Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine

Classical Homeopathy / Potentiazed Substances

General

In teaching terms, classical homeopathy as a field of study at the Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine familiarizes students with the fundamental principles of homeopathy so they will be able to answer patients' questions and requests about this method once they have qualified as physicians. In terms of research, the usual scientific research methods are used to assess (from a health care perspective) the question of how/when to use complementary medicine and alternative medicine and the issues associated with its use within various groups of patients and professionals. In terms of clinical research, the focus is on assessing the homeopathic treatment of children and adolescents with attention deficit disorder either with or without hyperactivity. Services for the wider population include an outpatient surgery and a consultation service for inpatients at Bern University Hospital and the children's clinic.

Introduction

A homeopathic treatment is an individual therapy that is usually carried out in accordance with the precepts of classical homeopathy as per Hahnemann [1] and may be defined as follows:

Classical homeopathy is a form of medical treatment that has been used for 200 years. Patients are administered potentized individual substances – selected in accordance with the totality of characteristic symptoms – with a view to stimulating and supporting the organism's natural capacity to heal itself. The choice of individual homeopathic medication is informed by the law of similars.

Once any remediable cause has been dealt with, the residual symptoms – i.e. any deviations from the healthy state as perceived by the actual patient or as perceived and observed by those around them and their doctor – are the expression of a disruption and weakening of the so-called life force. These symptoms are referred to as the totality of characteristic symptoms for a patient. Not only do these symptoms encompass the disease/diagnosis as per the criteria used in conventional medicine, they also encompass the various changes occurring at a physical, psychological and emotional level.

According to the law of similars, the patient should be given the homeopathic medication that best reflects their state at the time.

Classical homeopathy predominantly uses individual substances. Mixed preparations consisting of various individual substances (complex substances) are not really used.


1 Hahnemann S.: Organon 6 der Heilkunst [Organon 6 of the Art of Healing]. Verlag Peter Irl, Buchendorf 2007

Introductory literature