Burning eyes means a burning sensation, irritation or stinging in the eyes.

It can be attended with other signs and symptoms depending on the cause behind it. These include itching in eyes, dry eyes, grittiness (feeling of some small particle like grain of sand in eyes), tears, red, sore eyes and discharge from the eyes. In some cases, nasal symptoms may also be present. These include runny nose, sneezing, nasal blockage and PND (post nasal discharge means dripping of mucus from posterior nares in the back of the throat).

Homeopathic Management

Homeopathy can be very effective in managing complaint of burning in eyes. Homeopathic medicines gradually reduce the intensity of burning and also manage its attending symptoms. Such symptoms include itching in the eyes, dry eyes, eye discharge, tearing and red eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. It is advised to take any homeopathic medicine for this complaint under supervision of a homeopathic physician. In case bleeding/ pus discharge from eyes attends or when there is severe eye pain, sensitivity to light, sudden changes in vision, double vision, light flashes, spots or floaters  (liquid or gel-like liquid) in front of the eyes along with burning sensation in eyes, then it is strictly advised to take urgent help from conventional mode of treatment as these can indicate some serious causes related to the eyes.

Homeopathic Medicines For Burning Eyes

1. Euphrasia – Top-grade Medicine

It is a natural medicine prepared from a plant Euphrasia Officinalis, commonly known by the name of ‘eye – bright’. It is a prominent medicine for managing cases of burning in the eyes. In cases needing it, watering from the eyes attends burning. Other than this, a sensation of dust or sand in the eyes may be felt. In some cases, dryness in the eyes is present. Itching may accompany. Other than this, there may occur swelling of the eyelids. Along with this, there is itching, burning, redness in the margins of eyelids. Sometimes nasal symptoms attend. These include sneezing, runny nose and nasal irritation.

2. Belladonna – For Burning In Eyes And Redness

It is a natural medicine prepared from plant ‘deadly nightshade’. This medicine works well in cases having burning and marked redness in the eyes. Persons who need it also feel pricking in the eyes. Itching and dryness in the eyes attend it.  Itching and burning is also felt in the eyelids. Sometimes hot tears from eyes can flow. It is a very effective medicine for cases of conjunctivitis.

3. Pulsatilla – For Burning Eyes And Discharge From Eyes

This medicine is prepared from a plant Pulsatilla Nigricans, commonly known as ‘wind flower’. This plant belongs to family ranunculaceae. It is a well-indicated medicine for cases presenting with burning eyes and thick yellow discharge from the eyes. Along with this, eye itching is marked. The itching leads to rubbing and scratching.  A pressing sensation in the eyes can attend. There may be grittiness in the eyes. Dryness of eyes occurs along with the above symptoms. It gets worse in the evening. Other than this, there is redness and swelling on margins of eyelids. It is a well-indicated medicine for iritis and conjunctivitis cases.

4. Apis Mellifica – For Burning, Stinging In Eyes

It is a prominent medicine to manage burning and stinging in eyes. Stinging sensation is also felt in eyes. The conjunctiva looks bright red. Profuse flow of tears accompanies it. Eye itching and soreness is the next attending symptom. The eyelids may be swollen and puffy along with these symptoms.

5. Sulphur – For Burning And Sensation Of Sand In Eyes

Sulphur is a beneficial medicine for those having burning sensation and grittiness in eyes. There may be inflammation in eyes or eyelids. Pricking pain in the eyes is also a major complaint. Itching in the eyes is also felt with these symptoms.  There is watering from the eyes in the morning which is followed by dryness.

6. Aconite – For Burning Eyes With Dryness

This medicine is prepared from plant Aconitum Napellus, commonly known as ‘monkshood’. It belongs to family ranunculaceae. It is helpful for cases in which there is burning in the eyes along with marked dryness. There is relief by throwing cold water on eyes. Redness in eyes and inflammation is also present. Dryness and burning is also felt in the eyelids where this medicine is required. Eyes are sensitive to air along with above symptoms.

