Some Homeopathic Historical Details
About Samuel Hahnemann, the Founder of Homeopathy
Samuel Hahnemann qualified as a physician in 1779 but eventually ceased
to practice as a doctor because of what he saw as the barbaric medical
practices of his day - which included bloodletting and the overuse of
toxic substances in the treatment of various diseases.
A brilliant linguist and chemist, he subsequently earned a living from
translating medical textbooks and was interested by a reference in a
medical textbook by Cullen. It was about the use of China (Peruvian
bark or quinine) as a cure for malaria.
Intrigued to know why China worked, he took doses of the china until he
himself began to exhibit malarial symptoms. He stopped taking the China
and the symptoms went away.
From this he deduced that the ancient principle of 'like cures like'
actually worked.
His next step was to see if there were safe levels at which toxic
substances could be given - and still cure the type of symptoms that
they might otherwise cause.
His experiments with dilution led him to discover that the more a
substance was diluted, the more potent it appeared to become, yet it
lost the ability to create side effects and suppression of symptoms.
Of course, once Hahnemann published or started lecturing on his results
there were many individuals and groups who opposed it. The apothecaries
were one such group- they had a lot invested in the toxic substances
used at the time.
One of the most important aspects of Hahnemann’s work was not only the
introduction of the idea or law of similar curing similar, but a
comprehensive overview of how chronic disease starts and how to
effectively cure it. He actually predicted that many of the medications
of our time, for example, analgesics could suppress disease to deeper
organs like the heart.
In the case of analgesics, it is from the joints to the heart.
He set some basic concepts that practically speaking, help homeopaths
to know that the overall well-being of the person is improving along
with the specific symptoms. Over time, the homeopathic profession has
evolved a refined method of evaluating the effects of any therapy on
the individual, these being called the “Laws of Cure”.
Despite hardships encountered in some countries, Hahnemann ended his
days as a renowned and very busy practitioner in Paris, working into
his eighties. His grave is at the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, where
there is a large monument to him and to his discovery of Homeopathy.
There is also a bronze statue of Hahnemann dedicated in Washington D.
C. by President McKinley, a supporter of homeopathy and guest of honor at the
ceremony, on June 21, 1900. It is one of two U.S. national monuments to a doctor.
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Homeopathy's Success, Defeat and Resurgence
Homeopathy successfully spread throughout the world and arrived in
Canada and the United States in the 1800’s. Many hospitals in both the
United States and Canada were solely homeopathic.
As Hahnemann had his early detractors and apothecary opponents, so did
homeopathy in North America. The well funded American Medical
Association
was specifically created to fight homeopathy with the support of the
new pharmaceutical industry. The AMA became the largest political
lobbying group in the United States and succeeded in stopping
homeopathy.
In Canada Homeopathy met a similar fate:
A separate homeopathic
board of examiners, empowered to license homeopathic practitioners in
Canada West, was established in 1859 [222 Vic., c. 47 (Canada)]. The
law was repealed in 169 upon passage of a new medical act [32 Vic., c.
45 (Ontario)], and homeopaths were given representation on the Council
of the newly-created College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. By
amendment in 1874 homeopathic applicants were granted the right to be
examined .
In 1932 homeopathic representation on the council was reduced from five
to one and in 1960 was abolished altogether, although the other special
provisions concerning homeopathic applicants remained in force.
-From Canadian Medicine, A Study in Restricted Entry by Ronald Hamowy
In the 1970's, homeopathy had a
dramatic resurgence and continues to grow. Throughout the world, the
majority of practitioners are not licensed medical doctors but
registered homeopathic practitioners. At the same time, homeopathy has
adherents and practitioners from many different medical professions.
HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITALS FROM THE 1800'S AND EARLY 1900'S
PICTURE GALLERY
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