What the Heck is Homeopathy?

The healing art behind the ripple.

Small Input, Big Impact

Have you ever noticed that bright orange-and-white box at the drugstore checkout with the completely unpronounceable name? It's probably the most recognizable remedy that nobody knows is homeopathic. Oscillococcinum. It has no known drug interactions, no artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives. It doesn’t cause drowsiness, and is safe for babies, the elderly, and even the man of the house. And everyone takes the same dose.

What in the world is going on with that?

Turns out, it’s one of science’s most enduring mysteries. The active ingredient in Oscillococcinum is diluted in a 1:100 ratio, two hundred times. Mathematically, that’s a dilution of 10⁻⁴⁰⁰. This is so far beyond the molecular threshold that nothing material of the original substance remains.

From the homeopathic perspective, though, that’s the point. Homeopathy works on an energetic level, using the vibrational imprint of a substance rather than its chemical presence. And the higher the dilution, the more potent it is. Less is more.

Let that sink in.

This is part of why people are so divided on homeopathy. It makes very little sense to our materialistic Western minds. Because the dilution is so minute, it’s highly precise. Homeopathy acts on the principle of similars, meaning that the remedy must match the symptoms. If you have flu-like symptoms, it will work, even if you don't have the flu. If you have cold symptoms, it acts like a placebo.

The key difference is this: while conventional medicine often suppresses symptoms, homeopathy stimulates the body’s ability to resolve the issue at its root. It gently points the body to the way of healing. It doesn't force the issue.

We’re trained to think of medicine as a chemical tool, something that enters the body, reacts with our chemistry, and pushes things back toward normal. But as Sir William Osler, MD, one of the founders of Johns Hopkins, is credited with saying, "The person who takes medicine must recover twice, once from the disease and once from the medicine.." It’s like cleaning the kitchen with baking soda and vinegar. You get a cool volcano reaction that works, but then you have to clean up the mess.

Homeopathy, by contrast, works more like sound. If you’ve got raccoons in the attic, you can play a certain frequency that sends every living thing running out the way they came in, and they won't return. Normalcy is restored with no residue.

My first experience with homeopathy was during a long struggle with food sensitivities in our family. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what we were doing. I just followed the instructions and gave the remedies every other day. My child went from chronically ill to completely well within about a year. And he’s stayed that way for over a decade.

Since then, I’ve used homeopathy for everything from fire ant allergies to eye infections to burns. I’ve used it on toddlers, dogs, and grown adults with amazing results.

And the cool part? If I choose the wrong remedy, nothing happens.

The illness continues as before, no better and no worse. That’s not usually how conventional medicine works. Even a tube of toothpaste carries the phone number for Poison Control.

I’ll be honest, homeopathy can feel like a mental tilt at first. Matching remedies to symptoms precisely takes some learning, and it’s easy to feel like you’ll never get it right. That’s where a trained homeopath can be a huge help. But the remedies are usually under $20. And they don't go bad if stored properly.

If you're willing to learn the system, you can support your family naturally. Or, for what you'd spend on one conventional doctor’s visit and a prescription, you might find yourself with the tools to resolve a problem without repeat appointments.

Now, of course, here's the part where I say what I must: I'm a traditional naturopath. I don’t diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. I offer guidance, education, and insight into what may support your wellness, and you decide where to go from there.

Not sure where to start? I’ll help you make sense of it.