7. Natrum Mur – For Burning And Itching In The Eyes

Use of this medicine is considered when there is burning and itching in the eyes. The burning sensation is most marked in the evening.  Sometimes grittiness in eyes is felt in the morning. It is a well-indicated medicine for cases of blepahritis. In such cases, the eyelids are red, sore with burning sensation.

8. Arsenic Album – For Burning In Eyelid Margins

This medicine is indicated when burning sensation is present in the margins of eyelids. Along with this, there is soreness on internal surface of lids. The eyelids can be swollen. The edges of lids are painful if you move them. There is grittiness in eyes in the evening causing rubbing of eyes. Next, the inner eyelid margin may be red. Dryness can attend it.

9. Allium Cepa – For Eye Burning And Nasal Symptoms

Allium Cepa is a valuable medicine when there is burning in eyes. With this a biting and smarting sensation (feeling like pin -pricks) in eyes may be felt too. It feels as if there is smoke in front of the eyes, there is desire to intermittently rub the eyes. Other than this, the eyes are red and watery. Along with these, there occur nasal symptoms like runny nose and frequent sneezing.

10. Merc Sol – For Burning And Profuse Watering From Eyes

Merc Sol is an important medicine when there is burning in the eyes along with profuse watering from eyes. Biting and burning in eyes is mostly felt in open air.  The eyelids are sensitive to cold, heat, touch in cases that need it. The eyelids may be inflamed, red, swollen and thick where Merc Sol is required.

What Are The Causes Behind It?

It can arise due to various reasons.

In many cases, it can occur due to environmental pollutants like dust, smoke, smog or from exposure to excessively cold or hot air. In some cases,  it can arise from eye strain as after excessive screen time on computer or mobile. In such cases, additional symptoms that can arise include dry eyes or watery eyes, double vision, and sensitivity to light.

In other cases, it can occur from some medical reason as given below.

It firstly includes conjunctivitis, also known as ‘pink eye’. It means inflammation of the conjunctiva which is a thin clear layer that covers white part of the eye. It can occur from an infection that can be viral or bacterial or from an allergic reaction to pollen, chemicals, etc. In this condition, burning in the eyes can attend its other signs and symptoms that include redness of the eyes, discharge from eyes, itchy eyes, excessive tears and gritty sensation in eyes.

Second cause can be allergies. These can be triggered by exposure to allergens like dust, smoke, pollen, etc. Along with eye signs and symptoms like burning, itchy eyes, red eyes, watery discharge from eyes, it may be accompanied by nasal symptoms too. These nasal symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, PND, sore throat and coughing.

Next, it can arise in case of common cold and flu.

Burning in the eyes can also be due to dry eyes.  It can arise from allergies, exposure to smoke, excessive screen time on computers, diabetes, use of certain medications (like anti-histamines, anti-depressants and some drugs used for treating high blood pressure) or from some types of arthritis. Dry eyes can occur either from decreased production of tears or from production of poor quality tears. In addition to burning eyes, it can cause light sensitivity, redness of the eyes, scratchy sensation in the eyes, mucus in and around the eyes.

Ocular rosacea can be also a cause. It refers to inflammation of the eyes affecting those having a skin condition called rosacea (rosacea affects the face which causes redness, flushed face with prominent blood vessels and pus-filled eruptions). In ocular rosacea, there is burning in the eyes along with other symptoms like itchy eyes, irritation in the eyes and eye redness.

Next reason is pterygium (a triangular-shaped tissue flap that grows on the conjunctiva of the eye)

Another cause is blepharitis (means inflammation of the eyelids).  It can lead to burning in the eyes along with itching of eyelids, watery eyes, flakiness around eyes, light sensitivity and sticking of the eyelids.

Puffy eyes means swelling around the eyes medically known as periorbital puffiness. Puffy eyes may be due to various reasons. In many cases, puffy eyes is a temporary condition (for example, from excessive crying, lack of sleep) and resolves on its own without any treatment but in some cases, it can be an indication of a medical condition (for example, allergies, conjunctivitis) that requires treatment, like orbital cellulitis which needs immediate medical attention.

