Philosophy and History of Homeopathy
(excerpted from original research paper written by Debbie Noah, HMA, DiHom)

The word Homeopathy comes from the Greek homoios, meaning similar, and pathos, meaning suffering. The word was coined by Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann to express and explain his new system of medicine - Like cures Like.

Hahnemann was born in 1755 in Germany and earned his degree in medicine in 1779.   Rima Handley in A Homeopathic Love Story, tells the tale of Hahnemann and his search for a better way to help his patients. She states that he became increasingly unhappy with his chosen profession and he saw that many patients did better without medical treatment. He then tried to work with the healing forces of nature, using as few drugs as he could and concentrating on the curative powers of diet (55). Hahnemann was a skilled translator and devoted his energies to the translating of medical and chemistry books and ways to apply this knowledge to medicine. While translating a book in which was described the way to treat Malaria with Peruvian Bark, he decided to experiment on himself. He reproduced the symptoms of Malaria repeatedly in himself with high doses of the bark. He then disputed the reasons given in the book for the success of the drug - it was a tonic to the stomach - with his proof that the bark produced the symptoms of the disease therefore it was the similarity between the drug and disease that was the curative factor and nothing else (60). This was the first significant breakthrough in his thinking and was the basis of the law of similars - let likes be treated by likes (61). Hahnemann devoted the rest of his life to working on his new system, proving it and treating patients with it.

Hahnemann was the first to develop the concept of "Like cures Like" into a scientific medical system however, this concept dates back to Hippocrates in 400 BC (Shevin, Panos, Heimlich). Hippocrates wrote, "Through the like, disease is produced and through the application of the like, it is cured" (Panos, Heimlich, 11). What happened to this system of medicine since the time of Hippocrates, the father of medicine?

The concept of Homeopathy was expressed in various ways in the Hippocratic School and medieval medicine generally. There are writings from Paracelsus, a Swiss physician of the sixteenth century, and other writings in Hahnemann's time. There is evidence that many cultures have used the concept since Hippocrates (Handley, Panos, Heimlich). After Hahnemann, in the early 1800's, there has at all times been physicians who have preferred homeopathy over conventional medicine (Coulter, 1). Homeopathy was brought to the United States around 1825 from Europe. It is currently experiencing a resurgence in this country and in other countries around the world (Traxler, 3).

Coulter also notes that the adoption of homeopathy in every country by a sizable group of physicians has split the medical profession in two. For example, in the Untied States, the American Institute of Homeopathy was formed in 1844 and was the direct cause of the founding of the American Medical Association two years later (2). Why is there such a split between the two groups?

Coulter states that the allopathic argument against homeopathy has never been formulated clearly and comprehensively but one can see that the principal bone of contention is homeopathy's lack of a physiological-pathological-pharmacological theory. Homeopath's base their selection of remedies exclusively on the symptoms instead of first trying to define an internal patho-physiological process and then selecting a remedy to counteract or otherwise influence the patho-physiological process. The allopathic majority just says that homeopathy is "unscientific" (94,95). But, he notes that homeopathic principles, together with the detailed rules of their application, constitute a unified hypothesis. Thus it's approach is practical, it's provings are precise, concrete, and reliable (97,98).

Homeopathic remedies have worked for more than 200 years and none have ever been recalled. Allopathic medicines are always changing because they find something "better" or "new" and many are outdated and recalled because of side effects. It is not possible to test the correctness of the allopathic principles because none exist. There is no theory, only causal explanations. Therefore, one may conclude that homeopathy is scientific while allopathy is not (Coulter, 97-99). Perhaps Hahnemann sums it up when he wrote:

         A number of causes, which I will not recount here, have for several centuries, reduced the
        dignity of that God-like science, practical medicine, to a wretched bread-winning, a glossing
        over of symptoms, a degrading commerce in prescriptions-God help us! to a trade that mixes
        the disciples of Hippocrates with the riff-raff and medical rogues in such a way that
        one is indistinguishable from the other. (Handley, 57).

Homeopathic treatment is less expensive and involves fewer diagnostic studies. A homeopath spends approximately two hours with a patient for an initial consultation and 45 minutes for a follow-up appointment. Most homeopaths charge a comparable rate as the allopathic physician does. Homeopaths use X-rays and laboratory tests but to a much lesser extent than allopathic physicians. This is because they believe that a disease first affects the vital force and causes symptoms before it manifests in any measurable changes in the person's blood and tissues (Panos, Heimlich). This is what happens when a person goes to a doctor and says, "I just don't feel right". Of course the doctor cannot find anything wrong even after extensive tests. The homeopath will simply ask about the patient's symptoms and treat the person before any pathological change occurs (28).

Once homeopathic treatment is started on a person, the vital force of the person is affected. The person becomes healthier and requires fewer doctor visits and is able to throw off diseases very quickly.

Considering that homeopathic drugs do not cause side effects and the cost is minimal, one wonders why they are not in demand. Considering that the total treatment with homeopathy is less expensive, one also wonders why the homeopath is not in demand. The influence of the pharmaceutical industry on the AMA, in conjunction with the profits to be made, has certainly impacted the advancement of homeopathic medicine in the United States.

I have a great love and passion for homeopathy. I see homeopathy in everyday life in the world around me, in nature, in music, in art, in creatures and in the humans that occupy the planet.

Works Cited
A brief history of homeopathy and its legal status in the U.S. National Center For Homeopathy Introductory Brochure. 1990.
Chase, Sandra, M. MD. Homeopathy a Brief Overview. Alexandria: National Center for Homeopathy, 1981.
Coulter, Harris, L. PHD. Homeopathic Science and Modern Medicine. Richmond: North Atlantic, 1981.
Handley, Rima. A Homeopathic Love Story. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1990.
How does it differ from conventional medicine? National Center for Homeopathy Introductory Brochure. 1990.
Iyer, T.S. Beginners Guide to Homeopathy. New Delhi: B. Jain, 1991.
Moskowitz, Richard, MD. The Case Against Immunizations. Alexandria:National Center for Homeopathy, 1983.
Neustaedter, Randall. The Immunization Decision. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1990.
Panos, Maesimund, B., MD and Jane Heimlich. Homeopathic Medicine at Home.Los Angeles: Tarcher, 1980
Shevin, William, MD. NCH statement to the NIH. Homeopathy Today. 12.8 (1992).
-----. Introductory Brochure. Alexandria: National Center for Homeopathy, 1990.
Traxler, Marsha, RN. The Emergence of Homeopathy in Mainstream Medicine. Homeopathy Today. 12.8 (1992).
Ullman, Dana. Discovering Homeopathy. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1991.
Vaccines the source of AIDS? Homeopathy Today. 12.9 (1992).
What is Homeopathy? National Center for Homeopathy Introductory Brochure. 1990.