The History of Homeopathy

History of homeopathy
The word homeopathy is derived from two Greek words that literally mean "similar suffering." The concept of homeopathy dates back to at least the 10th Century BC. Modern homeopathy is mostly based on the observations made by 18th Century German physician Samuel Hahnemann. He considered modern medical practices at the time to be barbaric and quit medicine to become a translator of scientific texts.

Hahnemann sought out more humane ways to heal and often experimented on himself. He came to believe that a disease represented an imbalance in the body's force (what is now called the immune system) and that a small stimulus was needed to restore the balance in the body's natural defenses. He also discovered the Law of Similars, which means "like is cured by like." This is basically the same principle behind the creation of modern vaccinations and some allergy medications; a small amount of the disease or substance that produces the symptoms will also cure or prevent the disease. Homeopathy looks for one substance that would cause the ill person's symptoms in a healthy person. Then that substance is administered in small doses to the ill person until they are better.

Hahnemann's work was continued by James Tyler Kent, who was a professor of anatomy at the American Medical College in St. Louis in the late 1880s. Kent's interest in homeopathic medicine was prompted by his wife's serious illness, which did not respond to any conventional forms of medicine at the time. Kent's homeopathic research became his life's work. He observed more than 64,000 symptoms and conducted provings on more than 650 materials.

Homeopathy is now the second-most-widely used system of medicine in the world. Homeopathy results can be rapid and permanent; it can even be taken by babies or pregnant women and can be taken alongside other medications without producing side effects. Homeopathy is based on mostly natural ingredients. It works in harmony with your immune system, unlike conventional medicines which suppress symptoms like cough and pain medications. Homeopathic remedies are non-addictive and it is holistic, treating the person and all the symptoms as one. Homeopathy is based on the "Law of Similars," which has been verified in experiments and in clinical studies throughout the past 200 years.

Homeopathy is commonly practiced in many countries worldwide, including India, Mexico, Russia, England and France. It was introduced to the United States in 1825. By the mid 1800s several medical colleges in the United States taught homeopathy. It was quite popular and used widely in the early 20th Century, though it gradually declined with the growth of conventional medicine. By 1910 only 15 colleges remained. In the 1940s there were no longer any courses being taught on homeopathy in the United States. The use of homeopathy has steadily been on the rise again since the 1980s, with retail sales of homeopathic products increasing about 25% per year since 1988.