Homeopathy is a system of energy medicine based on the principle of “like cures like.” It was developed in the late 18th century by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. The fundamental idea behind homeopathy is that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can, in small, highly diluted amounts, support the resolution of similar symptoms in someone who is ill.
Homeopathic remedies are made from natural substances—such as plants, minerals, and animals—that are diluted and succussed, multiple times in water or alcohol, and are, in most cases, so highly dilute that only the energy (life-force) of the original substance remains in the solution. It is this energy that stimulates the body/being’s self-healing abilities.
Bach Flower Essences are a specific set of homeopathically prepared essences discovered and in the 1930s by Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician and homeopath. The basic idea is that emotional imbalances can lead to physical illness, and that certain flowers, and other substances from nature, contain healing energies that can help restore emotional and spiritual harmony.
Key principles of homeopathy include:
- Like cures like: The experience that a substance, in its raw form that causes symptoms in a healthy person, can stimulate the resolution of similar symptoms in a sick person when used in tiny doses.
- Individualized treatment: Homeopathic treatment is highly personalized, considering a person’s specific symptoms, emotional state, and overall constitution rather than just focusing on the disease.
- Holistic approach: Homeopathy looks at the person as a whole, addressing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health.