Tutorial 1 – The Law of Similars

Homeopathic medicines follow a natural principle called the Law of Similars, or “like cures like.” This law enables homeopaths to alleviate symptoms of illness using substances that cause similar symptoms in healthy individuals. The following three examples illustrate this concept.

An image of delicious coffee beans for this tutorial on the law of similars.

Example 1: The Coffee Effect

Coffee significantly impacts the body. A strong cup of coffee may cause racing thoughts, palpitations, increased urine production, trembling hands, excitability, and restlessness in a healthy person. Drinking coffee before bedtime may also lead to sleep difficulties.

According to the Law of Similars, coffee should alleviate such symptoms in unwell individuals—and it does. A child with hyperactivity, agitated thoughts, and sweaty, trembling hands might receive a homeopathic preparation of coffee (Coffea Cruda) and experience symptom relief. Likewise, Coffea Cruda may help someone with insomnia caused by racing thoughts and frequent urination. Not all symptoms must be present for homeopathic treatment to work.

Example 2: Stimulants for the Overstimulated

Conventional medicine occasionally employs the Law of Similars. Dexamphetamine and Methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin) are stimulants used to treat hyperactivity disorder. While it may seem counterintuitive, these stimulants calm overstimulated children. Homeopaths recognize this as “like treating like.” However, unlike homeopathic remedies, conventional medicines can produce toxic side effects.

Red onions like these in homeopathic form can treat symptoms such as runny eyes and nose.Example 3: Onions and Hay Fever

Slicing onions often causes watery eyes and a runny nose. For individuals experiencing similar symptoms during hay fever, Allium cepa, a homeopathic preparation of red onion, can provide relief. The onion’s effects on the healthy person can treat the unwell.

Homeopathy, derived from the Greek words homeos (similar) and pathos (suffering), treats ailments with substances producing similar effects. Homeopaths often refer to this as “like cures like.”

What’s in a Name?

The name, ‘Homeopathy’, is formed from two Greek words that define its mode of action: homeos, meaning similar and pathos, meaning suffering. Thus, Homeopathy treats with substances that produce effects similar to the suffering. Homeopaths generally refer to this as “like cures like”.

A Case of Hayfever

Abi suffered from hay fever, with streaming eyes and nose and constant sneezing. Her nostrils and upper lip were sore. Bright lights made her eyes sting, and she found stuffy rooms unbearable, preferring cool open air. A dose of Allium cepa significantly relieved her symptoms within five minutes. After three doses over two hours, her hay fever symptoms resolved completely.

Note: Allium cepa does not treat all hay fever types, only those with onion-like symptoms. Other hay fever variants require different remedies.

Tutorials

  1. Homeopathy: an Introduction
  2. Tutorial 1 – The Law of Similars
  3. Tutorial 2 – Law of Similars Discovered
  4. Tutorial 3 – Potentisation
  5. Tutorial 4 – Three Scales of Potency
  6. Tutorial 5 – Benefits of Potentisation
  7. Tutorial 6 – Provings
  8. Tutorial 7 – The Vital Force
  9. Tutorial 8 – Potentised Remedies and the Vital Force
  10. Tutorial 9 – Palliation, Supression or Cure?
  11. Tutorial 10 – Direction of Cure
  12. Tutorial 11 – Return of Old Symptoms
  13. Tutorial 12 – Homeopathy and Other Medicinal Therapies
  14. Tutorial 13 – Finding a Good Homeopath
  15. Tutorial 14 – That First Appointment
  16. Tutorial 15 – What to Expect (Part A)
  17. Tutorial 16 – What to Expect (Part B)