Registered homeopath Dr Vernisha Moodley explains its principles, how remedies are prepared and how the practice differs from herbal medicine.
By Mapaballo Borotho
You might have heard of the word homeopathy but probably do not know what it entails, what it is or who practises it.
Homeopathy is a system of complementary medicine that was developed more than 200 years ago by a German physician Samuel Hahnemann.
This type of healing understands that healing begins with understanding the whole person, not just their symptoms.
Unlike conventional Western medicine, which generally uses treatments guided by a person’s diagnosis and the available clinical evidence, homeopathy places emphasis on each individual’s overall presentation and reported symptoms.
According to Dr Vernisha Moodley, a registered homeopath, Homeopathy aims to understand an individual’s overall presentation rather than focusing exclusively on a single symptom.
“When I explain homeopathy to someone who is unfamiliar with it, I describe it as an approach that places considerable emphasis on individualisation and a detailed consultation,” she said.
She says homeopathic remedies may be prepared from plant, mineral or other starting materials through specific processes of dilution and, traditionally, vigorous shaking.
“The preparation method and level of dilution vary depending on the remedy”.
How are homeopathic remedies prepared, and what does the dilution process involve?
Dr Moodley says remedies are prepared using a process that traditionally involves repeated dilution and vigorous shaking, known as succussion.
“In a common preparation method, a starting substance is diluted in a liquid and shaken. This process may be repeated many times, with each stage producing a greater dilution.
It is the succussion process which renders the safety of the homeopathic medication.”
She says the safety of a remedy depends on factors such as its ingredients, preparation, quality and level of dilution.
“Highly diluted products may contain little or none of the original substance, but not every product labelled homeopathic is necessarily harmless”.
Homeopathy vs herbal medicine: What is the difference?
People might confuse homeopathy with herbal medicine, but Dr Moodley says the two are very different.
Although these approaches are sometimes grouped together as natural or complementary healthcare, they are not the same.
Homeopathy is based on principles such as “like cures like” and the use of serial dilution and succussion. Some homeopathic practitioners believe this process leaves an “energy imprint” of the original substance in the final product. However, this explanation has not been established by reliable scientific evidence, and research has not demonstrated that homeopathy is effective for treating specific health conditions beyond placebo effects.
Herbal medicine, on the other hand, uses plants or plant-derived substances for their chemical constituents. Some plant-based medicines have demonstrated benefits for particular conditions, although their effectiveness depends on the specific plant, preparation, dose and quality of the evidence. Herbal products can also cause side effects and interact with other medicines.
“Herbal skincare ingredients such as aloe vera, tea tree oil and rooibos contain plant-derived compounds, whereas highly diluted homeopathic remedies follow a different preparation system,” Dr Moodley explained.
What qualifications and professional registration are required to practise as a homeopath in South Africa?
In South Africa, homeopathy is a regulated allied health profession under the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA), in terms of the Allied Health Professions Act 63 of 1982.
Dr Moodley explains that practitioners must meet the Council’s applicable educational and professional requirements and be registered in the appropriate professional category.
“The qualification must meet the relevant recognition and accreditation requirements, and practitioners must comply with applicable professional conduct and scope-of-practice rules.”
Homeopathy is offered at the University of Johannesburg and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
“It has diversified quite a bit since its original course implementation. It generally covers a five-year period of study, including a clinical internship and dissertation.”
Dr Moodley says individualisation is one of the defining features of traditional homeopathic practice.
Two people who present with similar symptoms may receive different homeopathic prescriptions because the practitioner considers their broader symptom patterns, medical histories and individual experiences, including physical, mental and emotional symptoms.
“For example, two people may both report headaches, but the homeopath may explore differences in the location of the pain, what aggravates or relieves it, and other symptoms accompanying it.
Importantly, homeopathy also tries to identify the root cause or source of the symptoms, and this may differ from person to person and thus may also affect the remedy chosen.”
This type of holistic healing stimulates the body’s own healing abilities using gentle, natural remedies. medicines are made from natural substances in highly diluted forms, with minimal side effects.
READ NEXT:
