What is a Homeopath?

[Fran Sheffield]

In addition to the discussion taking place on “what is homeopathy” under the subject of “combos”, it is important to ask “What is a Homeopath?”
When potentised medicines are manufactured or prescribed, which is happening increasingly, it is usually by allopathy (not by similia). We have seen frequent accounts of this on the list in recent times. To my way of thinking these practices have been dressed up as homeopathy and permitted, even encouraged, under the guise of tolerance.
When potentised medicines are prescribed according to similia, I think it is fair to say we have a person prescribing homeopathically but perhaps still not a homeopath.
When a person not only prescribes by similia but also analyses the case before him or her with the understanding of vital force, plus weaker, stronger, similar, dissimilar, natural and artificial disease concepts, and uses these concepts to interpret remedy responses and ongoing case management, then this person IS a homeopath in my book. Just prescribing by similia is not enough to warrant the title of Homeopath. Only knowledge of these other underpinning concepts and the ability to correctly use them creates competence.
My thoughts,
Fran Sheffield
Homeopathy Plus! (Information - Education - Treatment)
http://www.homeopathyplus.com.au
The Do No Harm Initiative (Homeopathic Immunisation)
http://www.d-n-h.org

[Rosemary C Hyde PhD]

Hi, Fran.
Your description of what makes a classical homeopath are right on and very well stated.
I also tried to answer this question for people on my website, giving a page of description for each of these criteria, which are derived from what I learned in school:
1. The Law of Similars -
2. Provings -
3. The Vital Force -
4. The Totality of Symptoms
5. The Single Remedy
6. The Minimum Dose
7. The Direction of Cure -
These are described in a bit more detail on my website at:
www.carepathpatners.com/index_files/page0017.com
Please feel free to share these pages with clients or others who wish to gain a better understanding of what classical homeopathy is.
Rosemary