What is Homotoxicology?

What is Homotoxicology?

Classical homoeopathy according to Hahnemann (1811) orients itself based on the so-called “drug picture” to determine the appropriate remedy. It claims that symptoms of disease behave reciprocally towards those symptoms which the healthy test person develops after the intake of a mother tincture or a diluted substance (potency.) The principle of action which can be derived thereof is known as the Simile Principle (Similia similibus curentur = Likes may be cured by likes.)

Classical Homoeopathy works with single remedies which are only partly truly single-constituent remedies, (e.g., sulphur, mercury, arsenic, etc.), or which are otherwise botanical extractions containing a highly complex mixture of numerous constituents. Repertories (lists of symptoms produced by drugs) facilitate the selection of the most appropriate remedy in homoeopathy.

Anti-homotoxic medicine usually pursues an indication-oriented approach. The anti-homotoxic remedies predominantly represent mixtures of diluted substances of low to middle potencies. Through practical application in homoeopathy it became obvious that the use of concentrated or poisonous tinctures could damage the patient and that, therefore, they could only be used in homoeopathic dilutions, i.e., potencies. This practice was scientifically supported by Rudolf Arndt (psychiatrist, 1835- 1900) and Hugo Schulz (pharmacologist, 1853- 1932) through a quantitative differentiation of the medical effect on bio-systems and still applies as the Arndt-Schulz Principle. It states:

·         weak stimuli stimulate the life functions (retro-action of homoeopathic preparations)

·         moderately strong stimuli accelerate them

·         strong stimuli act as inhibitors

·         the strongest stimuli suspend the life functions

Since several tissue-incompatible substances are usually involved during the development of a disease, the simultaneous use of several potentized “antitoxins”, as present in the anti-homotoxic preparations, is justified.

Dr. Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg formulated Homotoxicology in 1952. This conception was developed from homoeopathy for the purpose of providing a holistic perspective on the synthesis of medical science.

Reckeweg formulated an essential tenet of Homotoxicology, as follows:

“According to Homotoxicology all of those processes, syndromes, and manifestations, which we designate as diseases, are the expression thereof that the body is combating poisons ant that it wants to neutralize and excrete these poisons. The body either wins or loses the fight thereby. Those processes, which we designate as diseases, are always biological, that is natural teleological processes, which serve poison defence and detoxification.”

Refering to conventional medical indications connects anti-homotoxic medicine with allopathy, while therapy with potentized substances unites it to homoeopathy. Anti-homotoxic medicine is the connecting link between allopathic medicine and homoeopathy.