Homeopathic Treatment

Homeopathy is very beneficial to treat cases of puffy eyes. Homeopathic medicines work to reduce the swelling around eyes by targeting the root cause behind it. These medicines are recommended for mild to moderate cases where no serious cause is linked with puffy eyes. In cases where swelling is intense, or occurs along with certain symptoms (like high fever, eye pain, sudden vision changes, vision loss, bleeding from eyes, sudden swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue, breathing problem and bulging eyes) indicating some serious ailment or when it is linked with some serious cause (like eye injury, cellulitis, anaphylaxis, cancer), it is strictly advised to take help from conventional mode of treatment on urgent basis.

As the causes vary for puffy eyes from case to case, it is advised to take homeopathic medicine under the guidance of a homeopathic doctor and never self-medicate. Homeopathic doctor can prescribe medicine after evaluating the case. He will decide whether the case is within the treatable parameters of homeopathy depending on the cause, if not, he will guide you toward timely conventional treatment.

Homeopathic Medicines For Puffy Eyes

1. Apis Mellifica – Top Grade Medicine

It is a leading medicine in homeopathy for managing cases of puffy eyes. In most cases needing it, the eyelids are swollen, puffy, and  red. It is accompanied by a burning sensation and tight skin around eyes. Though the swelling may be present around or under eyes,  mostly swelling is marked under the eyes like under-eye water bags. It is one of the best medicine for puffy eyes in case of allergies. In some cases needing it, there may be inflammation of conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is red and hot tears flow. Sensitivity to light may also be there.  Other than the above, it is well indicated for puffy eyes in case of blepharitis. The eyelids are swollen and become thick with stinging pains.

2. Kali Carb – For Marked Swelling Above The Eyes

This medicine is prominent for managing swelling above the eyes. It is present between the eyebrows and the upper lid. It is also helpful in managing cases of swelling of eyelids from blepharitis. In some cases, along with swollen eyes, there is redness on the edges of eyelids. There may be watering from eyes also.  The eyelids may be sticky in the morning.

3. Euphrasia – For Swollen Lids With Watery Eyes

It is prepared from the plant Euphrasia Officinalis, commonly known by the name ‘eye-bright’. This medicine works well on swollen eyelids with watery eyes which causes conjunctiva to become red. Burning on the margins of lids can also be there. A sensation of dryness on margins of eyelids is another accompanying symptom. Nasal discharge may also be present.

4. Rhus Tox – For Puffy, Itchy Eyelids

It is a very beneficial medicine for cases in which there are puffy eyes along with itching of lids. A biting and prickling sensation in lids can attend it.  There is also shooting type of pain around the eyelids. Profuse watering from eyes is another accompanying feature. Sometimes there is dryness in the eys and heat in the eyelids.

5. Allium Cepa – For Swelling Around Eyes And Allergies

It is an important medicine for cases in which there is swelling around the eyes as a part of nasal allergies (allergic rhinitis). The symptoms of allergies that are present include excessive watering from eyes, sneezing and runny nose. Next, there can be pain in forehead.

6. Merc Sol – For Swollen Lids Along With Eye Watering And Burning

Merc Sol is a very useful medicine for cases of swollen lids accompanied by watery eyes and a burning sensation. Along with this, there is a sensation of a foreign body under the lids. This leads to pressive or cutting pains under the lids which causes difficulty in moving lids. Eyelids become sore and red. There also can be sensitivity to light.

7. Phosphorus – For Puffy Eyes And Blue Rings About Eyes

This medicine is indicated for cases in which there are puffy eyes along with blue rings around eyes.  Frequent itching is felt in the eyes. Next, there can be sensitivity to light. In some cases, inflammation of eyes may be present with pressing burning pain.

