Vitalism is the central theory in the practise of Homoeopathy. This is the theory that there is one unifying energetic force that makes biological life functional. Other cultures have a different word for this same vital force, for example, Chinese medicine uses the word “chi” while Ayurvedic medicine uses the word “prana”. A curative Homoeopathic medicine given at an optimal dose, which has been individually selected for a patient is prescribed with the intention of supporting the self-healing capacity of this person’s vital force (1). Homeopathy recognises that all symptoms of ill health are expressions of disharmony within the whole person and that it is the patient who needs treatment not the disease (2).

Rather than symptomatically opposing this self-healing capacity, a Homoeopathic medicine holistically encourages the full resolution of a patient’s health issues with sympathy and assists in achieving a thorough cure of the acute or chronic challenge. This is achieved by utilising the therapeutic vital force in nature’s bounty of medicines – chosen from plants, minerals and other natural sources. Each of the 8,000 plus Homeopathic medicines has a known therapeutic profile derived from prior ethical testing on humans, so selecting a suitable medicine is a process of matching the patient profile derived from case taking, to the most similar one of the known medicine profiles (1).

Homoeopathic medicines are uniquely potentised according to a pharmacopoeia standard to make their vital force even more therapeutically available for healing. In follow-up patient reviews, assessment is made that the Direction of Cure has occurred, where the most important issues get better first, and even old unresolved problems get sorted in reverse chronological order. The World Health Organisation recognises Homoeopathy as the second most widely used system of medicine in the world (1).

Homoeopathic remedies cannot cause side effects and you cannot become addicted to them. This is because only a very minute amount of the active ingredient is used in a specially prepared form (2).

Your homoeopath will give you a homoeopathic medicine or remedy which matches your symptoms as you experience them. This also takes account of you as a person — your individual characteristics emotionally as well as physically (2).