Homeopathy (Energetic Remedy Selection)
Functional System Profile of
Homeopathy (Energetic Remedy Selection)
Homeopathy is a system of medicine developed in the late 18th century by Samuel Hahnemann, based on the principle of “like cures like”, the idea that a substance that produces certain symptoms in a healthy person can, in diluted form, stimulate healing of similar symptoms in illness. Remedies are prepared through serial dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking), leaving behind an energetic imprint rather than measurable bio-chemistry.
Homeopathy works by stimulating the body’s regulatory intelligence to re-pattern imbalance, rather than by supplying nutrients or pharmacological actions like herbal medicine or medicinal foods do. This is where it differs most from herbalism! Herbalism works materially, through chemical constituents that directly, maybe even forcefully through potency and a higher dosage, causing changes to the body and tissues. Homeopathy works energetically, through resonance with symptom patterns, guiding the system back toward balance without adding substantial material substance.
The placebo effect is also the body’s built-in self-healing response triggered by expectation, ritual, meaning, and the therapeutic relationship. Modern medicine recognizes that placebo responses are often seen in pain relief, depression, immune changes, even measurable brain chemistry shifts. So even if homeopathy worked only as placebo, it’s still harnessing something very real and physiological, not “nothing.” It is simply the most safest and gentlest form of natural medicine.
Research also shows that placebos can still work even when people know they’re placebos (“open-label placebos”). For example: In irritable bowel syndrome studies, patients told they were taking a placebo still improved significantly compared to no treatment. Why? Because the ritual + meaning + intent still activate expectation and neuroendocrine pathways, even with full awareness. But mindset does matter… If someone takes a remedy while thinking “this is total nonsense, I refuse to believe it,” the expectation pathways may not activate, or may activate negatively (“nocebo effect”).
Because of this, homeopathy is most indicated for terrain patterns of dysregulation, hypersensitivity, excitation, or collapse, where the body is stuck in unproductive loops and needs gentle re-orientation rather than strong biochemical input.
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👉Qualities describe the felt nature of a substance or practice, and how it acts in the body beyond nutrients or chemistry.
Subtle – Works through energetic or informational resonance rather than material dose.
Regulatory – Aims to reset underlying imbalance rather than suppress symptoms.
Individualized – Remedies are selected based on the unique terrain expression of the person, not just the disease name.
Gentle – Appropriate for sensitive constitutions, children, and chronic imbalances where stronger agents may overwhelm.
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Remedy Selection – Based on a person’s unique symptom picture, emotional state, and terrain tendencies.
Potency Levels – Ranging from low (6C, 12C) to high (200C, 1M), depending on depth and chronicity of imbalance.
Forms of Administration – Typically sugar pellets, liquid drops, or topical preparations.
Frequency – Often infrequent dosing, as the aim is to stimulate, not overwhelm.
Integration – Can be used alongside herbal, nutritional, or conventional therapies as long as remedies are not antidoted by strong agents (e.g., certain essential oils or coffee).
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Resonance Model – Remedy patterns resonate with terrain patterns, nudging the system toward balance.
Nano-structuring Hypothesis – Dilution/succussion may imprint structural patterns in water that interact with biological systems.
Placebo + Meaning Response – Healing may be mediated through expectation, therapeutic relationship, and subtle energetic shifts.
Epigenetic / Signal Theory – Some researchers propose micro-doses can act as weak signals influencing regulation.
Indicated Patterns by Affinity
👉 Indicated patterns describe the functional state of the body and its organs and/or tissues, showing whether they are dry, atrophied, too damp (pressure), stagnant, lax, inflammed, sluggish, tense or underactive. The Primary Indicated Pattern is the main state where this remedy works best. Secondary Indicated Pattern(s) are the patterns that often develop over time when the primary state is left unaddressed. The primary pattern must be supported first, as this allows the secondary patterns to naturally ease or resolve.
👉Affinities are the organ systems and tissues where the remedy acts most strongly.
