Homeopathy and its origins

Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine, first proposed by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. Homeopathy was born when the methods of cure such as applying leeches to remove "impure" blood, inducing vomiting and purging were more troublesome than the actual malady. Dr Hahnneman who was born in Germany on 10th April ,1755 a felt the need for a complete and gentle treatment instead of crude decoctions and lotions directed mainly against the temporary suppression of symptoms that was in vogue generally, during his times. The basic assumption of his proposition is " similia similibus curentor"

"Similia Similibus Curentur" which means " Let like be cured by like". A symptom or pattern of symptoms can be healed by a substance in nature that can cause those symptoms.

This means medicines that produce symptoms in a healthy individual also cure the same symptoms in a person with a disease.ie medicines cure like diseases. The system underlines the importance of curing the patient rather than the manifestations or outward symptoms. The condition as a whole, the persons attitudes his likes and dislikes, his responses to climatic conditions, movement, ameliorations and aggravations in times the day, temperament towards the people around him are all take into account to select a remedy. Medicines are not simply tagged with any particular disease like in other systems. Thus a particular drug may cure different diseases based on the totality of the symptoms. For e.g. Diarrhoea may have dozens of drugs while a drug like sulphur can cure a number of complaints.

While Hahnemann advocated using substances which produce symptoms similar to those of the disease being treated, he found that material doses would intensify the symptoms and exacerbate the condition, sometimes causing what amounted to dangerous toxic reactions. He therefore specified that the substances be diluted. Hahnemann believed that the process of succussion activated the vital energy of the diluted substance.

Homeopathic Medicines are administered in the shape of globules, tablets, tinctures and powders. The selection of potency based on the stage of disease, state of patient and stress on mental symptoms. After this the patient is watched for aggravations and ameliorations before second dose or second remedy