Toowoomba Health

“Homeopathy” means Similar Suffering. (Greek: homoios pathos)

Samuel Hahnemann was the founder of Homeopathy. More than 200 years ago, as a very young man, Hahnemann was interested in chemistry and became an excellent chemist. He then studied medicine and human responses in chemistry. Hippocrates’ (the father of medicine in 5th century B.C.) statement of similar to treat dis-ease, “Similia Similibus Curentur; through the application of the like, it is cured,” caught his interest. Paracelsus, at the end of the 13th century, taught that a very tiny dose of a harmful substance may heal, while a larger dose of the same would kill. Many confuse this tiny dose theory as the description of Homeopathy. But Homeopathy’s dilution is not a tiny dose, it is extreme, no longer poisonous, regardless of the original substance. A chemist would be able to find a “tiny” dose, but a Homeopathic remedy cannot be named when examined. Hahnemann pursued every possibility with his chemistry background.

Later, as a practicing doctor, Hahnemann translated old medical books to increase his income. He again found Hippocrates’ statement of similar. He also read that Peruvian Indians chewed the bark of the Cinchona tree to relieve the symptoms of Malaria. Hahnemann obtained some bark, chewed it, and developed similar symptoms to malaria. This led to his experiments with other substances, while making a list of the resulting symptoms. What followed was the development of his Materia Medica, a collection of his research facts. (Any medical research develops a materia medica). Dr. Hahnemann diluted the crude derivatives, to observe their action, called “proving.” It is a scientific fact that some things, when diluted, become stronger. Homeopathy works with this principle.

When the symptoms of a patient were like one on the list in his Materia Medica, Hahnemann gave that remedy, and the patient would show good improvement. Therefore, the law of similar became the foundation of Homeopathy. The human responses to Homeopathy were entirely different from medicines of the time. As Dr. Hahnemann continued his research, he began to thump the remedies in their containers. This process is called "succus," and was found to compound the healing factors of the remedy. Homeopathy was now complete. A safe reliable medicine was available to the public.

Homeopathy became available by 1776. Dr. Hahnemann had discovered the truth and success of his research, yet his peers condemned him. The American Medical Association (AMA) continues to discount the proven value of Homeopathy today. Dr. Hahnemann coined the word “Allopathic,” for a distinction between the two medicines at the time.

Contributed by Medella Wellness natural health clinic, homeopathy Toowoomba Clinic.

Basics of Homeopathy