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Excitation / Irritation (Primary Indicated Pattern) – Hypersensitivity, nervous agitation, reactivity.
Collapse / Hyporesponsive States (Secondary Indicated Pattern) – States of shock, exhaustion, or systemic shutdown where the body fails to self-regulate.
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Dysregulated Immunity (Primary Indicated Pattern) – Over-reactivity (allergies, autoimmunity) or under-reactivity (chronic infections).
Homeopathy aims to re-pattern immune regulation rather than suppress activity.
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Dysregulated Stress Response (Primary Indicated Pattern) – Anxiety, grief, trauma loops, or maladaptive coping patterns.
Remedies are matched to emotional states to help reset patterns.
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👉 Medicinal actions describe the specific ways a food influences organ systems and body functions.
While not pharmacological like herbal medicine, homeopathy is described in terms of terrain-level “actions”
Nervous System
Energetic Regulator – Calms over-reactivity or awakens collapse through resonance.
Neuro-adaptive Support – Guides the system back toward homeostasis.
Immune System
Immunomodulator (Energetic) – Balances hyper- or hypo-immune states.
Psychological / Emotional System
Catalyst for Processing – Helps resolve emotional imprints (fear, grief, shock) that block regulation.
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1st–2nd Degree – Very gentle to moderately impactful, depending on potency and resonance. Not suppressive; works gradually and deeply over time.
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Ultra-dilution = no toxicity – Remedies don’t contain pharmacologically active levels of the original substance, so there’s no risk of poisoning or organ damage.
Non-suppressive – It doesn’t override or block body functions the way drugs often do; instead it nudges the body’s own regulatory intelligence.
Suitable for sensitive groups – Safe for children, elders, pregnant women, and highly sensitive constitutions.
No dependency – Remedies don’t create tolerance or withdrawal like some pharmaceuticals or even some herbs.
Minimal contraindications – The main risk is a mild temporary aggravation if the remedy is not well matched, which usually passes quickly.
When Herbal Medicine May Be Better
Material Deficiency or Imbalance → when the body truly needs building blocks (e.g., iron deficiency, electrolyte depletion, poor digestion needing bitters).
Direct Physiological Action Needed → e.g., using a demulcent herb to moisten dryness, or an antispasmodic herb to relax smooth muscles.
Acute Physical States → when the tissue needs immediate local relief (burns, wounds, infections).
Chronic Nutrient Rebuilding → herbs can supply long-term nourishment to tissues (adaptogens, tonics, nutritive herbs).
When Homeopathy May Be Better
Dysregulation / Pattern “Loops” → when the issue isn’t lack of substance but a stuck regulatory pattern (e.g., immune system overreacting to harmless triggers, nervous system hyper-reactivity).
Extreme Sensitivity → when herbs, drugs, or even food changes overwhelm the system.
Emotional / Trauma Imprints → grief, shock, or emotional terrain blocks that keep physical healing from progressing.
When Nothing Else Fits → homeopathy can work when labs look “normal” but the person still feels unwell, because it matches the person’s unique symptom expression.
Where They Can Complement Each Other
Allergy terrain → herbs like nettle or tulsi provide nutritive and regulatory support, while a homeopathic remedy can calm over-reactivity.
Digestive imbalances → herbs provide mucilage, sedation, bitters, or stimulation, while homeopathy helps reset spasmodic or dysregulated motility.
Emotional-physical crossover → herbs ground and nourish, while homeopathy helps process and release patterns.
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Traditional
Hahnemann, S. Organon of Medicine (1810).
Boericke, W. Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica.
Modern
Bell, I.R., et al. (2013). "Homeopathy and integrative medicine: Keeping an open mind." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Mathie, R.T., et al. (2017). "Randomised placebo-controlled trials of individualised homeopathic treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis." Systematic Reviews.
Oberbaum, M., & Singer, S.R. (2010). "Homeopathy and the placebo effect: scientific evidence and new insights." British Homeopathic Journal.