8. Pulsatilla – For Swollen, Red Eyelids

Stye

It is a natural medicine prepared from plant named Pulsatilla Nigricans, commonly known as ‘wind flower’. It is helpful when the eyelids are swollen and red. Along with this, there can be sensation of dryness and burning heat in eyes. In cases needing it, there is a tendency of formation of stye (a localized infection of an oil gland in the eyelid margin) mainly on the upper lid.

Cause Behind Puffy Eyes

Puffy eyes are common in aged people. As a person ages, there occurs weakening of the tissues and muscles around eyelids. It results in falling of the normal fat (that helps to support the eyes) in the lower eyelid. This makes lids look puffy. There can be accumulation of fluid in lower eyelid with ageing which increases swelling. Next temporary cause is excessive crying. In the process of reabsorbing excessive liquid from eyes, some of it is retained in tissue under the eyes which makes it look puffy temporarily.

Other than the above reasons, it can simply occur from not taking enough sleep, excessive rubbing of eyes, poor diet and sun exposure.  Puffy eyes can be hereditary. Mostly puffy eyes happen due to fluid retention in tissue around the eyes.

Following are the medical conditions that are related to it.

1. Allergies: The first medical condition that can lead to it is Among them, there is hay fever. Also known as allergic rhinitis, it can cause swollen under-eyes in addition to other symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy nose, red eyes, watery and itchy eyes, cough and post-nasal discharge. Allergy may also be from reaction to some food, chemical, insect bite, etc.

Hives

In some cases, it may occur from a severe life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) that needs immediate medical help because it can be fatal if not attended to immediately. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that causes swelling of the throat and tongue,  difficulty in breathing,  sudden drop in blood pressure,  rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and loss of consciousness mostly along with hives, which is a skin condition characterized by itchy, raised bumps on skin.

2. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the transparent membrane called conjunctiva lining the white part of eyeball and eyelid. It can cause swelling of eyelids along with other symptoms, like redness in eyes, itching in eyes, eye discharge, excessive tears from eyes and grittiness in eyes (feeling of particle of sand in the eye).

3. Dermatitis is also one of the cause. In dermatitis there occur inflammation of the skin with red, itchy rash.

4. Blepharitis is an inflammation of the edges/margins of eyelid. Swollen eyelids can attend other symptoms like itchy eyelids, red eyes, watering from eyes, burning or stinging in the eyes, grittiness in the eyes, and sticking of the eyelid).

5. Orbital cellulitis is a serious condition in which there occurs infection of the soft tissues and fat within the eye socket. It needs urgent medical help as it can result in permanent vision loss and other severe complication like meningitis which is inflammation of the protective membranes that covers the brain and spinal cord.

6. Droopy eyelids(ptosis) is also a cause for it.

7. It may also occur in case of  grave’s eye disease (thyroid eye disease).

8. Next it may happen from stye. Another cause is black eye from an injury, fracture of bony orbit.

9. It may also arise in cases of sinusitis (inflammation of mucous membranes lining the paranasal sinuses).

10. In females, it may be a fallout of PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

11. Apart from the above, in rare cases it can be from eye cancer.

What Other Symptoms May Occur With Puffy eyes?

Puffy eyes may occur along with other eye symptoms depending on the cause. These include itching in eyes, eye discharge, dry eyes, sensitivity to light, excessive tears from eyes and redness of eyes.

In some cases, puffy eyes occur along with nasal symptoms as in allergic rhinitis. These include sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, post-nasal drip. In some cases, sore throat, fatigue, headache and cough may also be present.

There are some serious symptoms which accompany puffy eyes that need urgent medical care, like high fever, bleeding from eyes, eye pain, sudden vision changes, vision loss, sudden swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue, breathing problem and bulging eyes with pain, redness and fever.

The past two decades or so have seen a significant rise in the popularity of the homeopathic system of medicine. To a large extent, the spurt in the popularity of homeopathy stems from some disillusionment with the harsh treatments of the orthodox methods of medicine, the rising costs of conventional medications and more.

Though homeopathy is rooted as far back as the late 1700s, its contemporary relevance is best judged from the fact that the World Health Organization deems it as “the second largest therapeutic system in use in the world.”

