Polypathy or Homoeopathy
In response to the article Polypathy by Dr Shreenivas, published in May Yoga, we received the following reply from T. C. Kholia MDH, Physician in Charge, Lion's Club of Gomia Homoeopathic Clinic.
Homoeopathy is very effective in the treatment of skin disease and other
diseases, but the real realm of homoeopathic cures lies on the mental plane.
The cures based on mental symptoms are supposed to be the best ones in
homoeopathy Even the likes and dislikes of the patient, his mental attitude
to life and to all others around, his temperament, etc. are taken into
account before deciding the appropriate medicine. Homoeopathy is unrivalled
in the treatment of morbid and criminal attitudes such as the tendency
towards murder, suicide, theft and so on. Even bad habits like smoking
and drinking can be eliminated with homoeopathic medicines. The whole psychology
of the patient can be so altered that he will no longer think about or
tolerate such negative tendencies after completion of the prescribed course
of medicines.
It is clear that allopathy is not the answer for the effective treatment
of various diseases, especially in India where the medicines, even the
preliminaries, are so costly that very few can afford them. In the case
of chronic diseases allopathy can hardly afford any cure. In the course
of my own practice I have come across hundreds of cases, pronounced incurable
by allopathic specialists which were readily cured with a few doses of
the indicated homoeopathic remedy.
Homoeopathy is the only system of medicine which can meet all the requirements
of the polypathic system suggested by Dr Shreenivas. Apart from the various
other advantages, the homoeopathic system possesses the following intrinsic
merits:
- A scientifically prepared Materia Medica contains an accurate record
of the symptoms produced by administering various medicines to healthy
and intelligent individuals (the provings as it is called in homoeopathy).
When these symptoms are met with in disease, they are speedily removed
by a few sweet pillutes of the same medicine in a specified potency,
on the well known principle of like cures like.
- The Homoeopathic Materia Medica is compiled on the basis of the effects
of the various drugs on the different organs and parts of the body such
as mind, head, eyes, ears, nose, face, mouth, throat, stomach, abdomen,
stool, urine, male and female generative systems, respiratory system,
heart, extremities, skin, fever, sleep, etc. (Hahnemannian Schema as
it is called in homoeopathy). It not only contains the chemical composition
of the drugs, but also their modalities and relationship with other
medicines. It is a complete record of the action of the medicine on
the whole human system.
- Homoeopathic medicines do not only cure the disease itself, but they
also cure the 'patient'. One single medicine can cure all the diseases
a human system is akin to. The cures are complete and speedy, and there
are no side effects whatsoever.
- Homoeopathy believes in one medicine at one time and so the action
is positive, instead of being a mixture of so many ingredients which
may pull in different directions and hinder the cure.
- Homoeopathic medicines are very cheap and readily available from
indigenous sources. They can be purchased at a nominal price which everybody
can afford.
- Homoeopathic medicines are not curative but they are effective as
a preventative for a number of dreaded diseases like cholera, diphtheria,
typhoid, hydrophobia, smallpox, measles, mumps, various infections,
quinsy and whooping cough. A few doses of homoeopathic medicine can render
immunity for months.
- It is correct to say that homoeopathy can cure all diseases. The
only diseases which are not curable in homoeopathy are the ones in which
the patient's vital force has been completely exhausted by over-drugging
for years on end, and who do not have any capacity for reaction. Even
in such cases the homoeopathic system can afford more relief so that
the patient can live with the minimum discomfort for as long as he survives,
instead of letting him die in pain helplessly as is the case in most
other systems of medicine.
- The greatest advantage of homoeopathy is the treatment of all kinds
of diseases, named as well as unnamed. The selection of medicine is
based on a set of peculiar or 'characteristic' symptoms which can be
easily diagnosed by close questioning of the patient or his relatives.
Thus, even those diseases which are still unheard of can be tackled
with homoeopathy
- The only shortcoming with the homoeopathic system as it is being
practised at present is the lack of trained persons. The profession
is monopolised mostly by individuals who are not properly trained in
the norms of the medical systems directed by the founder of homoeopathy
in the Organon of Medicine. In foreign countries the homoeopathic system
is taught at the postgraduate medical stage, producing some very competent
and renowned homoeopathic physicians. Of course there have been quite
a few in India as well. Now the system of homoeopathy is being regulated,
and the Indian government has made the practice of homoeopathic medicine
by unregistered physicians illegal. It is hoped that in due course good
homoeopaths will emerge from the number of homoeopathic colleges in this
country.
Homoeopathic training and education on a large scale will help greatly
in meeting the medical requirements of all people not only in India but
also around the world.