We hear a lot nowadays about ‘energy medicine.’ It has become a commonplace expression. But do we really know what the ‘energy’ medicines such as acupuncture and homeopathy are all about? And do we have a clear knowledge of how they differ from conventional medicine that is based on pharmacological agents?

Conventional medicine understands that the body is made up of millions of cells that perform a myriad of chemical functions. Derangement in the functions of those cells results in pathology or disease. Diseases are differentiated from each other by a process known as ‘differential diagnosis.’ Once the diagnosis has been reached, the physician then prescribes a pharmacological agent (unless surgery is indicated) that acts chemically to change various cellular functions by either enhancing them or diminishing them in an effort to bring the body back into ‘homeostasis’ so that it can once again function more healthily.

Homeopathy is strikingly different from conventional medicine as it posits that living organisms have something called a ‘Vital Force’ that is subtle, and not currently measurable. Because it is not measurable it is assumed not to exist by conventional medicine. Yet this Vital Force is the keystone to understanding how the body functions for it is this subtle, vitalistic energy (a subtle body, if you will) that regulates the physical body with its billions of chemical functionings. This Vital Force surrounds and interpenetrates the physical body and is isomeric with it.

When a person falls ill, it is primarily the Vital Force that is interfered with. That, in turn, affects the physical body producing symptoms. The Vital Force can only be adversely affected by a disease producing agent that itself is similarly subtle and energetic. By this reasoning we understand that all diseases are primarily subtle energetic forces which commandeer some part of the Vital Force. The crippled Vital Force reflects its compromised status by manifesting symptoms on the physical plane either via the brain (mental/emotional symptoms) or the body (physical symptoms).

Symptoms, though manifesting on the physical plane are a reflection of the disturbances afflicting the Vital Force and are to be taken as signposts leading to the correct homeopathic medicine.

Because homeopaths postulate a subtle Vital Force that can be thrown into disarray by a similar morbific subtle force it follows that the only way to cure a disease is to remove the morbific agent. To do this job an equally subtle, energetic force is required. That force comes in the form of a plant, mineral or animal product that has been rendered energetic.

Homeopathic medicines are all prepared by diluting the original substances many hundredfold. With each dilution the diluent is shaken or ‘succussed’ vigorously. The result is an energetic force capable of acting with the energetic morbific agent and removing it thereby releasing the Vital Force to once again regulate and hold the body in a state of health.

Because homeopathic medicines are so dilute that they no longer contain any molecules of the original substance they are either fanciful ‘placebos’ (what all detractors of homeopathy hold) or powerful curative agents.

Anyone who has seen a few granules of Belladonna 30c (diluted to a decillionth) cause a child, delirious with a fever of 104°F, to become swiftly (often within an hour) afebrile and reasonable can only wonder at the miraculous power of such a low dose.

Indeed, it is by observing over and over again brilliant cures of all sorts of acute as well as chronic diseases by infinitesimally small doses of medicine that one can begin to appreciate the marvel of homeopathy.