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History of Homeopathy
The Founder of Homeopathy
Homeopathy's roots emerge from the findings, teachings and
writings of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843). Hahnemann
graduated from medical school in 1779 and started his own
medical practice. As a result of his disillusionment with such
common medical practices of the day as purging, bloodletting,
and the use of toxic chemicals, he began his first homeopathic
experiments.
At one point, after giving up the daily practice of medicine, he
began working as a chemist while translating medical texts. It
was when Hahnemann began working on a project to translate
William Cullen's Materia Medica into German that he began his
quest for a better way of providing healthcare using the
principles of "Similars." While working on this project, he
became fascinated with a species of South American tree-bark
(cinchona) which was being used to treat malaria-induced fever.
Hahnemann ingested the bark and discovered that it caused
symptoms similar to malaria. He continued his research into
"cures" and the idea of "similar suffering," and began compiling
his findings. Similia similibus curentur, the Latin phrase
meaning "let likes be cured by likes," is the primary principle of
homeopathy.
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History of Homeopathy
Homeopathy in the United States
Students of Hahnemann founded the first homeopathic medical school in the United States in the late
1800’s. It gained recognition because of its success in treating the many disease epidemics rampant at
the time - scarlet fever, typhoid, cholera and yellow fever.
The school’s method of treatment became very popular in the early 1900’s. At that time, there were 22
homeopathic medical schools, 100 homeopathic hospitals and over 1,000 homeopathic pharmacies.
Boston University, Stanford University and New York Medical College were among those educational
institutions that were teaching homeopathy. Due to the efforts of the American Medical Association in the
early 1920’s, homeopathy began to experience a decline in the United States. This was also around the
time when modern drug companies began releasing drugs that were easy to administer to patients.
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History of Homeopathy
The Homeopathic Resurgence
Although the United States experienced a dwindling
interest in homeopathy in the 20th century, other nations
were experiencing a steady growth of homeopathic
teachings and interest. Today, nearly all French
pharmacies sell homeopathic remedies and medicines;
and homeopathy has a particularly strong following in
Russia, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Germany, Netherlands,
Italy, England, and South America.
Homeopathy is also rising again in the United States. This
resurgence has been documented by the National Center
for Homeopathy, a non-profit organization dedicated to
promoting health through homeopathy.
Doctors, scientists, researchers, corporations and the
general public are all responsible for the accelerated
expansion in the interest of homeopathy.
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History of Homeopathy
Revival in the late 20th century
The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938,
sponsored by New York Senator and Homeopathic
Physician Royal Copeland, recognized
homeopathic remedies as drugs.
By the 1950s there were only 75 pure homeopaths
practicing in the U.S. However, in the mid to late
1970s, homeopathy made a significant comeback
and sales of some homeopathic companies
increased tenfold.
Greek homeopath George Vithoulkas performed a
"great deal of research to update the scenarios and
refine the theories and practice of homeopathy"
beginning in the 1970s. Through his efforts,
homeopathy was revived worldwide.
George Vithoulkas
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History of Homeopathy
Continued Resurgence
The rediscovery of homeopathy by the general public is even more
encouraging. The magazine, The F.D.A. Consumer, reported a
1000% increase in sales of homeopathic medicines from the late
1970s to the early 1980s. And contrary to some critics who think
that people try homeopathy only because they are uneducated,
research published in the Western Journal of Medicine showed that
homeopathic patients tend to be considered even better educated
than the average American.
It is difficult to predict how popular homeopathy will be in the United
States in the 21st century. Growing numbers of consumers will also
learn to self-prescribe homeopathic medicine for common acute
conditions and will probably demand homeopathic care from their
physicians for more serious medical conditions.
Clearly, homeopathy will play an increasingly important role in
health care, for as internationally acclaimed violinist and
humanitarian Yehudi Menuhin once said, "Homeopathy is one of the
few medical specialties which carries no penalties--only benefits."
Homeopathic Potencies –
Taking the Remedies
How are remedies applied –
Homeopathic remedies can be dispensed in several different formats:
• Tinctures are alcoholic extracts provided in dropper bottles. The number of drops to be
taken in a glass of water will be noted on the bottle.
• Liquid attenuations are made by dissolving high potency homeopathic pellets in water or
by adding a high-potency liquid remedy to water.
• Pellets or small tablets are small sugar pellets upon which the remedy has been
transferred. These will be dispensed either in plastic prescription-type vials or in paper
envelopes. This is the most common way that homeopathic remedies are given or
purchased today.
With any of these methods, your homeopath will instruct you as to
how to take the remedy.
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Homeopathic Potencies –
Taking the Remedies
Potencies of remedies –
Homeopathic potencies are designated by the combination
of a number and a letter, for example, 6X or 30C. The
number refers to the number of dilutions the tincture has
undergone within a series to prepare that remedy.
The letter refers to the proportions used in each dilution of
the series (the Roman numeral X means 10, and the Roman
numeral C means 100), as well as the number of
succussions the vial of solution undergoes in each
successive stage.
Depending on the issues being treated, the potency can
range from 6X or 12X to 6C or 30C. These potencies are
readily available. If the client is being treated by a trained
homeopath the potency could be 200C, 1M, 10M or even the
LM potencies.
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Homeopathic Potencies –
Taking the Remedies
What is in those remedies and how are they made?
Homeopathic remedies traditionally are derived from a wide variety of animal,
vegetable, mineral and chemical substances. Some of the examples of these
substances are:
Vegetables: Allium cepa (onion), Asparagus
Animal Products: Lac canium, Spongia
Minerals: Natrum muraticum (common salt), Ferrum metallicum (iron)
Chemicals: Arsenicum album, Calcaria carbonicum
They are made through a process of serial dilutions, where the original substance is
diluted in water and is 'succussed', meaning that it is energized by shaking the dilution.
