Homeopathy is a holistic treatment method. This means that the patient’s main problem is not seen as something isolated but in a wider context of the whole human organism. Thus, considers that all the systems of the human body interact with each other and that often the human psyche can affect the body or vice versa. So, for homeopathy, it is very important to treat the health problem for which the patient came, but it is equally important that the overall course of his health goes well in general. Homeopathy “treats the patient and not just the disease”. The choice of the appropriate homeopathic remedy depends mainly on the special symptoms of each patient, often in combination with his mental state, and not only on the classical diagnosis (which is understood that is necessary, if possible). This is why two patients with the same disease can each be treated with a completely different homeopathic remedy. Also, a patient who does well taking a particular homeopathic remedy is not certain to do as well taking the same one over and over again. This is because the human body is a complex dynamically changing system and as various elements change, so can the homeopathic remedy change. The mode of action of homeopathic remedys is completely different from that of chemical medicines and more specifically they restore and activate the body’s own self-defense and balancing mechanisms (which due to various damages may not work as they should). It is these same mechanisms by which, most times, we heal ourselves (without strong chemical drugs) of a common cold or a mental disturbance. In other words, the result of Homeopathy is a creation and acquisition of the human organism itself (and not of the medicine), which is why (provided the course of treatment is completed correctly) it tends to remain long-term or even indefinitely. It is important to say that due to the holistic action of Homeopathy, other health problems of the patient (physical or mental), different than the main issue for which he came, can be improved or even cured during the same treatment.

Homeopathy has a wide range of action in physical or mental health problems, chronic or acute. Of course, it is not a “panacea,” that cures everything and aways, but it has given very satisfactory results, in a high percentage of cases, sometimes and in some very difficult ones. More specifically, it can help in pathological conditions involving various systems of the body such as the digestive (e.g., gastritis, irritable bowel, gastroesophageal reflux, chronic constipation, etc.), the respiratory (e.g., asthma, spastic bronchitis, etc.), the musculoskeletal (e.g., tendonitis, sciatica, degenerative arthritis, sports injuries, promoting faster fracture porosity and wound healing, etc.), the nervous (e.g., headaches/migraines, neuropathies, etc.). the skin (e.g., seborrheic dermatitis, acne, chronic urticaria, eczema etc.) as well as allergies, autoimmune diseases (e.g., psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease etc.), recurrent infections (e.g., common colds, tonsillitis, otitis, sinusitis, HPV, etc.), gynecological problems (e.g., dysmenorrhea, menstrual disorders, menopausal symptoms and early menopause, etc.), andrological problems (e.g., chronic prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, etc.) , infertility, pediatrics (e.g., frequent common colds, childhood allergies and asthma, phobias, ADHD, developmental disorders, etc.), geriatrics (prevention of dementia, etc.), E.N.T problems (e.g., vertigo, Meniere’s etc.), chronic fatigue, etc. On the mental level, Homeopathy can greatly help with anxiety symptoms (even panic attacks), as well as emotional, behavioral, sleep disorders, etc. It is emphasized that many times homeopathic treatment can (and should) be combined with classical conventional treatment as long as this is necessary and beneficial for the patient. Also, all incidents, if necessary, can (and should) be evaluated also by the relevant medical specialty. (See also section diseases and Homeopathy)

Homeopathy is a mild method without side effects or addiction phenomena.

It is holistic and therefore it can often help more than one health problem within the same treatment. In essence, it improves the body’s overall health level and does not simply suppress the symptoms.

In many cases it succeeds in solving health problems that have not responded well to other treatments and also can help to reduce or even eliminate the use of conventional chemical drugs.

In many cases it can give long-term or even permanent results.

The taking of the homeopathic history is largely based on the information given by the patient himself and his relatives and more specifically, on his symptoms, on the course of his health problems over time, on his laboratory and imaging tests, on the conclusions of the medical specialties in the context of which, possibly, the incident has already been assessed etc. In addition to the above elements, a series of questions are asked, often long, concerning the special characteristics of each person, such as e.g., how the weather conditions affect him, what food preferences he has, etc. even information about his personality and the way he behaves or about events and situations that have influenced him in the course of his life. In this way, the doctor can choose the, one and very specific, homeopathic remedy that suits the patient (right at that moment) and will help him overcome his problems (it is a choice that is not at all simple or easy). It goes without saying that the medical physical examination and objective assessment, as well as the laboratory and imaging tests that are necessary, are not abolished under any circumstances. In every case with significant symptoms there should always be a classical medical diagnosis (if possible) and if it is not already established when the patient turns to Homeopathy (which is the most frequent case) the homeopathic doctor should seek it, together with the competent medical specialties. The first homeopathic examination is very important and can last an hour or more and the patient should have available his laboratory and imaging tests and mention the medications he is taking or has taken (chemical, homeopathic or any other).

