In 1796, German physician Samuel Hahnemann wrote, "Essay on New Curative Principle," in which he introduced a system of medicine based on similarity and the use of very high dilution pharmacological agents.

The theory and practice of homeopathy may seem strange to those of us who are accustomed to conventional Western medicine. We instinctively sense the rightness of a healing approach that stimulates and works with the body's natural healing force rather than attacking it. Homeopathy works with us, not on us. It assists our innate biological intelligence for health. For example, when we break a bone, we don't have to concentrate on healing the fracture - it is our innate intelligence that repairs it more or less automatically. In fact, the body can heal itself of virtually any disease state if given the proper support. Homeopathy encourages and maximizes our innate biological intelligence for cure.

Homeopathy is the science of healing from within. Homeopathic remedies stimulate the organism toward its own state of homeostasis, or balance, which is naturally accompanied by health. Samuel Hahnemann, the 'father' of homeopathy, developed the concept of the minimal dose, which is the practice of determining the smallest amount of a pharmacological agent capable of gently nudging a patient back into balance. This practice of using the smallest amount possible is the fundamental principle of homeopathy.

Throughout history, disease has been viewed from two fundamentally different perspectives: 1) As a malfunction of specific components of the body, where symptoms are seen as the diseases itself, and 2) Symptoms are a result of a deeper disturbance or imbalance of the person as a whole, of which symptoms are simply the outward manifestation. Disease is the blockage of the flow of life, and symptoms are the body's way of dealing with the blockage. Symptoms must point the way towards natural homeostasis and homeopathic cure.

Perspective number one is the basis underlying modern orthodox medicine. Whatever symptoms arise are counteracted by drugs, e.g., an antihistamine for a histamine reaction, an analgesic for pain, steroids for inflammation, an MAO inhibitor for depression, an antipyretic for fever, etc. In allopathy, 99 percent of all pharmacology works against symptoms and against the body. However, perspective number two is an ancient concept which underlies the entire holistic health movement, including homeopathy. Nature is revered and utilized to balance the system. The innate biological intelligence is worked with not against. With homeopathy side effects are relatively unknown.

Symptoms are not the disease; they merely accompany the disease. Symptoms are evidence of disease. Treating symptoms is like killing the messenger for bringing bad news. In fact, by only treating symptoms, you are suppressing the body's natural responses and inhibiting the healing process, interfering with life.

As far back as 190 years ago, long before the term "holistic health" was coined, homeopaths recognized the inseparability of body and mind. Homeopaths have always stressed the importance of assessing the totality of the person. No one bodily system exists independent of the others. Homeopathy is one of the rare medical approaches which carry no penalties - only benefits. In theory, there is no reason why orthodox medicine should not embrace homeopathy as an ally.