Your health is in your hands!

I came across a recent article from Paul Zane Pilzer about the Wellness industry, which says - "Today a new health related industry is emerging that has nothing to do with sickness but all about creating wellness. Wellness doesn’t treat people who are sick but people who are already well, want to stay well, slow down the aging process, feel healthier and keep away from becoming sick."


And I thought isn’t this just what homoeopathy is all about. This certainly shows a positive change in our outlook towards health and disease. Further the article mentions wellness is not the same as health care. What we call the health care or the medical system has got very little to do with health but concerned with treating the symptoms of sickness. This set my mind thinking.
I grew up in India and having trained as a homoeopathic doctor, I have seen both conventional and homoeopathic systems being used to complement each other and both forms of doctors working together in hospitals. So for me it is not a question of debating over which is better but more importantly about recognising the fundamental difference between the two systems and learning how we can use both to our advantage. This is an intelligent choice for the future I guess.


How is Homoeopathy special?
The concept of disease is changing today. The world today sees the importance of body-mind relation and views disease as affection of the whole human. Recent research accepts that immune system has a big role in preventing chronic diseases and considers that a person is sick first and infections come later.
Herein lies the advantage of homoeopathy because it treats the person as a whole individual and helps strengthen his weak immune system. Health is not just absence of symptoms and disease. Being healthy in the true sense is when you meet the demands of life fully and easily, enjoy life to the fullest without restrictions and reach your goals successfully resisting stress, illness and disease.
Good homoeopathy aims to help patients achieve that quality of life and reach a level of health where the need for long-term medication homoeopathic or otherwise should gradually reduce in certain chronic conditions.
Homoeopathy is an effective, scientific system of healing which assists the natural tendency of the body to heal itself.
It uses natural remedies made from Plants, Animals and Mineral substances. They are prepared in such a way that they are non-toxic and do not cause side effects. They are prescribed according to Law of Similar an age-old belief that recognises the body’s ability to heal itself.

What does health and disease mean in Homoeopathy?

The body is striving to keep itself healthy and in balance and harmony. It is an innate response of the immune system and its self healing mechanism.
When threatened the body responds by producing symptoms such as pain, fever, cough, diarrhoea etc. This is disharmony. Disharmony is dis- ease. (not at ease) – The battle between body’s defences and external agents.
Hence Homoeopathy regards symptoms as a healthy reaction of the body’s defence system supports them, instead of suppressing or opposing them.
These symptoms form the disease picture and homoeopathy treats patients according to individual picture he or she expresses. No attempt is made to separate the mental and physical conditions. The picture is taken as a whole without concentrating on just one part of the body.
We are surrounded by germ and disease causing agents all around us, inside the body, outside in the food, water we consume and the air we breath. But they can affect us only if the body’s defences are weak. Homoeopathy regards the cause of disease to be within the body itself, which are the weak defences of the body. And it aims to strengthen the body itself so it resists harmful organisms every time you fall ill.

Hence the major advantage of homoeopathy is that it assists the body in the battle between your body and external agents and your body emerges stronger after each illness. It is one of the best preventive systems of healing.
The second important advantage is the treatment of chronic recurrent disease such as all types of non-specific allergies including hay fever, asthma and skin rashes, Emotional depression, mood swings, anxiety, stress induced illnesses such as headaches, migraines, gastritis, ulcers, Skin disorders such as eczema, herpes. ENT and Respiratory disorders such as earaches, ear infections, sinusitis, colds and coughs, Gastrointestinal disorders like indigestion, constipation, diarrhoeas, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, Muscular and bone system disorders like muscular pains, arthritis. It is amazing how the frequency of these episodes gradually wane with correct constitutional remedies over a period of time.
The best advantage of homoeopathy is in bringing about a harmony within as it balances both the body and mind. The mind gradually relaxes you start experiencing a feeling of well-being. A relaxed mind makes positive decisions and contributes to the quality of life. Homoeopathy makes real changes in people’s lives. This is probably the greatest satisfaction any homoeopath can give and derive. This is the higher aim we look forward to with homoeopathy when a homoeopath treats you constitutionally.
Having said all that it is important to also realise that Conventional medicine is invaluable in emergencies where you lose vital fluids like massive blood loss, which requires supplements. Certain Surgical conditions require mechanical interference. So do certain severe acute life threatening disorders, which require external help. You can’t attempt to assist an exhausted drained soldier. You remove him away from the invader instead of expecting him to fight with his depleted resources!!! Remember homoeopathy can only focus what resources the body has in the right direction, but in someone with suspended or depleted resources, let someone else take care of the invader now without depending on the body!
This is an intelligent decision and a trained homoeopath can quickly recognise the state when you require interference and reference.
However interference and wanting quick relief each time for every ailment without strengthening the body to take control is not going to make you independent of fighting your battle. This dependence can make you weaker and your body lacks the confidence to take care of itself. A vicious cycle which can be habit forming. Your body will not want to take the effort to fight. Even an attitude of absolutely avoiding the pain and suffering, ‘just get me back to my job’ will not help in the long run. The laws of nature require efforts and patience but the efforts are worth it in the end.

Understand this difference; Give your body the homoeopathic resource to fight as a first choice. Work with it and help it grow stronger every time, nurture it well and watch how your health blossoms over the years to come. Care and love your wonderful body. Your health is in your hands!!!