When I met 5-year-old Sandro, he was covered in hives, a reaction to an antibiotic he had been administered. He was irritable, uncomfortable, and itchy. While Benadryl , calamine lotion and oatmeal baths gave temporary relief, they did not solve the underlying problem: his reaction to the drug. I gave Sandro Apis mellifica (Apis for short), a great remedy for hives as well as bee stings, and he recovered completely—without needing additional medication or suffering side effects.
Apis is derived from honeybees—in fact, from the very venom that causes us to react to their sting—and is a good example of how homeopathy works. Homeopathy is based on the administration of minute doses of drugs, which are capable (in their natural state) of producing symptoms like those of the disease being treated. This principle is known as “the law of similars.” In other words, a substance that could cause symptoms in large amounts can heal in minute homeopathic doses. A common homeopathic remedy, for example, is Allium cepa (red onion), used to treat runny nose and red eyes from a cold or hay fever—the very symptoms red onion would cause by cutting it in the kitchen.
More than 2,000 homeopathic remedies are derived from various plant, mineral and animal substances. Through a series of dilutions and successions, natural substances are distilled until all that is left in the medicine is their “print,” or essence. Just as if you were to touch a pane of glass and leave your fingerprint, so in homeopathy the active agents of the substance remain while potential toxicity is diluted. The homeopathic process done by reputable homeopathic pharmacies renders natural products non-toxic, while increasing their potency, producing a safe and effective treatment for children and adults.
Homeopathy has a long history of treating both acute and chronic illnesses naturally. Homeopathy was founded by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in Germany in the late 1700s. News of his system spread, and by the early 1800s, homeopathy had arrived in America. Its popularity in the United States grew considerably after doctors used homeopathic remedies with great success during the cholera epidemic of 1849. In addition, many people were not only seeing homeopathic doctors, but relying on homeopathic remedies to treat common mild ailments at home. By 1900, more than hundred homeopathic hospitals in the United States were treating patients. For children, homeopathy and other forms of holistic medicine can prove to be safer and more reliable therapies than standard courses of antibiotics or over-the-counter medications, many of which have been taken off the market due to side effects.
Homeopathic remedies come in different strengths or potencies. The lower potencies which range in strength from 6X, 6C, 30X and 30C are appropriate for use at home. The correct choice of remedy will work at any strength. In general, remedies in the strengths of 6X and 6C need to be repeated more often than the 30X or 30C.
In addition to single remedies, homeopathics are also available in a variety of combinations. These ready-made formulas for the treatment of fever can be convenient for shoppers who don't know the exact remedy they need, who cannot find the specific remedy they're looking for sold alone or who are unable to consult a homeopath.
For chronic conditions, I recommend constitutional homeopathic treatment, in which a homeopathic remedy is chosen by a trained homeopath after a lengthy interview. This method can be very effective for the long-term resolution of chronic conditions.
Homeopathic medicine is safe and effective, without the side effects of standard medicine, and it is useful for adults as well as children.