The resultant remedy solution is then diluted and succussed again. This process is
done repeatedly, sometimes hundreds or thousands of times, resulting in an
extremely dilute and highly energetically potent remedy. By selecting a
remedy that closely matches the individual characteristics of a person,
a homeopath is able to stimulate a deep curative reaction.
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Homeopathic Potencies –
Taking the Remedies
How do Homeopathic remedies work ?
Many symptoms we experience are results of an under lying cause.
For example, pain, swelling, or redness could be results of an infection or of some
irritation. Homeopathic remedies stimulate the body's own healing power. Allopathic
medicines, those commonly used today, work by suppression which interferes in body's
process of healing. It can fail to remove the underlying cause.
Examples:
• Pain killers simply stop the message transmission to brain without removing the real
problem which is cause of the pain.
• Cough suppressants stop expulsion of phlegm.
Homeopathic remedies aid the body in healing itself of the underlying issue which is
producing the symptoms, thus completely resolving the underlying cause.
Homeopathic remedies are capable of stimulating the body to heal
without side effects.
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Homeopathic Potencies –
Taking the Remedies
Is Homeopathy safe ?
Homeopathy is indeed a safe modality. Although homeopathic medicines should not taken
un-prescribed, it is impossible to suffer a toxic overdose. Homeopathy is equally safe for
children, the elderly, seriously ill, even newly born babies.
Giving a dose of the wrong remedy does nothing because it is so dilute and unless it is
similar (homeopathic) to the disease the body has no susceptibility to it and therefore no
reaction. It is safe because the remedy is so dilute that there is no possibility of a toxic
reaction.
What ailments can be treated?
Homeopathy can be extremely beneficial to a vast range of physical and emotional problems.
In theory there is no limit to what conditions homeopathy could treat.
Examples include;
Asthma, eczema, sports injuries, arthritis, bedwetting, rosacea, menstrual pains, PMS,
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, gastric issues, allergies, fears, phobias, anxiety, emotional
problems, stress, hemorrhoids, ear aches, sciatica, acne, constipation.
Applications of
Homeopathy
The three levels of homeopathic therapy
Level 1: First Aid
Common First-aid ailments such as sprains and bruises, minor burns, poison
ivy, diaper rash and insect bites, teething pain, etc.
Level 2: Acute Homeopathy
Common acute health problems such as colds, flu, coughs, sprains, ear aches,
sensitive conditions such as pregnancy.
Level 3: Constitutional Homeopathy
The treatment of a person as a whole, including past and present symptoms.
When accurately implemented, homeopathic constitutional care
can elicit a profound healing response.
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Applications of
Homeopathy
What is the difference between an acute and a constitutional illness?
Acute illnesses are those that will eventually resolve without any medical supervision, such as
colds and teething. Chronic illnesses are more serious illnesses that require medical supervision,
Tuberculosis or Arthritis.
Here's a little more detail:
An Acute illness typically will "run its course" regardless of whether or not there is drug
intervention. Coughs, colds, teething, PMS, sleeplessness are all examples of such illnesses.
Usually, medicines for acute illnesses are regulated as OTC (over-the-counter) drugs.
A Chronic illness is one that requires medical supervision and is often a disease that has formed
over a long period of time. Examples of chronic illnesses are Kidney Disease and Diabetes.
Usually, medicines for chronic illnesses are regulated as Prescription Only.
Homeopathy is often used for treatment of both acute and chronic illnesses. As with
any disease, if a chronic illness is being treated using homeopathy, medical
diagnosis and monitoring is still required.
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Applications of
Homeopathy
What are some of the remedies and what are they used for?
Homeopathy is a modality which incorporates individualized application of remedies.
There is no one-sized-fits-all approach to homeopathic remedy selection. While two
people may have similar symptoms, they may not receive the same remedy.
Pulsatilla: Allergies, late onset of menses, diarrhea, morning sickness, sinusitis
Arnica Montana: Bruising, strains, sports injuries, blunt
trauma
Arsenicum Album: Food poisoning, anxiousness
Chamomilla: Teething pains, colic, painful menses
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Arnica Montana
Applications of
Homeopathy
More remedy uses:
Euphrasia: Conjunctivitis with irritating tears, stinging eyes,
eye strain
Euphrasia
Ferrum Phosphoricum: Nose bleeds, first stages of cold, low grade fever
Hypericum perforatum: Crushed fingers, sciatica, nerve pain after bug bite
Ledum palustre: Black eye, bug bites, puncture wounds
Magnesia phosphorica: Leg cramps, colic, sciatica, painful menses
Silicea: Splinters, boils, styes, ingrown toenails, brittle nails
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Applications of
Homeopathy
Are there side effects or risks associated with homeopathy?
Although the side effects and risks of homeopathic treatments are
not well researched outside of observational studies, some general
points can be made about the safety of these treatments:
• A systematic review found that homeopathic remedies in high dilution,
taken under the supervision of trained professionals, are generally
considered safe and unlikely to cause severe adverse reactions.
• Liquid homeopathic remedies may contain alcohol. The FDA allows
higher levels of alcohol in these remedies than it allows in conventional drugs. However, no adverse effects
from alcohol levels have been reported to the FDA.
• Aggravations can occur after taking a homeopathic remedy. Researchers have not found much evidence
of this reaction in clinical studies; however, aggravations subside without adverse effects.
• Homeopathic remedies are not known to interfere with conventional drugs; however, if you are considering
using homeopathic remedies, you should discuss this with your health care provider first.
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