WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?

Homeopathy is a system of medicine based on natural laws that was founded in the early 19th century by a German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. It had its greatest popularity in the late 19th century, during which time about 15% of all medical doctors were homeopaths. In many other European countries this percentage was similar. However, with the advent of modern medicine, homeopathy was portrayed as "old and stodgy" by practitioners of conventional medicine. This trend has reversed recently; and since 1980 homeopathy is experiencing a strong resurgence of interest all over the world. Homeopathy rests on the principle "let like be cured by likes." This means that when a substance is administered in large crude dosages to a healthy individual it will produce specific symptoms, but when this same material has been diluted and administered in infinitesimal homeopathic doses, it will stimulate the body's reactive process to relieve those same symptoms.

The body always does what it needs to do in order to protect and preserve itself. So it recognizes this substance, even in its extremely diluted homeopathic form, and then mounts a curative response to the symptoms that the substance is known to produce when taken in larger doses. An example is Ipecac. If taken in large quantities it produces vomiting, but if taken in tiny homeopathic amounts, it cures vomiting. 

Homeopathy is concerned with the treatment of the whole person, not just the disease name. For this reason, people with the same disease may often be treated with different remedies. Thus, the most important part of homeopathic treatment lies in the lengthy interview which Dr. Quaranto conducts with the patient in order to determine all of the symptoms which the patient is experiencing mentally, emotionally and physically. A major portion of the interview is devoted to understanding the patient's psyche.

If we take a look at most of the biggest killers in our society nowadays (cancer, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, asthma to name a few) we find that those ailments are for the most part stress induced. Stress is not a big animal that is out there waiting to get us. It is simply the way that we perceive those things that are happening to us. We can then choose to respond in whatever way that we do. Since most physical disease is caused by inappropriate reaction to stress that builds tension and manifests in the form of symptoms, a homeopath must understand the patient's experience of this stress in depth. A keen understanding of what drives the patient, what particular things the patient finds stressful and how s/he reacts to these stressors, holds the key to finding the patient's cure.

Dr. Quaranto then decides which remedy to prescribe based on the closest match between the patient's symptoms and the known symptoms which that remedy produces when taken in large quantities. The ultimate goal of homeopathy is to restore the patient to health rapidly, gently and permanently. True health is freedom, i.e., mental clarity, emotional stability and freedom from physical limitations.

WHAT ARE HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES?

A homeopathic remedy is normally a single substance derived from a plant, an animal, or a mineral that is then subjected to a special procedure which brings out the medicinal properties of the original substance. There are currently about 2000 substances whose specific effects on the body have been recorded. The effect of homeopathic remedies is strengthened dramatically upon successive dilution and vigorous shaking between each dilution. The degree of dilution is referred to as the "potency" of the remedy, with higher dilutions corresponding to higher potencies. The potency is denoted by a number and a letter on the label, such as "12X", "6C", "12C", 1M, etc. (higher numbers denote higher potencies). Homeopathic remedies are available in different preparations: tablets, liquids, and globuli (small white pellets). They are usually tasteless or slightly sweet. Several of my pediatric patients have told their moms, "I want some Dr. Danny medicine."

IS IT SAFE?

Homeopathic remedies are completely safe with no unwanted side effects and they are non-addictive. They are safe for babies, children, pregnant women and elderly people. Several controlled clinical studies have been performed by medical researchers, showing that homeopathy is an effective method of treatment for many diseases.

HOW FAST DO HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES WORK?

It depends on the nature of your illness (acute or chronic, long standing or recent, etc.), your constitution, and the specific remedy given. In acute cases often times relief can be felt a few minutes after taking the remedy and the first dose can eliminate the illness completely.  Chronic cases take longer to respond and a full course of treatment may take many months.  Homeopathic preparations are extremely safe to take because of their highly diluted form.  Nonetheless, frequent repetition of a dose without the advice of a professional is not recommended. Remedies should not be taken together with food because this might interfere with their absorption. Dr. Quaranto will give you more specific instructions if necessary.

Many health food stores now offer prescription-free "homeopathic" remedies. They are frequently labeled with a disease name like "Diarrhea", "Head Ache", "Allergies", "Sciatica", etc. These are made up from a mixture of several remedies. Keep in mind that the body recognizes symptoms from each of the remedies in the mixture that would be produced if each of those remedies were taken separately in large doses. When taken as a mixture, the body gets mixed messages. Since careful individualized matching of symptoms is necessary to find the correct remedy, these products do not work homeopathically, and can confuse the case. Sometimes a temporary amelioration of symptoms can be achieved but in general you should not expect too much from these preparations.

WILL MY INSURANCE COVER THE COST OF HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT?

At this time, in many countries alternative medicine is not covered by the health insurance system. However, homeopathic remedies are comparatively inexpensive (a month's supply will cost a few pennies). However, the key to finding the right homeopathic remedy is individualization. This means that the totality of the symptoms experienced by the patient (including those apparently unrelated to the main complaint) has to be known in order to prescribe the proper remedy. The mere name of a disease, like flu, cold, arthritis, cancer, fibromyalgia, asthma etc. is not enough. Every person will experience these diseases in their own individual way. For example, if two people come for treatment and each person has received a diagnosis from another doctor that they have asthma, this is the starting point for the homeopath. Now we need to differentiate each person's asthma based upon the symptoms that it produces in that person. One person's asthma will get worse in the night time, when they are hot and will be accompanied by a lot of mucous. Another person's asthma will be worse in the daytime and they will have a cold constitution but they have no mucous. To give both of these people the same treatment might make one better and do nothing for the other. In the course of a thorough interview (normally between one and two hours, initially), Dr, Quaranto will form a complete picture of your current state. This includes your emotional, mental, and physical symptoms. The way in which you react to the events of your life is very significant information which Dr. Quaranto will consider in determining your remedy.