As per figures quoted by the Homeopathy Research Institute (HRI), over 200 million people use homeopathy regularly all across the globe. The homeopathic system of medicine is included in the national health programmes of countries spanning continents, from Switzerland and the United Kingdom to India and Pakistan to Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.

HRI figures further cite that 100 million EU citizens, constituting about 29 percent of the EU’s population, apply homeopathic remedies in their daily lives. Homeopathy is practiced in 40 out of the 42 European countries.

The data quoted by the HRI also says that over 6 million people in the United States (according to research conducted by the National Institutes of Health) apply homeopathic cures for common ailments. Of these,1 million are minors and more than 5 million are adults. On similar lines,10 percent of UK’s population subscribes to homeopathy, which amounts to around 6 million people, as per data cited by the HRI. In Britain, the market for homeopathy is expanding at about 20 percent a year.

However, it is India which is the frontrunner with regards to the number of people subscribing to homeopathic remedies. India currently boasts over 2,00,000 registered homeopathic doctors.

Understanding Homeopathy

Broadly speaking, homeopathy can be defined as a system of treatment that entails the administration of minuscule doses of natural substances, which if otherwise delivered to a healthy person could manifest signs of disease. What this loosely translates into is that homeopathy is an alternative system of cure that employs a holistic approach riding on and rooted in the defining philosophy of “like cures like.”

This is the defining principle that makes homeopathy an alternative medicinal practice that it administers the smallest possible amount of some active ingredient as a remedy, though paradoxically, larger doses of this same ingredient can contribute to that very ailment in the first place.

History of Homeopathy

This defining principle of “like cures like” – which forms the bedrock of homeopathy is traced back to the Greek physician Hippocrates, who gave a shining example of this philosophy in his application of the root of Veratrum Album (white hellebore) for the cure of cholera.

Though this “like cures like” philosophy is traced back to Hippocrates, the man credited with founding and popularising the more than 200-year-old practice of homeopathy is German doctor Samuel Christian Hahnemann.

It was around the year 1796 that Hahnemann, inspired by the principles of ancient Greek philosophers, propounded his theory of homeopathic medicine, which was a reaction to the harsh medical systems and drastic doses of medications administered in his times.

Samuel Christian Fredrick Hahnemann’s birth anniversary falls on April 10. He was born in 1755; he died in 1843. To describe Hahnemann and his impression on the modern medical world epitomizes our endeavor to learn and propagate the teachings of the great medical iconoclast.

Hahnemann started a movement called homeopathy. The movement was so powerful that it rocked the edifices of the then medical ideology and left an impression much deeper than anyone could have imagined. Hahnemann did more than introduce homeopathy. He shaped the way in which the medical world would perceive the fundamentals of health forever. It was through his teachings and application that one could realize the significance of a safe cure and the body’s innate capacity to heal itself.

It is clear from the many changes in allopathic practice (1800 to 1900) that Hahnemann’s critique must have gone deep into the heart of allopathy. Allopathy reduced its high doses and moved to simpler mixtures of drugs as the century progressed. The allopaths of the time even adopted many of the drugs proved and introduced by Hahnemann and regularly used in homeopathy. The system then moved to single drugs and abandoned its distressing practices by 1900. In many ways, allopathy stole Hahnemann’s ideas and brought the two sects closer together. By 1900, it was harder to distinguish between them in the medical marketplace. Undoubtedly, this worked out to the advantage of the allopaths.

Homeopathy, the whole movement, began as a medical heresy – as a deviation from the accepted medical teachings (group norms) of allopathy. It started as a rejection of the approved medical ideology of the day. Hahnemann received the usual treatment meted out to any other heretic in history – ridicule, ostracism and emphatic expulsion from the group of the medical peers. He spent the rest of his life on the margins of medicine as a deviant heretic. His work consisted very clearly of this combined disenchantment with, and rejection of allopathy, and the gradual construction of a new medical identity or ideology, which would serve as the uniquely new norms for a new medical movement. Hahnemann did not start with a completely new system developed overnight in the twinkling of an eye. He had to create it painfully – piece by piece. He started with a profound disenchantment with allopathy and then launched into increasingly vociferous attacks upon its more barbaric practices.

