Over the past few years, seven-year-old Sally had frequent infestations of threadworms. Recently she had been experiencing attacks of nausea and vomiting; her stomach felt heavy all the time and she felt an ache around her navel. Sally’s mother used to give her worming medication whenever she saw a recurrence of the threadworms.
Two weeks after Sally was prescribed a homeopathic medicine, she felt much better and told her mum that she felt very happy. Her mum was surprised but pleased that Sally had noticed a change. Not long after, she complained of a fever and a sore throat. Sally was given an acute homeopathic medicine and quickly recovered. Six weeks after the initial consultation, she felt really well and was very happy. There was no sign of worms.
RHONDA E CAMPBELL, professional homeopath, NSW
The symptoms versus the cause
Renowned homeopath and author Dana Ullman gives an analogy: the use of antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs can be compared to using pesticides to kill the mosquitoes infesting a swamp. The swamp provides the perfect still-water environment for mosquitoes to lay eggs and reproduce. Insecticide may be sprayed to kill the mosquitoes but the swamp will remain the perfect environment for new mosquitoes to fly in and lay eggs. Over time, with repeated application, some mosquitoes may adapt to the insecticide and, with each generation, pass on an increased immunity to their offspring. Stronger and stronger doses are used but some mosquitoes will continue to survive and thrive.
There are similar examples in the arena of human health. Microorganisms may inhabit the body of a healthy person without leading to symptoms. However, symptoms will be produced if there are conditions favouring the growth and multiplication of these organisms, or there is an invasion by parasites. Antibiotic or antiparasitic treatment may remove the symptoms initially; however, it does not change the factors that led to the invasion in the first place and thus the disturbing organisms are able to return again and again.