Homeopathy can be successfully applied to all people, regardless of age. Homeopathy, due to the lack of side effects, is absolutely suitable for children and infants (which of course are also monitored by their pediatrician) as well as the elderly.

Homeopathy can also be very effective in acute infections such as viral infections of the respiratory tract (e.g., common colds, etc.), otitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, gastroenteritis, etc. What is even more important is that Homeopathy has also often the ability, apart from curing the individual case, to achieve the elimination of the body’s susceptibility to a particular type of infection (e.g., frequent common colds, etc.) enhancing the effectiveness of the immune system. The selection of the homeopathic remedy in these cases, is also based on the particular symptoms of the patient and that’s why there is no standard choice for every type of infection. It is clear that if significant symptoms are present, a medical physical examination and objective assessment of the patient is imperative as well as appropriate laboratory and imaging tests. Also, if needed, the patient will also receive conventional medication.

Fever, generally in Medicine, is a symptom and not a disease. It is essentially part of the body’s reaction, to something that threatens it, trying to restore its balance. Persons without to have any fever for many years could be in a very good state of health, but the opposite may also be true. In this second case, the body’s defense system may not be in good condition, as a result of which it fails to react in a vigorous way. In these cases, a person may suffer from chronic diseases that cannot be cured. In these incidents, if in the context of a successful homeopathic treatment the serious and incurable chronic disease (e.g., a severe form of rheumatoid arthritis) goes well and an acute febrile illness appears (e.g., a common cold with high fever), this means that the organism is improving. This fever should preferably be treated homeopathically in order to continue the good progress of the case (it is understood that we are never absolute and if necessary chemical treatment will also be given, e.g., antibiotics, etc.). Of course, the above does not mean that we like frequent fevers to say that someone is doing well, but if a single high fever incident occurs and the patient is improving from a serious chronic disease, so the homeopathic treatment is clearly in the right direction.

Many patients turn to Homeopathy for skin problems, which sometimes have not responded to many other treatments, with a good success rate. The skin has a special importance for Homeopathy because it is considered the most basic “waste valve” of the organism that trough this expels something noxious to the outside (e.g., toxins). This is also the reason why, whether someone has preexistent skin problems or not, it is good during the homeopathic treatment (for whatever reason it is being done) to avoid the use of strong chemical drugs on their skin (e.g., containing cortisone, antibiotics, etc. etc.) because they can negatively affect the body’s attempt to heal itself suppressing its effort to be “detoxicated”. Correspondingly mild products of plant origin, that do not disturb the treatment, can be used. Regarding the above, are excluded dangerous and/or urgent cases where any necessary conventional chemical treatment should be administered following the instructions of the competent medical doctor. (See also the topic “Chronic dermatological problems”, in the “diseases and Homeopathy” section)

We must emphasize that the application of homeopathic treatment does not eliminate the need for the assessment of the case by the competent medical specialty and the existence of a classical diagnosis. Also, preventive medical checks (e.g., gynecological check up with Pap test, etc.) should always be carried out normally. All necessary laboratory and imaging tests should be carried out normally. In our opinion Medicine is one and only and has no limits and doctrines despite the, one and only, sacred purpose to protect and promote, in the best and safest way, human health.

Despite its great potential, Homeopathy is clearly not a “panacea” and, like all therapeutic systems, it has limits so does not cure everything and always, e.g., cannot restore body organs in which irreversible damage has occurred. There are also cases where the organism is particularly weakened and may not respond to homeopathic treatment, so the patient should rely on whatever possibilities conventional treatment may offer. In any case, the perspective of possible benefit from homeopathic treatment and the relative prognosis is evaluated from the competent physician who takes over the case. Homeopathy’s extraordinary contribution to human health does not negate the value and great achievements of “conventional” medicine. Emergencies with possible danger to life should receive hospital care and conventional medication and therapy as soon as possible. Also, in many pathological conditions, the contribution of surgical treatment is irreplaceable. In the final analysis, Homeopathy and “conventional” Medicine, despite the different approach, serve the same sacred purpose which is to ensure the highest possible level of human psychosomatic health.

