What is Homeopathy

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a system of medicine founded in the late 1700's by Samuel Hahnemann (a German physician), which works on principal that certain diseases can be cured by stimulating the body's own defenses against the illness; the opposite of allopathy. HomeopathyHomeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in the field of medical therapy that uses natural substances to imitate illness and stimulate healing. Homeopathic remedies do not kill the bacteria, rather, they stimulates the immune system to do the healing. The good aspect of this alternative treatment is that-homeopathy is capable of curing a person entirely and there are no side-effects from this approach of treatment.

On the basis of the symptoms and the constitutional type of the patient, homeopath prescribes remedy for the cure of disease.A Homeopath assesses a person's character and temperament, their fears, food preferences and general factors such as weather, temperature, seasons and time of the day which may worsen or improve physical condition.After the analyzing strength and weaknesses of an individual (i.e. his vital force), homeopath prescribes the best remedy. The therapeutic medicine of homeopathy are made from plant, non-biological substances like salts, animal extracts like duck liver, substances of human origin called nosodes and some mineral extracts which are diluted in varying degrees in order to avoid unpleasant side effects. These extracts are diluted to such a degree that not one molecule of the original substance can be detected (after the 12c potency). The remedies range from toxic component such as snake venom and mercury to common food items such as oats and onions. HomeopathyThe system of homeopathic medicine is based on treating the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which activates the body's natural system of healing. For instance, one homeopathic medicine which might be used in a person suffering from insomnia is 'coffea', a remedy made from coffee.

The application of Homeopathic treatment is capable to cure many diseases such as acute fevers, sore throats and toothache, to chronic ailments such as arthritis, eczema, asthma, anxiety, mild depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.Applying the homeopathic therapy, healing begins within the patient's body resulting in health and immune system automatically increases in positive manner without any danger of side effects.It is advised to patients that avoid allopathic course of medicines while homeopathic course of medicine is started.

The Development of Homeopathy In Malaysia

Yes to Doctor No

by Alison Nadel

A British Journalist From MAS Magazine

The waiting Room of Dr Nik Omar's clinic is busy. A school boy whose asthma cleared up within a day of homeopathic medicine has come back for some medicine to treat cold. A young woman is waiting for a pregnancy check up and to start a course of medicine for an easy birth. A man whose severe migraines vanished after being treat by Dr Nik six months ago, has dropped in to pick up a repeat prescription.

For them, there is no question that homeopathy works. Like many of Dr Nik's patients, they show little concern about how or why it is effective. Only a few of the people in his waiting room say that they have come because homeopathy use natural substances. More stress the fact that it is cheap. One elderly man, partially paralysed and walking with a stick, says that since his last heart attack, there is nothing more that his doctor can do for him. Homeopathic is his last hope.

Dr Nik Omar does not fit the stereo type of the dedicated healer quietly pioneering his art. He is too bullish. Both his colleagues and his rivals acknowledge his tremendous energy. All recognize that he, more than any one, is responsible for raising the homeopathic medicine profile in Malaysia.

Dr Nik has written hundred of articles about his work. He is an active member of the international homeopathic community. In 1979 he set up his own version like the French Medical Volunteer Force, medicine sans frontier. He called his, Homeopathic Doctors Without Barrier. He says that his mission in life is to bring homeopathic medicines to every Malaysian man, woman and child.

Dr Nik has trainning in both western and homeopathic medicine. He studies both subjects for five years in Pakistan before going to Britain to train at London Foot Hospital, School of Chiropody, University College, London for two years.

Homeopathic has always been his primary interest. When he returned to Malaysia in 1977, it was homeopathic practice, not a chiropody clinic, that he set up in his home town of Kota Bharu.

Currently, he is conducting a study of infertility which brought one of his most celebrated successes. he calls of a a couple who has been married for 12 years without having children until in desperation, they came to see him.

" They have tried everything In-Vitro, IUI, GIFT and faith healer," he says, " Within only three months of councelling and homeopathic treatment, the women's pregnant was confirmed."

Dr Nik pepares his own medicine from ingredients imported from European countries, US, India and Pakistan. He has seen many miraculous in his treatment. The dosage are tiny and sweets. A standard homeopathic medicine is 'Sulphur' In its homoeopathic form a grain of sulphur is diluted in 99 parts of water and alcohol. This is its 'first potency'. A drop of that mixture is then diluted again in 99 parts of water and alcohol. This is it 'second potency'. This process is repeated until the 30 th potency. No trace of the sulphur remains. All that is said to be left are 'Sulphur's medicinal powers'.

Dr Nik does not, however, dismiss the need for conventional treatment. " No system of medicine has the right to claim it can cure everything, " he said. " If someone appendix is about to burst, they must go for immediate surgery. But if the disease is caught early enough, and treated with homeopathic, then surgery would became almost redundant."

Desspite of this claims being made by Dr Nik and numerous other homeopathic doctors in the world, homeopathy has yet to be welcomed by the orthodox medical establishment with open arms. In a country where alternative system of medicine proliferate, homeopathy suffers from being seen as just another treatment liking any scientific basis.

Such criticism is a sad fact of homeopathic life. Dr Nik treat it likely and points out that homeopathy has face of a long tradition of official opposition since it founder, Samuel Hahnemann was kicked out of Leipzig, nearly 200 years ago. For him the proof of the pudding is in the patients.

- From MAS Magazine, January 1998.