Classical homeopathy is a gentle, individualized system of medicine developed by Samuel Hahnemann in the early 19th century, based on the principle of "like cures like" (similia similibus curentur). It uses a single, highly diluted natural remedy derived from plants, minerals, or animals. This single remedy is chosen to match a patient's entire physical, emotional, and mental symptom profile, called the totality of symptoms. Two patients with the same medical diagnosis (e.g., asthma) may receive different remedies based on their specific, individual symptoms, such as what makes them feel better or worse. The goal is to use the lowest dose of the natural material. This ultra-diluted dose is achieved by a process called potentization. The original natural substance is placed in water, and through repeated dilutions, and succussions (vigorous shaking) of the dilutions, the remedy is “potentized” and now suitable for use as a homeopathic medicine. This means that each remedy no longer has any detectable amount of the actual substance in it, and instead carries this “potentized” energetic property, which is what heals the patient. When treating a patient with homeopathy, the practitioner observes the “Law of Cure.” This means that the goal is to cure from the inside out, and from top to bottom. So the mood issue may clear before the hip pain that was the primary complaint at the time of the initiation of treatment. This type of healing requires patience as some symptoms may not resolve in the priority order given by the caretaker of the patient but rather in an order that is appropriate for that individual’s life force. The beauty of this medicine is observing the patient’s innate ability to heal itself.