Homeopathy, having attributed more than two hundred years of therapeutic offer and having faced, at times, intense reactions and prejudice, has achieved an impressive spread throughout the world based, above all, on its results and the trust of the patients who followed it. In Greece, a landmark for Homeopathy is the work of the great Greek teacher and famous international personality Georgios Vithoulkas who, returning to Greece in 1966, played a central role in the development of this valuable therapeutic system in our country as well. From then until today many Greek doctors were trained in Homeopathy and hundreds of thousands of Greek patients were helped by it and although it does not have the same degree of official recognition as in other countries Greek Homeopathy is considered, internationally, at one of the highest levels in the world (in the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy many thousands of doctors, from more than 32 different countries, have been trained under George Vithoulkas). Today, homeopathic medicines are recognized in the Greek Pharmacopoeia (by the National Medicines Agency, EOF) since 1994 (European Community directive OD/92/73/EEC 22/9/92) and are available at a large number of pharmacies in Athens and in the rest of Greek territory. In Greece, homeopathic pharmacology is taught by the Department of Pharmacognosy of the Athens School of Pharmacy and a Master’s program was also instituted at the University of the Aegean (in 2007/08) in collaboration with the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy and the Hellenic Society of Homeopathic Medicine. Homeopathy has been represented for years in the Medical Association of Athens and the Panhellenic Medical Association, most recently (at the time of writing this text) through the “Independent Physicians Alliance”, which has representatives in both. Homeopathy has also made great strides within the framework of the European Union, where the European Parliament with a resolution on 29/5/1997 asks the European Commission to initiate the process of recognition of homeopathic medicine and the European Commission in a reference on 14/7/1997 emphasizes that “during the last 30-40 years Homeopathy has been favored by the growing demand from doctors and the public in the majority of European countries and that three out of four Europeans know about homeopathy and of these 29% use it in care of their health”. The Council of Europe, in the context of its resolution (Doc.8435, 11/6/1999) on non-conventional medicine, calls on its member states, as well as medical associations, to strengthen the official recognition of homeopathic medicine and to encourage its introduction in hospitals and at another point is emphasized that “suitable courses must exist in universities, so that doctors can be trained accordingly in branches of non-conventional medicine”. For example, in Great Britain Homeopathy is recognized as a subspecialty of general medicine and there are five homeopathic hospitals included in the National Health System (NHS) (such as the Royal Homeopathic Hospital of London with 157 years of operation and included in the University Hospitals of London University College), as well as 37% of British GPs use Homeopathy regularly or occasionally (the royal family regularly follow homeopathic treatment). Homeopathy is recognized and practiced to varying degrees in many other countries of Europe and the world. Like all great things, Homeopathy has big enemies as well as big friends, but what is most important of all are the true results in practice which every well-meaning scientist is obliged to recognize (regardless of any theoretical discussion). Truth can be delayed but can never be cancelled!

Classical Homeopathy is the first School of Homeopathy (taught by its founder Dr. S. Hahnemann) and its results impressed the whole world. One of the most basic principles of Classical Homeopathy is that the right homeopathic remedy, that the body needs at a certain time (to activate its self-healing mechanisms), is one and only one. Later, as the state of the organism changes, another remedy may be needed, but at that very moment it is one and only. It’s like if you tune your radio to a very specific frequency to hear the station you’re interested in, if you tune it to another frequency, you’ll hear a different station or nothing at all. This procedure is difficult and requires time from the doctor, knowledge and experience. Some homeopathic doctors, who either do not know which homeopathic remedy to choose or do not have the time required to take and study a detailed case history or for other reasons, may administer several homeopathic medicines together (two, three or even thirty etc.). They are based on the logic that since homeopathic remedies have no side effects (and indeed they don’t) whichever ever is the right one will work while the rest just don’t bother. That seems to be a clever solution but, unfortunately, it is not so simple!  First of all, there are too many homeopathic remedies and the right one may not be included in the group of remedies selected. But more importantly, even if the correct homeopathic remedy is included in the group of these selected, the other remedies may interfere with it, disturbing its function. For this reason, unfortunately, the results of giving many remedies together (“polypharmacy”) in homeopathy, are often very poor and transitory (while it is an easier process) and sometimes they can disturb the course of treatment of a patient following Classical Homeopathy.

Classical Homeopathy, as taught by its founder S. Hahnemann, has absolutely nothing to do with treatments done with any kind of electronic devices.

See the link: Homeopathy article from the Encyclopedia Papyros-Larousse-Britannica | International Academy of Classical Homeopathy Official website (vithoulkas.com)