- Old Homeopathic Remedy: Heper Sulph - Wikidudeman
There is a vast confusion between the medical terms homeopathic, herbal and holistic. Most beginning and intermediate users of natural remedies believe that homeopathy refers to natural or herbal medicine, but the word homeopathy refers to a form of medicine that incorporates the theory that harmful substances in small amounts can heal. The word holistic also is confused with herbal or natural medicine, but holistic refers to a total balance of body and mind to achieve perfect health.
Homeopathy
According to MedicineNet.com the term homeopathy refers to "a system of therapy based on the concept that disease can be treated with drugs thought capable of producing the same symptoms in healthy people as the disease itself."
In other words, homeopathy takes a disease or cancer-producing substance and administers it to a sick patient in small amounts in hopes that the substance will cure whatever the patient is suffering from. The substance then acts as an immune stimulant when given in small dosage, although when given in larger amounts to healthy patients the substance may cause a reverse affect.
Homeopathy was invented in the late 18th century by a German physician known as Samuel Hahnmann. The study was further developed and popularized by the American physician James Tyler Kent. (MedicineNet.com- Homeopathy) Homeopathy evolved out of the need for change in medicine instead of medical practices such as using leeches to bleed out the "bad blood".
Holistic
According to HealthyHolisticLiving.com, holistic is a "non-medical philosophy of well-being that considers the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life as closely interconnected and balanced."
Holistic healing involves uses a method of healing that uses preventive medicine as well with all spiritual, mental and physical methods of healing available. For example, for some seeing a mentor or a psycologist may be a form of mental or spiritual healing. It is important to have a balance of all three to ensure a totally body holistic healing.
A holistic healing cannot be achieved without a proper balance. Holistic healing products are often associated with New Age customs and traditions such as yoga and middle-eastern meditation practices.
Herbal
Herbal medicine is "a type of medicine that uses roots, stems, leaves, flowers or seeds of plants to improve health, prevent disease and treat illness." according to Cancer.gov. This is the type of medicine that is most often confused with homeopathy.
Most who are trying to use an alternative lifestyle that avoids traditional medicine seek the lifestyle of herbal medicine. This lifestyle involves using herbs and other plants in teas, poultices, salves, etc. for the benefit of healing. With herbal medicine, only health-benefiting plants are used and only the body is healed.
Sources:
Cancer.gov, *"Definition of Herbal Medicine-NCI"* July 29, 2010.
HealthyHolisticLiving.com, *"Definition of Holistic Health"* July 29, 2010.
MedicineNet.com, *"Homeopathy definition-Medical Dictionary"* July 29, 2010.
MedicineNet.com, *"Herbal Remedy Definition-Medical Dictionary"* July 29, 2010.
Elisheva Weyers - My articles are written out of my genuine interest and not purely for monetary gain.
