Homoeopathy is a specialised system of
medicine for treating human beings and
animals, discovered by Dr. Samuel
Hahnemann on the basis of the simple
principle – Similia Similibus Curantur.
The word ‘ HOMOEOPATHY’ is derived from
the Greek word ‘Homoeos’ meaning ‘Like’ or
‘similar’ and ‘Pathos’ meaning ‘ Suffering’.
[Link] Hahnemann discovered
Homoeopathy in 1790 in Germany & officially
declared it in 1796.
After that homoeopathy spread throughout
Europe, America & Asia. Despite significant
oppression from the orthodox medical
profession, homoeopathy survived & even
succeed in the 1800’s & early 1900’s.
There were 22 homoeopathic medical schools
, more than a hundred homoeopathic
hospitals & over a thousand homoeopathic
pharmacies in the US.
Homo. Attracted support from many of the
most respected members of society.
Homoeopathy’s popularity amongst the
respected classes was also evident in Europe.
Statistics indicate that the [Link] homeopaths in
New York doubled every five years from 1829 to
1869.
Homo. Was also disproportionately popular
amongst woman, not only as patients, but as its
practitioners
The first women’s medical college in the world
was The Homoeopathic Boston Female Medical
College, founded in 1848. homoeopaths also
admitted women physicians into their national
organization considerably before orthodox
physicians did. Homeopaths admitted women
into the American Institute Of Homoeopathy in
1871.
Althoughhomo. Was particularly popular
among the educated & upper classes, it also
had a good reputation amongst the poor.
Some of this support , no doubt resulted
from the free homoeopathic dispensaries in
many cities.
However , probably the most important
reason that homo. Developed such a
immense popularity was its success in
treating of various infectious epidemic
diseases that raged throughout America &
Europe during the 1800’s.
The training of 19th century homeopaths
compared favorably to that of their orthodox
physician colleagues. Many homeopaths
attended orthodox medical schools.
Eventually , homeopaths developed their
own medical schools or maintained
departments of homoeopathy within other
medical schools.
University of Michigan, uni of Minnesota,
Hahnemann medical college & uni of lowa
were but some of the schools teaching
homoeopathy.
Homeopaths showed impressive scholarships
both in books & journals.
Homoeopathy’s popularity in United States
was obvious & deep seated.
It is quite remarkable in itself that
homoeopathy survived the incessant
(endless) & harsh attempts to destroy it.
After the turn of the century, however, the
AMA became increasingly effective in
suppressing homoeopathy. The AMA chose to
allow graduates of homoeopathic medical
schools to join the AMA as long as they
denounced homoeopathy or at least didn’t
practice it.
In1910 , The Carnegie Foundation issued the
famous/infamous Flexner Report.
The report was an evaluation of American
medical schools chaired by Abraham Flexner.
The report placed the highest value on those
medical schools that had a full time teaching
faculty & those schools that taught a
pathological & physio-chemical analysis of
the human body.
Homoeopathic colleges were faulted because
of their preference for employing professors
who were not simply teachers or researchers
but also in clinical practice, although
homoeopathic schools included many basic
science courses.
Asone might easily predict, homeopathic
colleges on the whole were given poor
ratings by the Flexner Report. As a result of
the report, only graduates of those schools
which received a high rating were allowed to
take medical licensing exams. There were 22
homo colleges in 1900, but only 2 remained
in 1923.
Although they offered better education on
these subjects, their homoeopathic training
suffered greatly. As a result, graduates from
these homoeopathic colleges were not able
to practice homoeopathy well.
Instead of individualizing medicines to a
person’s totality of symptoms, many
homeopaths began prescribing medicines
acco to disease categories. Consequences
from this type of care were predictably poor
results. Many homeopaths gave up
[Link].
There were other reasons for the sharp
decline of homoeopathy after the turn of the
century. Orthodox medicine was no longer as
barbaric ( horrible) as it was in the 1800’s. &
because of this , it didn’t drive as many
patients away.
Orthodox physicians also began incorporating
several homeopathic medicines into their
practice. Although they didn’t prescribe the
same small doses as the homeopaths.
Another factor in the decline of
homoeopathy was its economic viability (
ability to continue). Good homeopathic
practice required individualization of the
patients which demanded more time than
orthodox physicians gave to their patients.
The fact that physicians in the 20th century
could make more money practicing orthodox
medicine is a a significant factor that led to
homoeopathy decline.
Along with the various external factors that
hindered homoeopathy’s growth, there were
problems amongst homeopaths themselves.
Disagreement within homeopathy has a long
tradition.
The most famous homeopath in the US were
primarily Hahnemannians. However, the
majority of homeopaths practicing in this
country didn’t prescribe their medicines on
the basis of the totality of symptoms, but
primarily according to the chief complaint.
These homeopaths prescribed medicines for
specific diseases, & sometimes they
prescribed one medicine for the person’s
headache, another for the digestive disorder
& another for the skin problem.
Hahnemann & his followers were particularly
adamant about the use of only one medicine
at a time, & Hahnemann referred to those
practitioners who used more than a single
medicine as ‘pseudo-homeopaths’.
After Hahnemann’s death, a vast majority of
Hahnemannian homeopaths adopted higher
potencies. The high & low potency schools of
thought developed separate organisations,
hospitals & journals.
By 1950, all the homo colleges in the US
were either closed or no longer teaching
homoeopathy.
And yet, it is hard to suppress the truth.
Homeopathy has risen again, & this time,
history will be rewritten.
Homeopaths throughout the world
experienced varying degrees of opposition
from orthodox physicians, but not anywhere
near the systematic or intense attacks as
those beset(bother) upon them by American
doctors. When homeopaths have been given
a relatively free environment to practice,
homo has been able to grow & flourish.
Atpresent, in India the [Link] homeopathic
medical colleges & no. of homeopathic
practitioners are highest in the world. Now a
days, homoeopathy is flourishing significantly
throughout the world.