Homeopathic vs. Herbal: why homeopathic remedies are safer than some plants in their raw form
Like Belladonna for example!
One of the most frequent questions I hear from people is:
“Are homeopathic remedies actually safe?”
The short answer is yes - and not only are they safe, they’re among the gentlest forms of natural medicine available.
Remedies can be used at every stage of life: for babies, children, pregnant mothers, the elderly, and even pets. They do not interact with medications, and they don’t build dependency.
But the long answer is even more fascinating, because it explains why they are safe - and how this energetic form of medicine works to support the body in a unique way.
Like Cures Like
Homeopathy is built on the principle of “like cures like.”
This means that a substance which can cause certain symptoms in a healthy person can, when prepared homeopathically, help someone who is unwell and experiencing those very same symptoms.
Think of it as the body being “reminded” how to rebalance itself when presented with the energetic picture of what it’s experiencing.
Too much coffee may keep you awake and wired. The homeopathic remedy Coffea can gently calm sleeplessness.
Raw onion can make your eyes water and nose run. The remedy Allium cepa helps hay fever and colds with streaming eyes and nose.
Bee stings cause swelling, redness, and burning pain. The remedy Apis helps similar swelling, redness, and stinging pains - whether from hives, bites, or inflammation.
Homeopathy uses the wisdom of nature, in a refined form, to stimulate the body’s own healing.
Energetic medicine, not chemical medicine
The way remedies are prepared is what sets homeopathy apart from herbs, supplements, and pharmaceuticals.
Through a process of dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking), the physical substance is diluted many times, to the point where no measurable molecules remain.
What is left is not chemical, but energetic - the signature or imprint of the original substance.
This means remedies are not working on a chemical level, like drugs, but on an energetic, vibrational level. They resonate with the body’s natural healing intelligence, nudging it back into balance.
And this is exactly what makes them so safe: there is no toxicity, no buildup, and no risk of chemical side effects.
Herbal vs Homeopathic remedies
One of the clearest ways to understand this is to look at Belladonna.
In its raw herbal form, Belladonna (also called deadly nightshade) is poisonous. It can cause flushed skin, a rapid pulse, high fever, delirium, and sensitivity to light and noise.
In its Homeopathic form, Belladonna contains none of the toxic substance. Instead, it carries the energetic imprint of the original substance and using the principle of like cures like, this makes it incredibly useful in cases of sudden, high fever with flushed cheeks, heat, throbbing head, and oversensitivity.
The very symptoms that Belladonna can cause as a poison are the ones it relieves as a remedy.
This transformation - from toxic to safe - is what makes homeopathy such a gift.
Other remedy examples:
Arnica montana
In its raw (herbal form), Arnica is considered dangerous. The plant contains thymol derivatives and helenalin, which can irritate the digestive tract.
Ingesting herbal Arnica can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and even more serious heart or organ effects in large amounts.
Because of this, oral use of herbal Arnica is generally not recommended, except under strict supervision by a trained herbalist.
In contrast, Homeopathic Arnica contains only the energetic signature of the plant (no active molecules), making it completely safe to take orally for bruising, shock, or muscle soreness.
Nux vomica
Nux vomica seeds naturally contain strychnine, which in crude form is toxic.
As a Homeopathic remedy, Nux vomica is safe and often used for digestive upsets, hangovers, irritability, and the effects of modern stress.
Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus Tox)
Anyone who’s brushed against poison ivy knows its angry, blistering rash.
As a Homeopathic remedy, Rhus tox is safe and brilliant for joint stiffness that improves with movement, skin eruptions, and strains.
Allium cepa
Raw onion makes eyes and nose run, with burning tears.
Homeopathic Allium cepa is safe and helpful for colds or hay fever with streaming eyes and nose.
In each case, the dangerous or irritating aspect of the natural substance is transformed into a safe, healing remedy when prepared homeopathically.
Why remedies are safe
✅ No chemical toxicity – they carry only energetic information, not the substance itself
✅ Safe for all ages – newborns, children, and the elderly can use them
✅ Safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding – remedies support the mother and baby naturally
✅ No drug interactions – they can be taken alongside conventional medicine
✅ Gentle and non-addictive – remedies support healing, they do not suppress or create dependency
✅ Holistic – remedies match the whole person, not just the symptoms
The gift of resonance
When we take a remedy, we’re not ingesting chemicals. We’re receiving an energetic message that resonates with our current state.
This resonance stimulates the body’s own innate healing intelligence, reminding it how to return to balance.
That’s why remedies are so gentle, yet often so powerful: they don’t fight the body, they remind it.
I often think of Homeopathy as a bridge between the wisdom of nature and the intelligence of the human body. It’s safe, sustainable, and deeply respectful of life.
Families all around the world use remedies for:
Teething and colic in babies
Fevers and earaches in children
Hormonal balance and pregnancy support for women
First aid for injuries, accidents, and emotional shocks
Gentle support through grief, anxiety, or stress
Don’t forget pets! Animals respond beautifully to Homeopathy.
Homeopathy is safe because it does not rely on chemicals, but on energy. Remedies carry the vibrational imprint of nature, which stimulates our body’s wisdom to heal itself.
From poisonous plants transformed into safe remedies, to everyday substances that help in acute illnesses, homeopathy has been trusted worldwide for over 200 years.
It’s not about force, suppression, or side effects. It’s about resonance, balance, and wholeness.
And in that, Homeopathy gives us one of the greatest gifts: the ability to heal naturally, gently, and safely.
✨ If you’d like to learn more about remedies for everyday health and family wellbeing, I share practical guides and resources at Wholebeing Health: www.wholebeinghealth.co.nz and on my Substack page.
In wellness, Kirsty xo