How Does Homeopathy Work?

Although cluttered with flashing lights and inflatable yard Santas, the Christmas season should serve to renew our faith.

So, this week, as I contemplated the importance of faith, my mind segued to my trust in homeopathy and to the seemingly infinite number of times I have been asked, “How does homeopathy work?”

Am I asking you to take homeopathy’s effectiveness on faith? No, I am most decidedly not; homeopathy is not a placebo.

But I do have faith that it will work. This is based on my own 414,000+ cases in my 35+ years of experience. 

But don't take my word for it. Homeopathy has been proven with double-blind and other methods of scientific studies.*

However, when asked to explain how homeopathy works, I have to read the room. It’s complex! If I’m addressing The Academy of Practical Homeopathy® students, I get into the more intricate detail, researched by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the Drs. Banerji and years of clinical observation and scientific studies.

If I’m holding a live Question-and-Answer webinar with Gateway to Homeopathy students, I cover the high points that I can in the time allotted.

But if a casually interested individual asks me how homeopathy works, I turn it around and ask them a question instead. “Can you tell me how your aspirin works? Or Tylenol? Or beta-blockers?”

Of course, they don’t know how those medicaments work. But they freely admit to taking them with the faith that they will act.

I don’t mean to be facetious, but some of the most profound things in life don’t necessarily have an easily understandable answer.

Why do birds sing? Why do our parents die? How did Christ become human on this earth?

Isn’t it enough to help the helpless — even if we don’t know the precise mechanism of our aid?

As humans, we need to have beliefs. And I see no disadvantage to believing that homeopathy will work even if you don’t completely understand the biological underpinnings of its methodology.

But if that’s not scientific enough for you, how about clinical observation?

My dog Buster will soon be 17 years old. His breed is expected to live only until about 13 or so. So, as much as my husband and I treasure his company, we realize that he is an old dog. A very old dog.

Last weekend, Buster was at death’s door. He was so weak that all he could do was lay on the floor. He couldn’t move; he wouldn’t eat; he had diarrhea and his breathing was wheezy and labored and he was anxious. And he was shaking — petrified. I was so sure this was the end, that I researched for a veterinarian who would euthanize him at home — in case he continued to hold on out of loyalty to us. It was difficult to see him suffer in this obviously terrifying and weakened state.

But, with a lump in my throat, I decided to try one final homeopathic medicine. Based on his symptoms, I chose Arsenicum album 200. By the way, this is one of the most important medicines for end-of-life treatment. 

Buster immediately fell asleep. This is an encouraging indication that the medicine is well matched to the condition. (Remember this, my friends. No, I mean write this down and adhere it to your bathroom mirror). He awoke a bit later, only to return to the alarming shaking. (An indicator that another dose is needed. Remember this, too.) So, I gave him another dose of Arsenicum 200, and he fell asleep again. (All indicating signs.)

This morning, Buster is prancing around the house. He ate all of his meal, and he is back to following his beloved human (my husband) with a waggly tail! The weakness is gone; the shaking is gone; the wheezing is gone; the lump in my throat is gone. (By the way, that's key here — homeopathy removes the angst of the mother!) All because of two doses of Arsenicum album 200. I plan to continue with this as needed. How will I know when to use it? I'll watch for symptoms. (The gold standard in homeopathy.)

So, how did this homeopathic medicine work? What was the mechanism behind its action?

WHO CARES?!

My dog is comfortable. He’s back to his old self.

Granted, some may argue that a vet could have treated him with steroids, which might have helped make him feel better. Okay, assuming I accept that supposition, steroid treatments can be costly. But more importantly, they leave serious side effects in their wake, causing additional conditions, some of which are long-term — long after the drug has been halted. Plus, excuse me for my bias, but I don't really trust the industry that manufactures them. 

But worse yet, we would have had to leave the house to go to a vet. A long car ride, the inherent stress of a vet’s office, strangers manhandling him for shots or pills? No. given his condition, I am not convinced he could have survived my imposing that on him.

Instead, Buster was revived with a few cents’ worth of Arsenicum album 200, with no side effects, in our own home. And the satisfaction and, well, ok, personal pride for having accomplished the task at hand. 

That, to me, is proof beyond a double-blind scientific test. My experience justifies my faith in homeopathy. (Let it be yours.)

How long will Buster live? I don’t know. But what I do know is that four or five years ago, when he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, the veterinarian (who was actually a holistic vet) told us he wouldn’t last long, and there was nothing that we could do.

She didn't recognize the extent of homeopathy's ability.

But Buster has lived an additional four-to-five years — years that the vet had tried to convince us was an impossibility. 

I might add that Buster's two siblings died many years ago, so there's no evidence of inherent longevity here to muddy the waters. 

So, while I know Buster can’t live forever, homeopathy has given him a longer, likely more comfortable life than what conventional, synthetic, drugs of commerce can offer.

Do I know precisely — down to the nanoparticle — how this Arsenicum 200 and other homeopathics I've used have helped Buster?

No.

Do I care? Absolutely not. All I care about is that homeopathy works!

So, as always, I encourage you to pass on the good news of homeopathy!

Warmly,

* Here are just a few scientific studies for reference. More can be found on my website.

• https://joettecalabrese.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Brinkhaus_et_al_2006_Complem_Ther_Med.pdf
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22963271/
• https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0041-1731312
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19590483/

P.S. If your gift for a loved one didn’t arrive in time for Christmas, it’s not too late. You can immediately deliver a digital gift card for an educational gift of homeopathy.

Just head to The Learning Center and click on “Gift Cards.” Then, pick out the appropriate dollar amount and select an applicable photo to personalize the card. My team will send an email to your recipient with all the information they’ll need to finalize their course choice, pay with their gift card and register themselves as a student!

If you didn’t get the gift of homeopathy that you were hoping for on Christmas, why not buy it for yourself? If you don’t have your eye on a course already, try the Course Selector to determine which course may be right for you. Then, start the new year off with confidence.