Dr Samuel Hahnemann, father of homeopathy, was one among a few of his time to step into the portals of a university and graduate in medicine with an MD. It was the pre-antibiotic era and consisted of many barbaric practices. Conventional doctors routinely used bleeding and excessive purging to treat diseases on the presumption that the disease was caused due to bad blood within the body. Dr Hahnemann was disappointed with this and, therefore, gave up his medical practice.
He dreamed and pondered over a new idea – making medicine safe, effective, sane, humane and gentle.
To support himself, Dr Hahnemann started translating medical books in different languages, as he knew over a dozen languages. When he was once engaged in the translation of William Cullen’s classical work, Lectures on the Materia Medica, in 1790, he could not resist his analytical excitement. Cullen’s statement that cinchona [quinine] bark possessed specific febrifugal [fever-relieving] properties – because it was one of the most aromatic and bitter substances known – aroused his scientific mind and curiosity.
Hahnemann felt that there were many more substances, not just barks, with extremely bitter and fragrant properties. None of them had the strength to cure fevers, especially malaria-like fevers. He was eager to test the idea. He drank a decoction of cinchona bark to test the results. He developed a malarial fever with chills. This laid the foundation for homeopathy. Hahnemann then expounded his principle: like cures like.
From this experiment, Dr Hahnemann derived a hypothesis – “a substance that can artificially produce certain disease-like symptoms on a healthy person; only that substance can cure a similar disease when it is given to the patient in the form of homeopathic medicine.”
For example, when you chop onions, you have watery eyes and a runny nose; you sneeze and cough, and all of it happens due to exposure to the tuber’s active substances. The homeopathic remedy, Allium Cepa, made from red onion can help you overcome a cold or allergy attack in which you may have similar symptoms – watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing or throat irritation.
Dr Hahnemann started studying the effect of various substances on humans, and systematically recorded the symptoms produced by these substances. These records were then used as reference guide to select a similar remedy for his patients. Cures achieved in this way further confirmed his hypotheses about the concept of ‘like cures like’. Dr Hahnemann thus evolved homeopathy as a scientific system of alternative medicine based on his research and clinical experience of over 12 years.
Homeopathy became widely popular during the 19th century with its success in treating patients during epidemics like cholera. Death rates in homeopathic hospitals were lower than conventional hospitals.
What is Homeopathy?
- A system of alternative medicine developed by Samuel Hahnemann.
- Based on the principle of “similia similibus curentur” (Like cures Like).
- Uses highly diluted substances to treat various health conditions.
- Aims to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes
Homeopathy – Principles
The idea of presenting the key principles of homeopathy is to make our patients and readers aware that the treatment given to you by our doctors is based on the scientific principles of homeopathy. The important homeopathic principles, which guide our doctors in providing treatment, are discussed below.
1. Law of Similia (Similia Similibus Curentur)
Like cures like. A substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can cure similar symptoms in a sick person.
2. Law of Minimum Dose
Use the smallest dose necessary to stimulate healing. Homeopathic remedies are highly diluted to avoid harmful side effects.
3. Law of Individualization
Treat the person, not just the disease. Homeopathy considers physical, emotional, and mental aspects of a person.
4. Law of Direction of Cure
Symptoms disappear in reverse order. Healing occurs from the most vital organs to the least vital.
5.Law of Single Remedy
One remedy at a time. Homeopaths prescribe a single remedy to address the entire symptom picture.
6. Law of Potentization
Dilution and succussion enhance efficacy. Homeopathic remedies undergo a specific preparation process.
7. Law of Totality of Symptoms
Consider the entire symptom picture. Homeopaths analyze physical, emotional, and mental symptoms.
Benefits of Homeopathy
1. Gentle and Non-Invasive: No harsh chemicals or surgery.
2. No Side Effects or Interactions: Safe for all ages.
3. Treats Acute and Chronic Conditions: From fever to arthritis.
4. Promotes Overall Wellness: Prevents illness and maintains health.
Conditions Treated by Homeopathy
1. Acute Conditions: eg: Fever, injuries, colds, flu.
2. Chronic Conditions: eg: Allergies, arthritis, asthma, eczema.
3. Mental Health: eg: Anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia.
Homeopathy – Dosage Instruction
- Homeopathic medicines taste sweet in the form of pills and powder, but they taste bitter in a liquid form. You may take liquid medicines with water. Pills and powder may be placed below the tongue for faster action. You may or may not drink water after consuming homeopathic pills or powder.
- You should avoid eating foods with strong smell – such as ginger, garlic, etc. – 30 minutes before and after taking homeopathic medicines.
- You don’t have to store homeopathic medicines in the refrigerator, but you should avoid keeping them in warm places, such as above the refrigerator, near other electronic devices or a gas stove. The best place to store your homeopathic medicines is a drawer at work or in your study room.
- Children who are not under homeopathic treatment are also very fond of taking the medicines, as they taste sweet. Quite often, upon the insistence of parents, homeopathic doctors give non-medicated sweet pills to the children of patients who come with them to the clinic. However, it is advisable that homeopathic medicines should be kept away from the reach of children, to prevent them from eating your medicine as a sweet.
- There is no particular time to avoid taking homeopathic medicines, but they should ideally be taken half an hour before or after a meal.
- Homeopathic medicines can be carried safely while you are travelling.
- If you are pregnant, you can take homeopathic medicines under the guidance of a qualified homeopathic doctor.
