What is a homeopathic remedy

Remedies come from a variety of natural substances with plants and minerals being the most common sources. Samuel Hahnemann the founder of this system of medicine developed a process of potentisation to extract the healing properties of these substances. He first made a liquid containing the physical substance. This is called the Mother Tincture. Through a process of diluting and then vigorously shaking this tincture he created different strengths or potencies of a remedy. Remedies can be taken in tablet, powder or liquid form. They are usually taken under the tongue.

We discover the healing property of a remedy when a group of healthy people take the remedy daily over a period of time and record the symptoms the remedy creates in them. This is called a proving. The common symptoms experienced by the group give us the ‘remedy picture’. We know that the symptoms the remedy creates in a healthy person are those that can be healed in a sick person. This is called ‘treating like with like’, also called the Law of Similars, and is the basis of how homeopathy works.

An example would be the homeopathic remedy Allium Cepa, which is made from a red onion. We all know when we chop an onion it can create symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes and nose. These are common cold and hayfever symptoms and so Allium Cepa is a common cold and hayfever remedy. The symptoms an onion causes in a healthy person are symptoms it may clear in a sick person.