German Physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (10th April 1755 – 2nd July 1843) discovered homoeopathy.
A branch of medicine, Homoeopathy is a ‘Science’ as well as an ‘Art’. The word ‘Homoeopathy’ is derived from Greek words ‘Homoeo’ meaning ‘similars’ and ‘Pathos’ meaning ‘Suffering’. Homoeopathy as a healing art is in existence over 200 years. It is based on simple law – “Similia Similibus Curentur”. i.e. Like Cures Likes. To explain it in simplified manner – a medicinal substance capable of producing certain set of signs and symptoms in a healthy human being is prescribed to a patient having similar set of signs and symptoms.
All homoeopathic medicines are proved on Healthy Human Beings. ‘Drug Proving’ as it is called is done in a highly scientific manner. The most striking feature being, it is done on Healthy human beings, unlike allopathy where Drug Experimentation is done on Animals. Medicinal substance which is to be proved is administered in a potentised form to a group of healthy human beings and all sings and symptoms produced / experienced by them are noted down meticulously. This includes changes observed by the prover at the level of mind and body. When a homoeopath notices a set of signs and symptoms in a patient very similar to those produced in provings then that particular medicine is prescribed. Every proved drug with its signs and symptoms is registered in the book called ‘Materia Medica’.
Source: Homoeopathic medicine is prepared from all kinds of substances coming from all 3 kingdoms i.e. Animal, Plant and Mineral. One Materia medica is rich with such well proved medicines ranging from one prepared from common salt to the snake poison. The Unique feature of homoepathic medicines lies in its method of preparation called ‘potentisation’. It is a scientific method of dilution and shaking of medicinal substance with neutral non-medicinal medium such as pure alcohol and/or ‘sugar of milk’ (prepared from Goat’s milk). As a result of potentisation ‘medicinal power’ of the substance is released but due to high dilution e.g. 1: 100,00,000, no physical / material presence of substance can be detected.
Homoeopathy works on the principle of ‘Individualisation’. You are unique in this whole word. There is nobody like you on this earth. In short you are an Individual. As Homoeopathy takes care of you as a Whole – in Mind and Body, a Homoeopath tries to find out how are you Different from others? In other words what is so Striking, Singular, Uncommon & peculiar about you that Characterises you as an individual? This includes mental as well as physical signs and symptoms characterizing you as a person.
So if there are 10 patients with a similar complain of constipation, each of them will receive different homoeopathic medicine depending on their characteristic signs and symptoms. In short, the name of the disease (diagnosis) is not the guiding and conclusive factor in the selection of Homoeopathic medicine.
Homoeopathic medicines are very deep acting medicines curing wide range of diseases from common cold to hypertension to various neurological disorders (epilepsy, paralysis, Parkinson’s etc.) These medicines act by stimulating the Vital Force(which is the Governing Principle) and aiding to heal itself.
It is absolutely not advisable to do self-medication, as Homoeopathy is a science that works on certain principles. It requires skill to understand and master this art of Individualisation and practice it. Wrongly taken medicine especially in large doses can cause unnecessary disharmony and suffering of a being. But in the hands of skillful Homoeopath this healing art can take care of you in the most rapid and gentle manner resulting into a permanent cure.
Dr. Constantine Hering (M.D)
Dr. Constantine Hering (1800-1880) is called the ‘Father of Homoeopathy’ in America. His conversion to Homoeopathy is very interesting.
He joined the University of Leipzig, where he was the favorite pupil of the eminent surgeon, Dr. Robbi. Dr. Robbi was a critic of Hahnemann and like other physicians used to ridicule homoeopathy and Hahnemann. In 1821, he was requested to write a book against homoeopathy, a book that would quite finish the system. While going through Hahnemann’s works for the sake of making quotations, be came across the famous “nota bene for my reviewers” which said among other things, “The doctrine appeals not only chiefly, but solely, to the verdict of experience – ‘repeat the experiment’, it cries aloud ‘repeat them carefully and accurately and you will find the doctrine confirmed at every step’ – and it does what no medical doctrine, no system of physic, no so-called therapeutics ever did or could do, it insists upon being judged by the result.”
Dr. Hering decided to accept the challenge. He
repeated the cinchona experiment. The result was what Hahnemann
had predicted. Hering began to see truth in homoeopathy.
In the winter of 1824, an incident occurred which had the effect of unshakable
faith in homoeopathy on Dr. Hering. His right hand forefinger was
cut while dissecting a dead body. The wound rapidly because gangrenous.
In those days such wounds were mostly fatal and routine orthodox medicines
had no effect. Luckily, a disciple of Hahnemann, named Kummer persuaded
him to take homoeopathic treatment. He gave him few doses of Arsenic-alb
and the gangrene completely healed. Hering was surprised and got
really interested in homoeopathy.
He established a Homoeopathic school at Allentown, Pennsylvania.
It is in the sphere of drug provings that Hering’s daring shows at its best. He proved 72 drugs including the invaluable Lachesis Trigonocephalus from South America, the snake with whose poison he had made the first provings of his Lachesis.
Note:
Dr. Herring never enunciated the ‘Law of Directions of Cure’ known popularly as ‘Hering’s Law’. As a matter of re-search we have checked into every source available to us. We urge every sincere and conscientious student of homoeopathy to look into this and if any body is able to trace the missing link kindly mail us the details at chrc@mtnl.net.in
Dr. Carl Von Boenninghausen (1785-1864)
Dr. Boenninghausen belonged to one of the oldest nobility of Westphalia, Germany. A lawyer by profession he held very respectable and responsible posts in Germany.
He turned a homoeopath on account of his personal experience. During the prime of his life he was attached by pulmonary tuberculosis. When he did not find any relief from the best orthodox treatment, he wrote a letter to his friend Dr. A. Weihe expressing his hopelessness for life and bidding him his last good-by. Incidentally, Dr. A. Weihe was a homoeopath and asked Boenninghausen to try homoeopathic treatment. Fortunately for Boenninghausen and for homoeopathy, Dr. Weihe cured him.
Dr. Boenninghausen was greatly impressed and got interested
in homoeopathy. He was in regular correspondence with Dr. Hahnemann.
Task allotted to him by Dr. Hahnemann was to prepare a repertory to make
it easy and quick to choose the correct Homoeopathic remedy. It
was very difficult and time consuming to select the similimum from the
vast Materia medica, hence the idea of Refectory was the only answer,
Dr. Hahnemann used the Repertory and found it very handy and useful.
On account of solving this great problem of homoeopathy, Dr. Boenninghausen
is regarded as a Pillar of Homoeopathy.