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Homeopathic Medicine Addresses the Whole Patient, Not Just the Disease
D
by Sheila Julson
edies, despite the same diagr. Alex Bekker nosis. “No two individuals are developed an interalike,” he affirms. “So the care est in homeopathic is individualized.” medicine well before he Homeopathic mediattended medical school. cines, which come in delivery Through a friend, Bekforms including pellets, ker had the opportunity to liquid drops and tablets, meet concert pianist-turned are prepared with natural homeopathic practitioner animal, vegetable or mineral Alain Naude. “I learned substances diluted to very about homeopathic medismall amounts. Bekker has cine and saw how it works heard questions about the firsthand,” he says. Dr. Alex Bekker efficacy of such minute doses Homeopathic medicine, of medicine, but with homeopathy, less with a “like treats like” approach, uses is more. “Very small amounts of a small doses of natural substances substance can have a remarkable that stimulate and strengthen the effect on the body,” he says. body’s immune system to defend Homeopathic medicines are safe itself. The approach is based on the when made according to U.S. Food and concept that substances which cause Drug Administration regulated guidelines, symptoms in generally healthy people can Bekker says. True homeopathic medicine in small, diluted doses, cure symptoms in is made according to standards established sick people by triggering the body’s natural by the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of defenses. the United States (HPUS), which was first Bekker was born in Ukraine and came to published by AIH in 1897. the United States when he was 10. He had “HPUS is the standard for making hotaught English at the community college meopathic remedies. The pharmacies that level for 15 years before changing career make homeopathic remedies make them paths and pursuing medicine. He received specifically in very tiny amounts, accordhis medical degree in 1996 from the Uniing to a standardized procedure,” Bekker versity of Texas Health Science Center at explains. “Unfortunately, in today’s market San Antonio. there are medications labeled homeopathic After working in emergency room which are not. Some of these so-called settings for 15 years, he pivoted toward medications have caused some homeopathic care, which he felt was more problems in patients, but they are effective in helping patients restore their not homeopathic.” health. Bekker is the current president of Bekker also advises that the American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH) and the editor-in-chief of the Ameri- people shouldn’t confuse natural substances like can Journal of Homeopathic Medicine. herbal supplements with Bekker emphasizes that homeopathic homeopathic medications. remedies are more specific to individuHe refers people to research als rather than to conditions, focusing on presented on the AIH webwhole person health. Two different patients site, homeopathyusa.org and that come into his office with colds might advises that people don’t selfreceive two different homeopathic rem-
diagnose, but instead seek guidance from a trained homeopathic practitioner. The AIH represents medical practitioners of homeopathy and includes M.D.s such as Bekker, along with DOs, naturopathic doctors, dentists and nurse practitioners. “Our major mission is to educate the practitioners and provide a platform in which we can address any concerns that our practitioners may have,” Bekker says. “We also address concerns of the community.” The AIH currently has two naturopathic physicians on its board. The organization is specifically interested in any issues that naturopathic physicians have on state or federal levels regarding their ability to practice homeopathy. AIH partners with the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians to help promote homeopathic medicine. “I think the fact is that consumer demand for homeopathy has risen a great deal over the last 10 to 15 years,” Bekker notes. “We have a lot of integrative and functional medicine doctors, but in homeopathy, not as much. The AIH strives to expose more medical doctors to homeopathy and strengthen it in the naturopathic field.” Dr. Alex Bekker is located at 5209 Heritage Ave., Ste. 410, in Colleyville. For more information, call 817-545-5400 or visit AlexBekkerMD.com.
May 2021
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