The principle of homeopathic remedies is known as the “Law of Similars” (or “Like cures like”). What this means is that substances that cause healthy people to get symptoms can cure diseases that have these symptoms.

In conventional medicine, the symptoms are considered to be a manifestation of the disease. The drugs are given to kill the bacteria causing the symptoms. Homeopathic medicine, on the other hand, see the symptoms as the body’s attempt to heal itself. It’s a positive sign that the body’s defense mechanism is trying to fight the disease. It’s part of the healing process and hence the symptoms should not be contained or suppressed.

That’s why when you use homeopathic remedies, you may feel worse before you feel better. Unlike conventional medicines, homeopathy remedies act first on the emotional symptoms, before they cure the physical ones. In essence, it is the opposite of traditional medicines.

Here is an example to explain the principle of the Law of Similars: Let’s assume you have developed a severe rash. Let’s also assume you have taken a prescribed medication to dissipate the rash. Suddenly you experience side effects from this medication and research its ingredients. Now, let’s assume once again that your spouse has a terrible cold. You find that the ingredients in the medication you took for the rash can get rid of a cold, provided it is prepared by a homeopathic professional and given in a small dose.

Furthermore, anyone who is using homeopathy to cure an illness should be aware that there are certain foods and drinks to avoid because they counteract the remedy’s potency. For example, homeopathic practitioners advise not to drink caffeine or eat anything with mint as this can suppress the remedy and render it ineffective.

When you seek homeopathic remedies from practitioners or pharmacies, remember to ask questions about the remedy. For example: What foods or drinks should be avoided? A homeopathic professional should be able to give you detailed instructions on the use of the remedy and how it affects you according to the information you give them.

Thus, the reason you may feel worse after utilizing a homeopathic remedy may be because you are consuming other ingredients that are in direct conflict with the remedy itself.

Finally, with most prescribed medications, the doctor will tell you to continue to take the medication even though you are feeling fine. Conversely, with homeopathic remedies, the opposite is true. Once you are fine, stop the remedy. If the remedy doesn’t help you, try another. You will feel better, but only after you feel worse.

Are you a little desperate? You are suffering from piles or hemorrhoids for quite a long time and conventional medicine have not helped you to get rid of them neither of the awful pain. Creams and suppositories have relieved you only temporarily. Fortunately, though, there are several ways to reduce or eliminate hemorrhoids naturally. You wonder if both herbs and homeopathy would be able to cure you for good. Piles are an uncomfortable, painful, condition which is caused by the swelling and inflammation of blood vessels and veins in your rectum. Let’s consider a few herbs and immediately afterwards, a few homeopathic treatments that are able to cure not only the symptoms but the causes of this ailment.

Alternative medicine is becoming more and more popular these days, as informed parents try to minimise their use of antibiotics for treating minor ailments in their children. As a first time parent I had little idea of anything beyond conventional medicine. It was only when my baby developed eczema and then several bouts of tonsillitis that I discovered homeopathy and, through that, tissue salts and herbal remedies. These days with three young children, I keep conventional medicine as a back-up for any serious illnesses and use a range of homeopathic and herbal remedies at home for all the small hurts and minor ailments that inevitably afflict families with children.

The indispensible contents of my First Aid Kit are:

Arnica pills – these homeopathic pills are a brilliant remedy for bumps and bruises. They are soft lactose pills that dissolve easily in even a baby’s mouth. Homeopathic remedies are totally safe for children and this one really works to minimise bruising and soothe tears and shock. Try it on yourself if you haven’t experienced homeopathic medicine before.
N.B. If you are unlucky enough to have a more serious fall or accident, these can be taken to help contain bruising while waiting for medical help. The only time they shouldn’t be used is before an operation – keep them for afterwards to speed healing.

Arnica cream to rub on localised bruises.

Hypericum and Calendula cream for small cuts and grazes. Antiseptic and soothing.

A homeopathic antihistamine complex. My daughter reacts badly to bee stings, her whole foot and ankle swelling up. To help dissuade the body from building up antibodies and thus increasing the allergic response next time, I treat her with homeopathic Apis pills every half hour the first day, reducing to three times a day for the next few weeks. The antihistamine complex contains apis as well as histamine in homeopathic form and helps keep swelling down too.

Tissue Salts are biochemic remedies containing minute quantities of the trace minerals that the body needs for balanced well-being. Also completely safe they dissolve easily under the tongue and kids usually like taking them. The most used one in our family is the Cough and Cold combination. At the first sniffle or cough I give them to my kids three times a day or more often. They have the effect of boosting the immune system, giving the body what it needs to fight off the virus.

Another much used tissue salt here is No.10 Nat Phos. This is an acidity regulator, so helps the digestive system. Its main attraction for mothers is that it has the effect of calming down sugar crazed monsters after birthday parties or other binges, eventually restoring the children you know and love.

Another homeopathic combination that I swear by is Levisticum Radix by Weleda. This is to treat ear infections. More than once I have used it to great effect when one or other recalcitrant toddler has refused antibiotics so vigorously that they were emptied all over us, rather than into her. We put her onto these drops, taken with a little water, which she accepted and when we returned to the GP a couple of days later to check on the infection he was amazed to find it improving substantially already. We continued with the drops for another few days and found we had done without the antibiotics altogether and cured the infection.

One more useful remedy is Euphrasia for sore, itchy eyes or any redness. My son is allergic to horses and gets red, weepy eyes when he has been around them. Bathing his eyes with drops containing Euphrasia or taking the pills both help soothe them.

As a basic guide homeopathic remedies and Tissue Salts should be taken three times a day, unless otherwise directed, in a clean mouth at least twenty minutes away from having had food or drink. They should be tipped into the cap of the bottle and thence into the mouth, without touching them with your hands, as some of the effective part could be lost on your fingers. I find in practise that children often do get their fingers on them and eat before twenty minutes is up and they still have a useful effect but those are the optimum conditions.