Homoeopathy is a wonderful science that has power to cure all the diseases. It works on the principle ‘Similia Similibus Curentur’ i.e. let like be treated by like. This system was discovered by Dr. Samuel Christian Fredrick Hahnemann who was an M.D. in allopathic medicine. One day when he was translating ‘Cullen’s Materia Medica’ he found it hard to digest that ‘Cinchona bark’ cures malaria fever due to its bitterness. He realised that there are many bitter substances in the world but they can not cure malaria so there has to be some other reason for it. He himself took ‘Cinchona bark’ in small quantity and he developed fever with malaria like symptoms. He tried the same experiment on his family members and found that they too developed similar kind of symptoms of fever. He concluded that small doses of medicinal substance cure symptoms similar to those they produce in healthy human beings. So whenever a person suffers from some ailment he is prescribed a medicine which has the power to produce similar symptoms when administered to a healthy human being.

It is accepted that small doses of medicinal substance cure symptoms similar to those they produce in healthy human beings when taken in crude form. Whenever a homoeopathic medicine is administered to a patient it produces similar symptoms of the disease from which the patient is suffering. This way the medicine annihilates the disease in its whole extent.

Homoeopathy is based on the law of similars. It increases the resistance (immunity) of the body and it has no side effects. Also, it focuses on the individual. On the contrary, allopathic medicines are used in crude form which suppresses or palliates the ailment. Resistance of body decreases due to strong medicines and they generally have a lot of side effects. Allopathic drugs focus on the disease rather than the individual.

There are no side effects of homoeopathic medicine if prescribed according to the principles of homoeopathy. But if a medicine is taken for a long period without the consultation of a doctor it can produce its own symptoms. Sometimes there is aggravation after the first dose of the medicine. It is due to either high potency or frequent repetition of the medicine.

There is no specific time duration of the treatment. If the patient is suffering from a chronic disease i.e. suffering from long time the treatment may take time.

Medicines for diseases like hypertension, heart problem, diabetes, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism etc cannot be immediately stopped. So continuation of the other medication depends upon the problem and its duration.

Yes, tests/investigations are required for the proper diagnosis of the disease and to know about the prognosis. These tests and investigations help in the treatment of the patient. For example if a patient suffers from fibroid uterus the size of fibroid should be known for the prescription of the medicine. The size of the fibroid can only be known through the tests.