What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine first defined by the German physician C.F. Samuel Hahnemann in the late 18th century. The word homeopathy comes from the Greek homoios (similar or like) and pathos (suffering or disease). Homeopathy is a system of alternative medicine founded on the principle “Similia Similibus Curantur” which means “like cures like." The choice of homeopathic medicine used to treat an illness must have the capability of producing similar symptoms of the disease in a healthy person.
Homeopathy is a vitalist philosophy in that it believes that diseases are caused by disturbances in a vital or life force. Hahnemann promoted a vitalistic view of how living organisms function, believing that diseases have spiritual, as well as, physical causes. In the 18th century, vitalism was part of mainstream science. In the twentieth century, with the development of microbiology, the germ theory of disease, and advances in chemistry, vitalism was discarded by modern, mainstream science and medicine.
Homeopathic philosophy claims illness occurs when a patients body, mind and/or emotions/spirit are out of balance. If the patients system is brought back into balance the symptoms of the disease (or imbalance) will resolve themselves. Both the physical and psychological state of a patient is considered when selecting a homeopathic remedy.
Hahnemann favored the use of single drugs given at extremely low concentrations. He advocated the dilution of remedies which came to be known as the Law of Minimum. The Law of Minimum advocates administering the smallest quantity of medicine that will produce the least possible excitation of the vital force and yet is still sufficient to effect the necessary beneficial change.
Homeopaths use a process called “dynamisation” or “potentisation” whereby the remedy is diluted with alcohol or water and then vigorously shaken. Homeopaths believe that “potentisation” activates the vital energy of the diluted substance and releases its energy. Homeopathic remedies are often diluted to the point where there are no molecules from the original solution left in the dose of the final remedy. Although homeopathy is unsupported by modern scientific research, homeopathic remedies are generally considered safe, with rare exceptions.