Then he began to formulate, through his research and experimentation, definite medical ideas, or what we today might regard as “glimpses of the full system.” He was in an awkward position, to begin with, and proceeded with caution as it is one thing to criticize something but quite another to have a better alternative. He most certainly did not have an alternative, initially, but he pretty soon formulated the bare bones of one.

Founded on a series of “provings,” starting with what is famously called the “First Proving” (relating to natural bark quinine for the cure for malaria), Hahnemann’s theory was not rooted in too many scientific studies or facts, but rather in his “provings” and his observations of patients.
The core principles of his theory were drawn from the belief that the body has the innate ability to heal itself naturally, and that symptoms are its manifestations of what’s ailing a person. Symptoms are meant to be perceived as “messengers” that are to be first decoded and then cured.

The laws of homeopathy propounded by Hahnemann find the application by medical practitioners all across the globe.

Defining Principle

A set of cardinal principles define the bedrock on which the homeopathic system of medicine rests. These core principles, established way back in the 18th century, hold good even in contemporary times. These cardinal tenets were defined and laid down by the founding father of homeopathy, Hahnemann, in his tome, “Organon of Medicine” (Organon of the Healing Art).
Some of the dynamics and defining principles on which homeopathy operates and works are as follows:

The Principle of “Like Cures Like”

The Law of Similars /Similia Similibus Curentur, which translates into “like cures like,” is the defining tenet on which the homeopathic remedies are built.

A shining example of this “like cures like” principle is the case of treating bee stings, puffiness, stinging sensations and swollen tissues and other such inflammations with Apis Mellifica (a homeopathic remedy derived from honeybee venom). This applies the Law of Similars by using minuscule doses of processed bee venom to cure ailments springing from it.

Another application of the principle of “like cures like” is the application of Arnica Montana as the most reliable and dependable cure for tissue or muscle injuries resulting from tumbles or bruising. It is a cure inspired from popular wisdom; wherein mountain goats are seen to show a tendency to go scouting for Arnica leaves post suffering a tumble. Hahnemann found that too much consumption of Arnica triggers toxic effects, but paradoxically when applied in minuscule doses this same substance facilitates the healing of injured tissues or muscles.

The Principle of Minuscule Doses

Another defining principle of homeopathic cure is that of ‘potentizations” and “dynamizations”. This means that the strength and potency of a tincture are different from each other. Hahnemann called his diluted medicines as ‘potentization’ since he found that not only did diluted medicines produce less “aggravations” but, also seemed to have a greater impact than concentrated mixtures. In simple terms, this core principle means that it does not necessarily mean that a “potent” tincture is a better remedy, for a less potent tincture or “potentizations” are seen to work better.

Hahnemann advocated the use of the minimum dose to evolve a system of remedies that entails the administration of microdoses rather than large doses, quite unlike the orthodox systems medicine.

Hahnemann through his “provings” arrived at the conclusion that highly diluted concentrations (potencies) triggered a better and faster healing process in the patient. This broadly translates into the fact that as a tincture’s potency is amplified with dilution, its safety profile also gets magnified. This is in sharp contrast to conventional systems of medicine, wherein increased potency entails greater toxicity of a cure.

The Principle of Integrated Causality

Being a holistic system of cure, the bedrock on which its line of treatment rests is that all aspects of causality have to be taken into consideration while diagnosing as well as treating a patient – physical, emotional as well as mental. This means that homeopathy does not segregate the physiological causality from the psychological causality, and instead takes an assimilated approach to causality.

This further defines the core approach of homeopathy that often it is the emotional, socio-cultural or mental causality that can be more crucial to diagnosis as well as treatment of a disease. For instance, a digestive disorder could be rooted in emotional stress, or a grief or bereavement could trigger certain cancers or asthmatic ailments.

