Homeopathic Medicine – Taking a Look at Its History

Though it may seem like the trend towards homeopathic medicine is something new, it actually is not. Homeopathic products have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years. Yes, there is a growing trend towards "natural styles" as a way of life that includes organic foods and homeopathic products.

These ideas are at the root of many of mankind's current medications. How often do you take an aspirin? It may interest you to know that aspirin was developed from a compound called salicylic acid, which is found in willow tree bark and has been used for hundreds of years. Homeopathy has very deep roots in mankind's history.

In 1796 Samuel Hahnemann was a practitioner who was studying current medical practices. At the time he observed that the medical practices being employed were using a system of opposites. He began to test and theorize that if you used the same or similar ingredient that caused the illness and diluted it, it would produce a cure. His new homeopathic medicine practices were immediately popular and homeopathy treatment for many illnesses began to be the most commonly used treatments used to help patients.

Chances are high that there is some form of homeopathic remedy for just about any ailment that you may have. The remedies homeopathic practitioners use may involve belladonna, duck liver, wolf bane and even some traditional herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender. It is not uncommon to find many herbal remedies used in lotions and bath oils because of the reported effects that they have on the body.

There are a few things that you should keep in mind should you decide to try out any homeopathic cures. The first is that the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the ingredients nor does it guarantee their safety. There simply have not been any concrete studies performed that show these cures to be effective in any way, outside of being a placebo. The second thing to keep in mind is that some homeopathic cures may interfere with your prescription medication. Always notify your physician if you intend to start taking any over-the-counter medications.

Homeopathic practitioners will tell you that homeopathic medicine practices are completely safe and natural. But there is still so much that is not known nor proven about these practices. If you do decide to give homeopathy a try, then you need to pick up some homeopathic books to understand what ingredients and solutions are usually prescribed. Just make sure you document how the treatment is working for you.