What are the different types of alternative and complementary medicine?
Homeopathy is based on the principle of similars, and can be best described by the phrase ‘like cures like’. Thus, diseases are treated with substances, that when given to healthy individuals, generate the same symptoms as the disease which is being treated. The remedies used are very dilute preparations (usually 1:100 dilutions) made from a number of different substances, which may be material from animal, vegetable or mineral sources, diluted into water. Homeopaths treat a patient with either a single homeopathic remedy or multiple remedies, which may be given as a tablet, powder or liquid remedy. Patients given more dilute remedies usually take the remedy 3-4 times a day, whereas patients given more potent remedies may only need to take the remedy once daily or as a single one-time dose. Homeopaths typically treat the patient for 2-3 months before assessing the action of the remedy before selecting another. Homeopaths may prefer their patients not to take any non-essential western m
