Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine that uses the principle of 'Like can cure Like' to heal diseases. The term Homeopathy has been derived from two Greek words ‘Homeo’ meaning similar and 'Pathos' meaning suffering or treatment by the same. This natural method of therapy was demonstrated by a German scientist Hahnemann in 1806.
The aim of homoeopathy is to provide a rapid, gentle and safe method of treatment and cure. It is equally effective in dealing with long-term chronic ailments and acute illnesses like 'flu' viruses, coughs and colds. Homeopathic remedies, while being profoundly powerful when correctly prescribed, are highly diluted, and therefore utterly bereft of harmful side effects. They have their initial reaction at the primary level of disturbance, the energy level or vitality, and stimulate the natural self-healing processes to restore order in the way most beneficial to the individual.
Such treatment may generally continue over a few months or even years. Homoeopathy uses minute doses of natural remedies to stimulate the body's natural healing energy, to help the patient to regain health. The remedies are made from natural substances such as plants, minerals and animal sources, but are highly diluted to make even poisonous substances safe, and potentized to enhance their energy.
Though this system of medicine was born in Germany but it has become an integral part of the Indian way of life. There are good many numbers of institutes in India offering courses in homeopathy both at undergraduate and post-graduate level.