Homotoxicology is a theory of medicine that views the symptoms of disease as evidence of the body's defence mechanisms at work against toxic substances. Dr. Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg, the German medical doctor and homoeopath who developed the theory referred to these toxins as homotoxins. He used natural homoeopathic treatments to aid the body in restoring itself to a condition of healthy biochemical balance.

The Six Phases

According to homotoxicology theory, there are six stages or phases to the body's ability to cope with toxins. These are represented in the Six-Phase Table:

1. Excretion: In this phase, the body is able to adequately cope with and excrete toxins. A runny nose and diarrhoea are examples of the excretion phase.
2. Inflammation: A fever is an example of the inflammation phase of toxicity. A fever is the body's natural attempt to neutralise toxins that it cannot adequately remove by excretion.
3. Deposition: If the toxins still cannot be removed, the body stores them. This phase is usually asymptomatic. However, when the proper treatment is administered, one of the first signs that it is working is symptoms of disease. This is said to be because the toxins are being flushed out of the system.
4. Impregnation: After a period of time, the body becomes “impregnated” by the toxins. They become part of the connective tissue itself and cause tissue damage. Severe symptoms can occur at this stage.
5. Degeneration: Organ degeneration occurs during this phase as the built up toxins destroy large cellular groups within the organs.
6. Differentiation: At this stage, toxic cellular groups “differentiate” or distinguish themselves as distinct cell forms. Malignancies such as tumours form at the extreme end of this phase.

Homotoxicology Treatments

Homotoxicology employs antihomotoxic formulations that stimulate the body's detoxifying functions. Depending on the phase of the disease and other factors, conventional medical treatments may be advised. In many cases, both conventional and homoeopathic treatments will be indicated.

Homotoxicology also emphasises the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle. In particular, it stresses the damage that can be done by living in a polluted environment and the ingestion of foods that have been treated with pesticides. Remedies prescribed by practitioners include natural substances designed to help the body excrete built up chemical toxins.

Homotoxicology and Homoeopathy

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German chemist and physician, developed homoeopathy over 200 years ago as a natural form of medicine based on the Law of Similarities, which basically states that “likes cure likes.” In other words, if a substance that creates symptoms of a disease in a healthy person is given in the proper measure to a sick person, it can help stimulate the body's natural defence mechanisms. An example of this is coffee, which under some circumstances and when administered in the right dosages, has been found to be helpful in treating insomnia. Homoeopathy is used to fight existing conditions and help strengthen the immune system. Some of the disorders homoeopathy is commonly used to treat include:

• Eczema
• Allergies
• Colds and flus
• Respiratory infections
• Headaches
• Food poisoning
• Digestive problems

Homotoxicology is a modern extension of homoeopathy developed partly in response to the effects of the Industrial Revolution, which imposed chemical pollutants on the human body. Homotoxicology and homoeopathy stress the importance of stimulating the body's natural ability to fight disease and the use of naturally derived formulas to aid the healing process.