 |
Principles of Homeopathy
Three Principles of Homeopathy
Homeopathy is based on the philosophy that “like cures like” - i.e. a substance that produces certain symptoms when taken in large doses will actually treat those very symptoms when given in small amounts. This principle has been known since the 5th Century, but has not developed seriously until Dr Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, chemist and scholar first began to experiment in the late 18th Century.
Appalled by existing medical practices of the day which often did more harm than good, he began experimenting with various substances to see how they affected the healthy body. His first experiment involved the use of Cinchona bark.
When he first took the bark, it caused symptoms similar to those of malaria; sweating, shivering and fever, but when he gave it to patient suffering malaria, it relieved the symptoms. His findings led to his first principle of homeopathy:
• I. A medicine in large doses produces the symptoms of a disease will, in small doses, cure that disease.
The results were less than satisfactory, due to a high incidence of side-effects. So Hahnemann then decided to dilute each remedy until all side effects disappeared. It was then he discovered something quite curious, which still defies rational explanation today- the more diluted the remedy, the more profound its effect became. This observation gave rise to his second principle:
• II. By extreme dilution, a medicines curative properties are enhanced, and all the poisonous or undesirable side-effects are lost.
Hahnemann soon came to the conclusion that homeopathy treated the whole person – not just one particular disease – and a homeopath is likely to treat a similar disorder in two different people with two different remedies. This became his third principle:
• III. Homeopathic medicines are prescribed individually by study of the whole person, according to basic temperament and responses.
The three principles of homeopathy are straightforward enough – but they do differ from those of conventional medicine. This guide is intended to help those with limited experience become a little more confident and knowledgeable when making decisions and recommendations on which homeopathic remedy to prescribe.
Homeopathy is based on the philosophy that “like cures like” - i.e. a substance that produces certain symptoms when taken in large doses will actually treat those very symptoms when given in small amounts. This principle has been known since the 5th Century, but has not developed seriously until Dr Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, chemist and scholar first began to experiment in the late 18th Century.
Appalled by existing medical practices of the day which often did more harm than good, he began experimenting with various substances to see how they affected the healthy body. His first experiment involved the use of Cinchona bark.
When he first took the bark, it caused symptoms similar to those of malaria; sweating, shivering and fever, but when he gave it to patient suffering malaria, it relieved the symptoms. His findings led to his first principle of homeopathy:
• I. A medicine in large doses produces the symptoms of a disease will, in small doses, cure that disease.
The results were less than satisfactory, due to a high incidence of side-effects. So Hahnemann then decided to dilute each remedy until all side effects disappeared. It was then he discovered something quite curious, which still defies rational explanation today- the more diluted the remedy, the more profound its effect became. This observation gave rise to his second principle:
• II. By extreme dilution, a medicines curative properties are enhanced, and all the poisonous or undesirable side-effects are lost.
Hahnemann soon came to the conclusion that homeopathy treated the whole person – not just one particular disease – and a homeopath is likely to treat a similar disorder in two different people with two different remedies. This became his third principle:
• III. Homeopathic medicines are prescribed individually by study of the whole person, according to basic temperament and responses.
The three principles of homeopathy are straightforward enough – but they do differ from those of conventional medicine. This guide is intended to help those with limited experience become a little more confident and knowledgeable when making decisions and recommendations on which homeopathic remedy to prescribe.
