Homeopathic medicine gained its greatest popularity in nineteenth century America and Europe, primarily due to its impressive successes in treating infectious diseases that raged during that time. The death rates in homeopathic hospitals from cholera, scarlet fever, typhoid, and yellow fever were significantly lower than those in conventional hospitals.
At the turn of the twentieth century, there were more than 100 homeopathic hospitals and 22 homeopathic colleges, including Boston University, University of Michigan, New York Medical College, and Hahnemann College of Medicine. If homeopathy once had significant results in treating people suffering from these serious infectious diseases, how can we doubt that it can be similarly effective in treating the various infectious diseases today?
Germs Do Not "Cause" Disease
It's commonly assumed that bacteria and viruses "cause" disease. But most of us who are perfectly healthy have various bacteria and viruses in our body right now. The reason some people get ill and others don't involves what biologists call "host resistance" and what physicians refer to as "susceptibility." Infection is the result of two factors: exposure to a pathogen and the person's present state of health. If someone is susceptible or if his immune system is vulnerable, the infection may take root and the bacteria or viruses may proliferate.
Taking an antibiotic or antiviral drug may get rid of the pathogen, but these medications do nothing to strengthen a person's host resistance or immune system. Consider ways to strengthen your own defense system-homeopathy is one important way to do this.
Success with Homeopathy
The number-one reason that parents take their child to a physician today is for ear infections. A study published in a major pediatric journal found approximately 20 percent more treatment failures in children given a placebo than those given a homeopathic medicine. This study also found a significant decrease in symptoms at 24 and 64 hours after treatment among those given a homeopathic medicine.
An international study evaluated the results of treatment from 1,577 patients with acute respiratory and ear complaints, of which 857 received homeopathic and 720 conventional treatment. The researchers concluded that homeopathic treatment of acute respiratory and ear complaints was as effective as conventional medical treatment. Further, researchers found that homeopathic treatment was significantly safer than conventional treatment.
Some skeptics assert that homeopathic remedies are only useful for minor ailments, yet research finds that these natural medicines can also be extremely beneficial for serious infections. At one hospital, 70 patients with severe sepsis (a serious infection in the bloodstream) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial measuring survival rates at 30 days and 180 days. Normally, sepsis is fatal 50 percent of the time. This study showed that only 25 percent of those patients who were given an individually chosen homeopathic medicine died as a result of sepsis, while 50 percent of those patients who were given a placebo died by day 180 (all patients in this study were concurrently prescribed antibiotics).
Homeopathic Medicines
Homeopaths consider it unscientific to assume that everyone with a cold or a cough would benefit from the same medicine. Instead, they select an individually appropriate single homeopathic medicine based on the sick person's unique syndrome of symptoms.
If you experience repeated infections or particularly intense symptoms, seek professional homeopathic and medical care. Because homeopathy is a method of strengthening your overall defense system, it should be seriously considered as a treatment of choice if you are prone to infection.
Such individualized treatment has been found to provide faster and more certain results. For simple treatments at home, user-friendly homeopathic formulas are readily available at natural product stores and often prove to be wonderfully effective.
Essential Homeopathy by Dana Ullman, MPH ($10.95, New World Library, 2002) Homeopathy A-Z by Dana Ullman, MPH ($19.95, Hay House, 1999)
 | The law of similars is the fundamental basis of homeopathy-like is used to treat like. Homeopathic medicine operates on the principle that the best remedy for illness is a substance that produces similar symptoms of that same illness in a healthy person. |
 | Proponents of homeopathic remedies are quick to point out that homeopathic doctors take a holistic approach to medicine. You will be asked questions about your lifestyle, diet, sleeping habits, exercise habits, personality and medical history, all in an effort to help you get your body in the best health possible using natural stimulants and remedies. |
 | Homeopathic remedies are custom designed to treat the individual, an illness and the symptoms of that illness. The thought is that small quantities of ingredients that would cause symptoms of a disease in larger quantities will alleviate symptoms. |
Homeopathy used to be virtually unknown in the United States. It has its roots in Europe and has been popular overseas for a long time. Americans are starting to catch up, as I now see homeopathic medicines in large national retail chains. |&&|In Greek, homeopathy literally means "similar suffering". |
