Homeopathy-Like Cures Like

Homeopathy has a long history. Some of the documented uses of the homeopathic approach to wellness can be found in the works of Hippocrates(5th century BC). Many of his remedies included the homeopathic idea of like cures like(for allopathic aficionados, please consider the concept of vaccines in evaluating this homeopathic approach). The founder of the specific homeopathic system of medicine was Samuel Christian Hahnemann(1755-1843). While working as a physician, he wrote articles and books on medicine and chemistry. He, like Florence Nightingale, advocated improved public hygiene. In the late 1700's he gave up conventional medical work while continuing his writing career. In working on translations he came across remedies which were based on the like can cure like theory base. He became intrigued with this concept and experimented with various substances. As he continued his research, he felt he had discovered a system of medicine whereby the disease and remedy bring about similar symptoms which work to cancel out each other( similia similibus curentur). In A New Principle for Ascertaining the Curative Powers of Drugs and Some Examination of Previous

Principles(1796), Hahnemann described his new medical approach calling it "homeopathy"(homeo=similar and pathos=suffering) Generally, remedies can be divided into acute episodic(short bout of an illness) or constitutional(preventive based on body type or treatment of chronic illness). The method of prescription and the pattern of formulation of remedies are still under debate. Hahnemann began organized homeopathic remedy formulation. Because some of the healing substances found in nature were poisonous in an undiluted form, he experimented with methods of changing the potency to decrease the lethality. Surprisingly, he found the more dilute solutions had more effectiveness while having fewer side effects. He focused his remedies primarily on acute episodic treatments. As homeopathy gained in popularity, other providers developed additions to his theory. Dr. Constantine Hering(1800-1880), Dr. James Tyler Kent(1849-1916) and Dr. Richard Hughes(1836-1902) were three important figures in the area of theory development. Dr. Constantine Hering developed an order to the homeopathic pathophysiology with his Three Basic Laws of Cure. These laws state that: symptoms move from the top of the body downward; the symptoms move from the inside of the body outward; and disease moves from the most important organs to the least important organs. He also felt that the client experiences a cure in the reverse order of development of the symptoms. Dr. James Tyler Kent made the link between body type(with the temperament) and a proclivity toward certain disease developments. So he developed the concept of diagnosing a constitutional body type which then would require certain remedies for health maintenance. Dr. Richard Hughes focused his research on the potencies of the remedies. He emphasized treatment of only the physical symptoms and felt that lower potency remedies were much more effective and more easily tolerated by the body.

Although the theories of homeopathy provide debate and different approaches to client treatment, homeopathy is a safe and effective energy wellness technique for many people and many symptoms. In addition to remedies, homeopathic theory base includes diet, rest, activity, and energy balancing guidelines. Homeopathy is truly a complete approach to wellness.