Homeopathic Medicine Addresses the Whole Patient, Not Just the Disease
Apr 30, 2021 08:30AM ● By Sheila Julson
Dr. Alex Bekker
Dr. Alex Bekker developed an interest in homeopathic medicine well before he attended medical school. Through a friend, Bekker had the opportunity to meet concert pianist-turned homeopathic practitioner Alain Naude. “I learned about homeopathic medicine and saw how it works firsthand,” he says.
Homeopathic medicine, with a “like treats like” approach, uses small doses of natural substances that stimulate and strengthen the body’s immune system to defend itself. The approach is based on the concept that substances which cause symptoms in generally healthy people can in small, diluted doses, cure symptoms in sick people by triggering the body’s natural defenses.
Bekker was born in Ukraine and came to the United States when he was 10. He had taught English at the community college level for 15 years before changing career paths and pursuing medicine. He received his medical degree in 1996 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
After working in emergency room settings for 15 years, he pivoted toward homeopathic care, which he felt was more effective in helping patients restore their health. Bekker is the current president of the American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH) and the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine.
Bekker emphasizes that homeopathic remedies are more specific to individuals rather than to conditions, focusing on whole person health. Two different patients that come into his office with colds might receive two different homeopathic remedies, despite the same diagnosis. “No two individuals are alike,” he affirms. “So the care is individualized.”
Homeopathic medicines, which come in delivery forms including pellets, liquid drops and tablets, are prepared with natural animal, vegetable or mineral substances diluted to very small amounts. Bekker has heard questions about the efficacy of such minute doses of medicine, but with homeopathy, less is more. “Very small amounts of a substance can have a remarkable effect on the body,” he says.
Homeopathic medicines are safe when made according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulated guidelines, Bekker says. True homeopathic medicine is made according to standards established by the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS), which was first published by AIH in 1897.
“HPUS is the standard for making homeopathic remedies. The pharmacies that make homeopathic remedies make them specifically in very tiny amounts, according to a standardized procedure,” Bekker explains. “Unfortunately, in today’s market there are medications labeled homeopathic which are not. Some of these so-called medications have caused some problems in patients, but they are not homeopathic.”
Bekker also advises that people shouldn’t confuse natural substances like herbal supplements with homeopathic medications. He refers people to research presented on the AIH website, homeopathyusa.org and advises that people don’t self-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.
Homeopathic medicine, with a “like treats like” approach, uses small doses of natural substances that stimulate and strengthen the body’s immune system to defend itself. The approach is based on the concept that substances which cause symptoms in generally healthy people can in small, diluted doses, cure symptoms in sick people by triggering the body’s natural defenses.
Bekker was born in Ukraine and came to the United States when he was 10. He had taught English at the community college level for 15 years before changing career paths and pursuing medicine. He received his medical degree in 1996 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
After working in emergency room settings for 15 years, he pivoted toward homeopathic care, which he felt was more effective in helping patients restore their health. Bekker is the current president of the American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH) and the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine.
Bekker emphasizes that homeopathic remedies are more specific to individuals rather than to conditions, focusing on whole person health. Two different patients that come into his office with colds might receive two different homeopathic remedies, despite the same diagnosis. “No two individuals are alike,” he affirms. “So the care is individualized.”
Homeopathic medicines, which come in delivery forms including pellets, liquid drops and tablets, are prepared with natural animal, vegetable or mineral substances diluted to very small amounts. Bekker has heard questions about the efficacy of such minute doses of medicine, but with homeopathy, less is more. “Very small amounts of a substance can have a remarkable effect on the body,” he says.
Homeopathic medicines are safe when made according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulated guidelines, Bekker says. True homeopathic medicine is made according to standards established by the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS), which was first published by AIH in 1897.
“HPUS is the standard for making homeopathic remedies. The pharmacies that make homeopathic remedies make them specifically in very tiny amounts, according to a standardized procedure,” Bekker explains. “Unfortunately, in today’s market there are medications labeled homeopathic which are not. Some of these so-called medications have caused some problems in patients, but they are not homeopathic.”
Bekker also advises that people shouldn’t confuse natural substances like herbal supplements with homeopathic medications. He refers people to research presented on the AIH website, homeopathyusa.org and advises that people don’t self-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.
