Homoeopathy is a medical discipline, whose primary emphasis is that, it is a non-invasive form of therapeutics. It essentially entails a holistic approach towards the sick person and treats the patient’s disturbances on the emotional, mental and physical levels in an integrated manner. Its basic aim is to bring back the lost equilibrium of the sick individual at all these three levels, by stimulating and strengthening his defence  and curative mechanisms; the so called vital force.

There is intimate relation between diet and disease; and this is respected by all systems of medicine. Nobody would suggest food difficult to digest to a person suffering from diarrhoea or sugar to a diabetic. While there is a need to restrict diet in disease, equally there is need to prescribe special diet to help recovery. The advice of a physician should not stop by prohibiting sugar to a diabetic or fat to a high blood cholesterol patient; he must also suggest helpful diet such as vegetables and unrefined bread to them to control blood sugar and blood cholesterol. Thus every physician is expected to have some knowledge of diet in disease to be really helpful to the patient. Food habits vary greatly and therefore details of food under each category vary according to age, activity, digestion, taste, disease, etc.

Excess of vitamin B-complex may lead to a disease called vitaminosis, while the indiscriminate use of mineral salts is likely to affect the normal electrolyte balance of the body.  The remedy helps them removing the metabolic defect and it is here that Homoeopathy can help. Although regulation of diet had been accepted as an indispensable and most important step in the treatment of disease, consumption of certain articles of food was and is still regarded in Homoeopathy as obstacles to Homoeopathic drug action and therefore, prohibited during the pendency of treatment.

In the initial stage of Homoeopathy, use of coffee and tea was prohibited and Dr. Hahnemann himself came out with a fairly long list of food items including highly seasoned food, which required avoidance during the course of treatment. Restriction on consumption of certain types of food and drink such as tea, coffee, seasoned food, tobacco, onion, garlic, etc. became a matter of routine with Homoeopaths. True, above mentioned things cause serious disease by their long and unrestricted use, but the need for their special restriction or stoppage during Homoeopathic treatment has been questioned.

Opinion is still divided in this field, but experiences and researches have shown that effectiveness of potentised medicine does not suffer when mixed with soup, milk, chocolate, coffee, tea, wine, brandy, rum, whisky, etc. nor have coffee, tea, spices, etc. have any adverse effect on the action of medicines.[Ref:- Kumta P.S.- Effects of Tea, Coffee. During Homoeopathic Treatment- HS, Jan.1976, P.3].

Although Dr. Hahnemann gave the list of foods to be avoided, he had suggested that in acute diseases, cravings should be respected, though he advised their restriction in chronic cases. Generally, no restriction need be placed on food habits except in chronic cases, when necessary. But ample evidence is there to prove the necessity of prohibiting the use of certain food items and drinks in particular cases of treatment, as they react adversely to the medicine prescribed.

Dr. Clarke has pointed out that it is desirable not to allow coffee when Belladonna, Chamomilla, Colocynth, Lycopodium and Nux vomica are being given.

            A Tubercular patient with fever will require proteins and a nourishing diet; whereas in the case of Jaundice--- fat free diet will be compulsory. In acute peptic ulcer, only milk diet will have to be advised.

           Besides the diet being generally balanced, care has to be taken to see that the diet is appropriate to the type of disease the patient is suffering from. The proper diet has a vital role in its making. Importance of blood chemistry should not be overlooked or under rated. Each diseased individual need a separate diet chart.

          A case of Inveterate Eczema (which was reported in the Journal of American Institute of Homoeopathy, by Dr. Grimmer) ----treated with ill success for about a year until, finally the lab test revealed that the patient was suffering from Hypoproteinemia. When he was put under proper diet, Eczema gradually receded.

Dr. J. N. Kanjilal emphasis that since Homoeopathy treat the individual patient, taking into account his peculiar constitution, desires, aversions, etc. we cannot be blind to the real requirements of the soul or personality of the individual----Diet is very individual and “One man’s meat is another man’s poison”.

Dr. Hahnemann said very definitely that the correct food helped the remedies to work more quickly and effectively. We eat a lot of  artificial  foodstuffs today. Advise patients to eat much ‘whole food’ as possible. Compost grown wheat flour(stone ground) should be substituted for all bread and white flour products. White sugars sweetens, but leaves an acid reaction in the system often leading to poor digestion. Molasses is full of valuable mineral salts like potassium, calcium; which is of great value in inveterate constipation and digestive disorders. Honey is an antiseptic, so powerful healing agent. Avoid peppermint, camphor, menthol, inhalants, disinfectants, strong smelling cosmetics, perfumes, etc.; which will interfere with the delicate vibrations of Homoeopathic remedies and thus spoil their effective action in cure of disease.

Eat protein if you want to remain alert and attentive; but for sleep, eat carbohydrates; because carbohydrates eaten alone increase the brain’s uptake of the aminoacid tryptophan, which stimulates production of serotonin, which inturn has a hypnotic effect.

Advise plenty of salads, conservatively cooked vegetables, fresh fruit, fish, eggs, meat(preferably lamb) should be taken in moderation. Cod-liver oil should be regarded as food rather than medicine, useful in various forms of Tubercular disease--- in all disease’s which require fatty substances as food and Iodine as a remedy. It also contain phosphorus—useful in rheumatic affections, skin diseases, degenerative diseases, etc. milk should be taken in moderation. Fruit drinks made from fresh fruits should be recommended.

Enquire into the kind of vessels patients used for cooking. Homoeopathy has proved that many patients are definetly allergic to the poisoning effects of Aluminium; when Aluminium cooking pots have been replaced by stainless steel or enamel cooking pots; the patients have responded more rapidly to the medicines prescribed and their cure has been considerably hastened. So with regard to specific diets for particular diseases, we must always bear in mind the patient you are treating, his circumstances of home or business life. He is an individual and his diet must therefore be decided on the same principles.

List of some Inimical items to certain Homoeopathic medicines:-