What Is it?

Homeopathy is based on the system that 'like cures like.' It uses highly diluted substances, usually in the form of tablets or drops. A homeopath looks at the whole person, including personality, temperament, state of mind and lifestyle, before choosing remedies tailor-made to the individual.

Homeopathy and Multiple Sclerosis

In MS, homeopathy can sometimes help lessen fatigue, increase energy, warm up cold extremities, and detoxify the body. One author lists 56 homeopathic remedies that could be used in the treatment of MS.

Types of Homeopathy

Depending on the homeopath, you could be treated with either classical homeopathy, which involves taking one remedy at a time, or complex homeopathy, which involves taking several remedies at the same time.

It has been found that certain substances work better when they're combined with other substances. As MS is such a complex illness, complex homeopathy is probably more appropriate.

Diagnosis

The practitioner may use a special machine to find out what is going wrong in your body, and where. This is called a Biological Functions Diagnosis (BFD) Machine.

It is like a Vega machine, but used in a different way. It works by a galvanic skin response through the acupuncture points or meridians which correspond to different parts of the body.

During diagnosis, you hold a metal tube in one hand. This is attached to the machine, and the practitioner uses a small metal rod, also attached to the machine, to contact different meridian or energy points on your hands and feet. If there is a problem in any part of the body, a gauge on the machine may indicate this.

Small phials containing different substances in homeopathic potencies are then placed on the machine to gauge your response - this way the cause of illness may be found, as well as the correct remedy. The process is painless and non-invasive, and is thought to be highly accurate, although this has been called into question by some scientific quarters . It is used in many German hospitals, and by G.P.s in the Netherlands.  

During diagnosis your whole body is also checked for bacterial infections, viruses and parasites, which can be anywhere in the body, including the brain and spinal cord.

Treatment

You are given bottles of homeopathic tinctures, or tablets. You will be instructed to take a specific number of drops in water or juice, or a specific number of tablets, each day.

Flushing out toxins is also part of homeopathic treatment. You are given tinctures which help remove debris from your body. These toxins accumulate as the harmful organisms and poisons are eliminated.

Research

There are case reports of improvements in symptoms in MS people who have been given homeopathic treatment. But this does not amount to hard scientific evidence and there are only cautiously positive conclusions for homeopathy in the treatment of MS.

This information is from The A to Z Guide to Alternative Therapies edited by Judy Graham.

Further Information

© Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre