Question: Is homeopathy the same as naturopathy and herbal medicine?
Answer: No.
Homeopaths, herbalists and naturopaths each encourage good health through nutritious food, clean air and water, sunlight, regular exercise, and supportive relationships they usually treat health problems – but according to very different principles.
The underlying principle of homeopathy is the Law of Similars, also known as 'like treats like'.
By it, homeopaths use substances in potentized form. This is done by using a process called titration and many dilutions, depending on the potency. The potentized homeopathic remedies will mimic the very symptoms of the unwell person has, in order to stimulate a healing response from the body.
Naturopathic and herbal treatments do not use this principle - except by accident. Treatments that oppose, palliate or suppress symptoms are usually prescribed in these methods.
While medicines or remedies used by naturopaths and herbalists are likely to be less risky than their conventional counterparts, they won't be able to trigger a healing response from the body unless that 'like treats like' effect is present.
Instead, symptoms will be suppressed or palliated for the short-term and this is often done at the risk of deeper chronic problems arising in the future. In contrast, the homeopathic effect of mimicking symptoms works with the body rather than against it and so supports its efforts to heal.
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