The Origins of Homeopathy

Homeopathy works by treating a person as a whole, or holistically, so although presenting symptoms will be looked at, the individual person—his or her mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health—will also be taken into account. Homeopathy is based on the principle that “like cures like,” meaning the treatment given is similar in substance to the illness it is helping. Although it has roots that go back many centuries, it began in its present form a mere 200 years ago and today is popular as a safe and effective treatment of many problems.

The Origins of Homeopathy

It was the Greek physician Hippocrates, known as the “father of medicine” who, in the 5th century b.c.e., was the first to understand the principle of treating the body with a remedy which will produce similar symptoms to the ailment suffered. He also believed that symptoms specific to an individual, that person’s reactions to an ailment, and a person’s own powers of healing were important in diagnosing and choosing cure. On this basis, he built up his own medicine chest of homeopathic remedies. But it was the German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843) who first developed homeopathy as it is known and practiced today. A prominent physician, chemist, and author, Hahnemann had become increasingly disillusioned with the methods of treatment of the day. These included harsh practices such as blood-letting and purging, and large doses of medicines that were often more debilitating than the illness itself. Yet it was obvious these practices were not working—disease was rampant.

Hahnemann was one of the first physicians to advocate the improvement of poor hygiene, both in the home and in public places, and he stressed the importance of a good diet, fresh air, and higher standards of living for all. But disillusionment with the lack of response to his initiatives meant that he eventually decided to give up medical practice. In 1789 he moved to Leipzig, where he became a translator of medical texts. While translating one of these texts in 1790, A Treatise on Materia Medica, by Dr. William Cullen of London University, Hahnemann noticed an entry which was to set him on a path which would lead to the founding of homeopathic practice.

Cullen wrote that quinine (an extract of Peruvian bark) was an effective treatment for malaria because of its astringent qualities. As a chemist, Hahnemann knew quinine was effective against the disease, but doubted this was due to its astringency. He decided to explore this further and for days took doses of quinine himself and recorded his reactions. He found that he developed all the symptoms of malaria—palpitating heart, irregular pulse, drowsiness, and thirst—although he did not have the disease. Each time he took a new dose, the symptoms recurred. He speculated that it was the quinine’s ability to induce the malarial symptoms that made it effective as a treatment. To back up his theory, he gave doses of quinine to volunteers, whom he called “provings,” recorded their reactions, and found similar results.