Homeopathy is a system of medicine like Ayurveda, or the medications by the grannies of ester years, and Unani etc. These medications were on the basis of the experiments and experiences of people, gathered during generations. Though these systems were confirming to the natural principles, no scientifically written or other documents were made available by those who practiced medicines. The knowledge and experience were passed on from generation to the next generation by word of mouth or apprenticeship.
These systems in all over the world were using natural substances, mainly from plants, animals & minerals, to prepare medicines. The original systems of medicine were becoming difficult to practice, as there were no documents available for the posterity, to refer upon. Hence these systems had Gradual decline. In their place Allopathic system (the so called modern medical system) came up on the basis of experiments on dumb animals like rats and pigs. Subsequently the Pharmaceutical companies monopolized the production of medicines and took over the experiments in the name of researches. Now the dominant medical system, including that of medical education is in the clutches of the multi-national pharmaceutical giants, who want the medical system to go only as per their dictates. Since this system, though gives relief, is having the problem of serious consequential side effects, many of the prominent practitioners were disillusioned with the system.
The basic principle of Homeopathy as a system of medicine was recognized in Greece by the physician, Hippocrates (460-350 B.C) (on whose name the allopaths take their oath) who is regarded as the Father of Medicine. In fact he is the actual founder of both the homeopathic and Allopathic system of medicine. He wrote: "By similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like, it is cured". Hippocrates recognized the natural ability of the body to cure itself, and wrote that medical treatment is aimed at: "Removing the impediments to people getting better". He expressed the symptoms of a disease as the expression of nature's healing process going on in the system.
Next only to Hippocrates, was another Greek physician, Galen (130 - 200 AD. He wrote of natural cure by the likes. He was recognized as an authority in medicine for more than 1,000 years. However, there was not much progress made during this period. During the 15th century Dr Theophastus Von Bombast - a Swiss physician stated that sames must be cured by sames. He also believed that every diseased organ had its corresponding remedy in nature.
One of the persons, dissatisfied with Allopathic system, was Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann a German Allopathic Doctor of prominence of his time. Homeopathy system was founded by him. He was born on the 10th April, 1755. Hahnemann was dissatisfied with Allopathic system, as he was finding that the patients who after treatment are getting relief, have to come back for further treatment for the same illness with higher intensity or other consequent diseases. He left the practice of medicine and joined the Government service as a translator. He knew several languages. His assignment was to translate medical literature. This gave him an opportunity to know the practices prevalent in different countries, for the period for which medical literature was available. During the course, he came across the principle "Similia Similibus Curentur" i.e. like cure like'. He experimented the principle with Cinchona (the bark of a Peruvian tree) which was being used for malaria at that time. He found that by his taking this substance, he was getting symptoms similar to malaria fever. On stopping his taking the substance, the symptoms started disappearing. This was repeated several times and on all occasions the same phenomena was observed. Then he started experimenting with more and more such substances on himself and the healthy volunteers who were his followers. On the basis of the findings, he started publishing his theory on homeopathy.
However, any change in the established practice will not only accepted easily, and also there will will be all sorts of impediments put by those who are likely to be affected by the change. This is exactly what is happening to homeopathy also. I am sure that homeopathy being a very good scientific system of medicine, it will come to the fore front in the days to come.
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