Homeopathy interprets diseases and sickness as caused by disturbances in a hypothetical vital force or life force. The vital force is a dynamic force. It sees these disturbances as manifesting themselves as unique symptoms. Homeopathy maintains that the vital force has the ability to react and adapt to internal and external causes, which homeopaths refer to as the ”law of susceptibility”. The law of susceptibility implies that a negative state of mind can attract hypothetical disease entities called ”miasms” to invade the body and produce symptoms of diseases.
Hahnemann’s “Law of similars”
Hahnemann observed from his experiments with cinchona bark, used as a treatment for malaria, that the effects he experienced from ingesting the bark were similar to the symptoms of malaria.
He therefore reasoned that cure proceeds through similarity, implying that “Like cures like”. He therefore reasoned that that treatment must be able to produce symptoms in healthy individuals similar to those of the disease being treated.
He believed that by inducing a disease through use of drugs in highly potentised form, the artificial symptoms empowered the vital force to neutralize and expel the original disease and that this artificial disturbance would naturally subside when the dosing ceased.
Miasms and disease
In 1828, Hahnemann introduced the concept of ”miasms”; underlying causes for many known diseases. A miasm is often defined by homeopaths as an imputed “peculiar morbid derangement of vital force”.
Hahnemann associated each miasm with specific diseases, with each miasm seen as the root cause of several diseases. Hahnemann’s miasm theory remains disputed and controversial within homeopathy even in modern times.
Remedies in Homeopathy for Arthritis:
It is beyond the scope of this small article to discuss all remedies. Some remedies are listed here and they greatly help suffering patients. But a classical Homeopath will take a detailed history and find out the exact remedy. However some useful remedies are:
- Rhus tox is best suited for people who experience symptom improvement from moving but tend to get stiff from rest.
- Bryonia is best for people whose symptoms worsen from movement.
- Apis Mel is suitable for people with hot, burning, stinging pain and swelling.
- Belladonna is best suited for people who experience a rapid and violent onset of throbbing arthritic pain and red, hot, and swollen joints.
I should end with a note of caution that the ordinary lay person should not self medicate himself, instead would be well served by contacting an experienced Homeopath for arthritis.
There are many remedies for arthritis and most patients will experience a good relief of their symptoms.