Types of Homeopathic Remedies

Myriad homeopathic remedies exist, and they are derived primarily from plant, mineral or animal extracts. The substances employed by homeopathy practitioners could range from mountain herbs, garlic, caffeine, and crushed bees to activated charcoal, white arsenic, poison ivy and even stinging nettle extracts. These natural substances are extracted or processed in various ways to transform them into remedies in the form of tablets, skin ointments, gels, drops or creams.

The natural extracts are then processed or diluted in varying degrees so as not to trigger any side-effects. The process of deriving and diluting remedies is very calculated and precise.

For remedies derived from soluble animal or plant extracts, the ingredient is dissolved in an alcohol or water mixture, usually in the proportion of 90 percent pure alcohol and 10 percent distilled water. This concoction is then made to stand for 3-4 weeks, thereafter strained through a press to derive what is known as the “mother tincture.”

As for insoluble substances like gold, calcium carbonate, etc., they are first made soluble through the method of trituration. This entails grinding them again and again until they become soluble. They are then diluted in the same way to get the tincture.

Hahnemann found that some of the tinctures produced the opposite reaction in patients, meaning that they reported a worsening or aggravation of their symptoms than their betterment. In order to avoid these “aggravations,” as he termed them, Hahnemann devised a two-step formula for diluting the concoctions to improve their effectiveness.

This entailed diluting each concoction through the process of “succussing,” which meant shaking it thoroughly and even banging it on a hard surface at every step of dilution since this triggers the release of energy from within the substance. Hahnemann, thus, found that remedies diluted through the process of “succussing” were not only free from “aggravations” but were also more effective and faster in curing an ailment.

Over his lifetime, Hahnemann experimented to ascertain the effectiveness of more than 100 homeopathic remedies, and he propounded that only a single minuscule dose should be administered for the shortest possible period of time to unleash the body’s defense mechanisms and healing powers.

Some of the popular homeopathic remedies that a layperson may be familiar with are chamomile, calcium carbonate, potassium, silica, etc.

How Homeopathic Remedies are Applied?

Practitioners of homeopathy first appraise a patient for symptoms, grade these as per regularity or intensity, and then try to match the manifestations of the ailment to a suitable remedy.

The names of homeopathic concoctions are generally ascribed Latin nomenclature, based on the species of animal, mineral or plant from which they are derived. Then they are allocated a number and ratio that denotes the strength or potency of the solution.

As mentioned earlier in the article, homeopathic medicines are usually referred to as “tinctures” or “mother tinctures.” These tinctures are derived from the processes of trituration, distillation or extraction of natural substances and their dilution with water or alcohol.

Further, depending on the strength of the tinctures, decimal potency numbers or ratios are assigned to them, which denote the ratio of active chemical substances in proportion to the water or alcohol contained in the tincture.

Since many tinctures are derived from plant or animal extracts, the flipside is that if taken in strong doses they could trigger side-effects. Since some remedies are derived from poisonous substances like poison ivy, stinging nettle extracts etc, they are administered in minuscule doses to prevent side-effects like toxicity.

Advantages of Homeopathy

1. Holistic Approach

The USP of homeopathy is its holistic approach to diagnosis the symptoms, factoring in not just the physiological triggers but also taking into account the psychological, emotional and other parameters when assessing the cause of an illness. Homeopathy’s most significant advantage is that this holistic line of treatment is based on an assimilation of physiological as well as psychological causality.

2. Gentle Remedies

Another plus point of homeopathy is the soft line of treatment based on gentle yet strong tincture remedies that are administered in small doses such that they are generally devoid of side-effects. It was, after all, in reaction to the strong medication entailed in orthodox systems of medicine that Hahnemann developed homeopathy as an alternative and more gentle method of cure.

3. Effect on Allergies

Paradoxically, homeopathy is an ideal cure for problems like allergies and asthmas as it works on the principle of ‘like cures like,” which involves administering the patient with tiny doses of those very substances that may be triggering their allergies. This was also borne out by Hahnemann’s “provings” or experiments with quinine that is believed to cure malaria.

