Today, with thousands of remedies and new ways of using them, homeopathy may offer more hope for the new world’s health problems than perhaps any other system of healing. Mahatma Ghandi is quoted as saying, "Homeopathy cures a greater number of illnesses, more effectively than any other medical system, and is without doubt the least expensive." A bold statement, but its truth lies in its track record.

Classical homeopathy’s basis is that a particular substance, which would produce a whole range of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms from a large dose, will heal that same set of symptoms, if given in a minute, diluted dose. For instance, if one ingested poison ivy or its tincture, one would get an itchy, oozing rash, with pustules, and also would develop joint pain that feels worse when kept still a long time, but which improves with motion, limbering up the joint. When a child presents with chicken pox, with a similar rash, or when perhaps an adult shows joint pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis, either may be given a dose of Rhus tox, homeopathically prepared poison ivy, and find themselves gaining relief within minutes to hours. Every remedy is matched, symptom by symptom, on an individualized basis, in great detail. If the match is not accurate, nothing may happen. This also means there is a safety factor. No harm will come from the wrong remedy, either.

Classical homeopathy is particularly effective for self-limiting, acute illnesses, as well as for first-aid treatment of minor injuries. For a smashed finger or toe, a dose of Hypericum 30C will remove the pain within minutes, and has often saved a fingernail or toenail from being lost. Arnica montana is effective for soft tissue damage, and is used for many sprains, strains, and bumps, to minimize swelling, bruising, hence pain. No parent should be without it. Many times a screaming baby with an earache has been relieved sufficiently to fall asleep within minutes, waking in the morning with no further pain after a single dose of Chamomilla or Belladonna. Cases of "honeymoon cystitis" may succumb to Cantharis, if and only if that is the remedy most closely matching the actual symptoms. While these things are painful, they are seldom life- or limb- threatening, and self-treatment is not difficult. If they become worse, or if they carry on for a long time, obviously one must consult a qualified practitioner. These are situations which have led to being over-treated with antibiotics, yet there is relief in other ways. Basic homeopathy can and should be learned by everyone.

Many classes and study groups exist in homeopathy, for lay persons wishing to learn how to treat self and family, and when to throw in the towel and call in a professional. As more people learn how to treat minor, yet debilitating illnesses with homeopathy, the cost savings could be huge. These remedies are not only easy to use, once one understands the principles behind them, but also they are readily available over the counter and are very inexpensive. If only a handful of remedies were in every first aid kit in the land, no doubt, lives and suffering would be saved from excessive bleeding, stopped as if with a valve with Phosphorus, or swellings relieved by Arnica montana, and shock that can be addressed with Aconitum napellum or Arnica. Even potentially fatal allergic responses, such as to a bee sting, respond immediately to Apis melifica. All of these work very quickly, without pathological change or interference with pharmaceuticals. There are many things that can be done homeopathically while waiting for the ambulance to come!

With complex diseases such as auto-immune disorders and chronic problems with pain, asthma, allergies, recurrent infections such as earaches, colds that come back time after time, etc., new ways of using these same remedies, beyond the paradigm of classical homeopathy, offer bright hope for relief. A new sequential approach is showing great progress against the complex illnesses which are now so common, but which did not even exist 30 years ago. These illnesses are now seen by homeopaths as many suppressed illnesses, exposures and traumas, layered one upon the other. Using remedies to release each layer as it surfaces, many who have suffered long-term, medically untreatable problems are gaining control over their lives, as the layers are stripped away, and health gradually returns. Because of the homeopath’s nonjudgmental ability to take the case with all the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, even long-term emotional problems can be relieved permanently and successfully.

There is a new millennium coming, with new challenges, new insights, and potential new problems. Homeopathy offers great hope for health challenges of today and the next millennium. Exciting medicine for exciting times!