PETYA HOMEO CLINIC
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that has been practiced for centuries.
It is based on the principle of “like cures like,” which means that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can be used to treat similar symptoms in a sick person. Homeopathy is widely used in many parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and America. This approach focuses on the individualisation of the patient — their reactions, sensations, and symptoms on physical, emotional, and mental levels.
History of Homeopathy
Even Hippocrates mentioned in his teachings the existence of two main methods of treatment: by opposites and by similarities. These two methods form the essential difference between what is known as conventional medical practice also known as allopathic medicine (the homeopathic term) and homeopathic practice. The word “Homeopathy,” translated from Greek, means “similar disease.” By itsel and from Greek disease means lack of ease ( dis- ease).
Samuel Hahnemann and His Discoveries
Homeopathy began in 1796 when Dr. Hahnemann, a practicing physician, abandoned conventional medicine due to his observations of the ineffectiveness of the prevailing treatment methods. Suppression of the organism and the use of high concentrations of therapeutic substances, among other methods, often led to exhaustion and even death. After leaving medical practice, Dr. Hahnemann began translating medical texts to support his family. During a malaria epidemic, he noticed that quinine — used to treat malaria — caused symptoms in healthy individuals similar to those of malaria itself. He began conducting empirical and undeniable experiments and provings. While healthy, he took a minimal dose of quinine and observed the onset of symptoms resembling malarial fever. This discovery led him to dedicate his life to developing a medical system based on natural laws of healing.
The Spread of Homeopathy
Homeopathy quickly spread across the world. In the early 19th century, homeopathic doctors practiced in Germany, France, England, and the United States. It became especially popular in the U.S., where the first homeopathic colleges and hospitals were founded. Today, homeopathy is legalised and regulated in most countries, including those in the European Union, India, and Brazil. In countries such as Brazil, Chile, India, Switzerland, Mexico, and Pakistan, homeopathy is part of the national healthcare system. According to global research institutes focusing on alternative medicine, over 300 million people worldwide use homeopathy regularly. In the United Kingdom, more than 100 million people use homeopathic as a primary method of health care. Classical homeopathy entered Bulgaria in 1851, thanks to Dr. Georgi Mirkovich — a medical practitioner who applied homeopathic principles during a cholera epidemic. For his contribution to public health, he was awarded a gold medal by Napoleon III. After 1937, classical homeopathy, which had quietly been researched, re-emerged and took a lasting place in Bulgaria, continuing to develop to this day.
Key Principles of Homeopathy
Like Cures Like (Similia Similibus Curentur)
This principle states that if a certain substance causes symptoms in a healthy person, it can be used to treat similar symptoms in a sick person. For example, coffee may cause rapid heartbeat and anxiety, which is why it is used in homeopathic preparations to treat patients with such symptoms.
Minimal Dose
Homeopathy is based on the use of extremely small doses of active substances. These doses are prepared through a process of successive potentization known as “dilution,” and succussion known as “shaking.” Potentization reduces the concentration of the substance, while succussion is believed to activate the remedy’s therapeutic properties.
To this day, science cannot fully explain how these methods exert healing effects. For this reason, classical homeopathy is often dismissed by skeptics as a “placebo.” However, with the advancement of science and technology in the 21st century, evidence of classical homeopathy’s effectiveness and remedies used is becoming increasingly clear and undeniable.
Individualisation of Treatment
Homeopathic therapists consider not only the patient’s physical symptoms but also their psychological and emotional characteristics. As a result, two patients with the same diagnosis may receive different homeopathic remedies.
Safety and Regulation
Homeopathic remedies are considered safe due to their low concentration of active substances. Their origin spans the three kingdoms of nature — mineral, plant, and animal — but is not limited to them. However, some preparations can contain toxic substances if not properly prepared. Therefore, it is important to take only homeopathic products approved by competent regulatory bodies and under the supervision of a professional therapist.