4. Ideal cure for Anxiety, Stress or Depression

Owing to its holistic line of treatment, homeopathy is considered the ideal cure for psychosomatic disorders like depression, stress, anxiety, digestive disorders, insomnia, fatigue etc. Along with certain psychological treatments for such problems, homeopathy complements conventional cures for disorders rooted in emotional or mental traumas or tensions.

5. Softer Cures for Pain

In contrast to the conventional systems of medicine that entail using heavy or strong medication over prolonged periods for patients afflicted by chronic pain, homeopathy offers remedies that do not entail strong or prolonged medications.

Ailments for Which Homeopathic Remedies Work Best

Though homeopathy is broad in its reach and addresses and cures a whole spectrum of diseases, it is particularly thought ideal and most effective for certain disorders. These disorders range from allergies and asthma to stress, fatigue, depression or lack of sleep to more severe ailments like arthritis, thyroid, skin problems, digestive disorders, and autoimmune afflictions.

The Long and Short of Homeopathy

To sum up, homeopathy can be described here thus:

It is a holistic system of medicine that dates back to the 18th century, and its founding father was German doctor Samuel Hahnemann.
It is holistic in its approach as well as cure. Its approach takes an assimilated view of causality, factoring in physiological as well as psychological triggers for an ailment.

Also, it is holistic in terms of its remedies since it is devoid of strong medication and entails only minuscule doses of natural substances that bring into play the body’s own defense mechanisms and healing powers.

Owing to remedies derived from natural substances, homeopathy is a system of medicine whose remedies are gentler compared to conventional cures and without any significant side-effects. Its remedies are practically non-toxic, safe, softer and sans side-effects.
It is an ideal cure for people afflicted by common disorders like asthma, allergies, arthritis, stress, lack of sleep, chronic fatigue or pain, digestive or skin disorders, or depression.

Hence, if you suffer from any such forms of common sickness and are also sick of the conventional systems of medicines entailing harsh medication and side-effects, a homeopathic physician can help you find a holistic treatment.

HAHNEMANN not just discovered a healing principle but also a law governing the relationship between all drugs and all diseases. Unfortunately, his breakthrough was glossed over. Since its inception homeopathy has been a victim of perpetuated prejudice. A bias which has become compulsive or, should we say, pathological, pathobias. Homeopaths have spent a great deal of energy on fighting conventions. One reason for this may reflect genuine incredulity that conventional physicians can apparently claim to help the ailing humanity and yet reject, seemingly out-of-hand, a new system of therapeutics with an excellent clinical track record. To homeopaths this seems, perhaps, illogical.

There is a plethora of biases aimed at eclipsing homeopathy’s great ability to treat chronic disorders. A situation that indirectly adds to the list of biases is a “write-off” by a conventional physician, even when homoeopathy could actually cure. But more often than not, it is a blind belief in the write-off which actually results out of conviction with which the patient is made to believe. Another fallout of this situation is that one realises the value of homeopathic treatment after losing the precious time when the treatment could have been most effective. By all this, I mean to say that homeopathy is far more effective in many cases that are generally termed as “incurables” if used properly and in time. However, one must that there are “incurables” for homeopathy too!

The second most important bias is that of homeopathy is “slow”. Often I have seen that it is this kind of silly syllogism that supports it – if homeopathy is slow in treating asthma, a chronic disease, it is going to be slow in treating every chronic disease! Funny logic! Isn’t it? Another reason is that the time involved is compared with that of conventional system of medicine, little realising that the level at which homeopathy works is way apart as it aims at rooting out the disease and not suppressing it.

Homeopathy is neither slow nor fast. It is a natural system, obeys the laws of nature and takes optimum time to cure. Well, the treatment of chronic diseases depends on innumerable factors patient compliance, extent and intensity of damage, age, nature of previous therapies, the physician’s competence, etc.