Health Categories

 Acne
 Allergy
 Asthma
 Back Pains
 Bronchitis
 Cancer Treatments
 Colds Supplements
 Constipation
 Depression
 Diabetes
 Diarrhea
 Eczema
 Emphysema
 Endometriosis
 Erectile Dysfunction
 Fibroids
 Fibromyalgia
 Flatulence
 Flu
 Fungal Infection
 Gallstone
 Glaucoma
 Hay Fever
 Headache
 Heartburn
 Heart Disease
 Hemorrhoids
 Hepatitis
 High Blood Pressure
 High Cholesterol
 Hyperthyrodism
 Incontinence
 Indigestion
 Insomia
 Jet Lag
 Kidney Stones
 Lactose Intolerance
 Macular Degeneration
 Menopause
 Menstrual Cramps
 Migrain
 Muscle Soreness
 Nausea and Vomiting
 Osteoarthritis
 Osteoporosis
 Overweight
 Prostate Enlargement
 Psoriasis
 Raynaud's Syndrome
 Sinus Infection
 Smoking
 Stress
 Stroke
 Ulcers
 Urinary Tract Infection
 Varicose Veins
 Warts
 Wounds
 Yeast Infection

  Webmaster Resource
   About Us
   Contact Us
   Terms & Conditions
   Site Map

 
  Acne
  Asthma
  Cong Heart Failure
  Diabetes
  Headache
  High Blood Pressure
  Osteoporosis
 

History

Theory of disease

In Hahnemann's day, the conventional theory of disease was based on the four humours. Mainstream medicine focused on restoring the balance in the humours, either by attempting to remove an excess of a humour (by such methods as bloodletting and purging, laxatives, enemas and nauseous substances that made patients vomit) or by suppressing symptoms associated with the humours causing trouble, such as by lowering the body temperature of patients who were feverish. By contrast, Hahnemann promoted an immaterial, vitalistic view of disease: "...homeopathy...can easily convince...that the diseases of man are not caused by any substance, any acridity...any disease matter, but that they are solely spirit-like (dynamic) derangements of the spirit-like power (the vital principle) that animates the human body."

Vitalism was a part of mainstream science in the 18th century. In the twentieth century, medicine discarded vitalism in favour of the germ theory of disease, following the work of Louis Pasteur, Alexander Fleming, Joseph Lister and many others. Modern medicine sees bacteria and viruses as the causes of many diseases, but Kent, and some modern homeopaths regard them as effects, not causes, of disease. Others have adapted to the views of modern medicine by referring to disturbances in, and stimulation of, the immune system, rather than the vital force.

As previously stated, homeopathy stemmed in part from the idea of medical similars, the idea that 'like cures like' while Hahnemann was translating into German the Materia Medica (1789) of William Cullen, the so-called Scottish Hippocrates. On reading that Cinchona bark (which contains quinine) was effective because it was bitter, Hahnemann felt this implausible because other substances were as bitter but had no therapeutic value. To understand the effects of Cinchona bark, he decided to take it himself, and saw that his reactions were similar to the symptoms of the disease it was used to treat. At least one writer has suggested that Hahnemann was hypersensitive to quinine, and that he may have had an allergic reaction.

Yet, this proving experiment by Hahnemann was by no means unique, as others before him had tried the same approach, such as, for example, Anton von Störck (1731-1803), "in the 1760's, who advocated treatment by cautious use of poisons." Indeed, Hahnemann had studied briefly in Vienna (1777) where Störck eventually became head of the University. The proving idea had also been recommended by the great Swiss medical botanist, Albrecht von Haller, (1708-77), who Hahnemann hugely admired, and whose Materia Medica he translated in 1806. Therefore, it might be said, that the proving experiment came to Hahnemann from several previous sources.

For Hahnemann, the whole body and spirit was the focus of therapy, not just the localised disease. Hahnemann spent a lot of time with his patients, asking them not only about their symptoms or illness, but also about their daily lives. This gentle approach contrasted with the violent forms of heroic medicine common at the time, which included techniques such as bleeding as a matter of course.

Nearly as important as Hahnemann to the development of homeopathy was James Tyler Kent (1849 - 1921). Kent's influence in the USA was limited, but in the UK, his ideas became the homeopathic orthodoxy by the end of the First World War. His most important contribution may be his repertory, which is still used today. Kent's attempt to rescue an idealized pure homeopathy from what he saw as its degenerate mongrel forms was authoritarian, as he sought to re-emphasize the metaphysical and clinical aspects of Hahnemann's teachings, in particular:

insistence on the core doctrines of miasm and vital force;
emphasis on case totality rather than rote prescribing for 'named diseases'
emphasis on psychological symptoms (to supplement physical pathology) in prescribing; and
regular use of very high potencies.
Influenced by Swedenborgianism, Kent reputedly emphasized 'spiritual factors' as the root cause of disease.[55]

"...for it goes to the very primitive wrong of the human race, the very first sickness of the human race that is the spiritual sickness... which in turn laid the foundation for other diseases."

In the 1930s the popularity of homeopathy waned, especially in the USA and Europe, partly due to advances in conventional medicine and partly due to skepticism toward homeopathy, which led to the closure of virtually all medical schools teaching alternative medicine in the USA. Homeopathy in the West had a renaissance in the 1970s, largely because of George Vithoulkas, that continues to this day.

In the USA, homeopathic remedies are, like all health-care products, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the FDA treats homeopathic remedies very differently than conventional medicines. Homeopathic products do not have to be approved by the FDA before sale, they do not have to be proved to be either safe or effective, they do not have to be labeled with an expiration date, and they do not have to undergo finished product testing to verify contents and strength. Unlike conventional drugs, homeopathic remedies do not have to identify their active ingredients on the grounds that they have few or no active ingredients. In the USA, only homeopathic medicines that claim to treat self-limiting conditions may be sold over the counter; homeopathic medicines that claim to treat a serious disease can be sold only by prescription.

In Germany, about 6,000 physicians specialize in homeopathy. In 1978 homeopathy, anthroposophically extended medicine and herbalism, were recognized as "special forms of therapy", meaning that their medications are freed from the usual requirement of proving efficacy. Since January 1, 2004 homeopathic medications, with some exceptions, are no longer covered by the country's public health insurance.[80] Most private health insurers continue to cover homeopathy.

Switzerland In Switzerland, homeopathic medications were formerly covered by the basic health insurance system, if prescribed by a physician. This ended in June 2005.[81] The Swiss Government, after a 5-year trial, withdrew insurance coverage for homoeopathy and four other complementary treatments, claiming that they did not meet efficacy and cost-effectiveness criteria. This change applies only to compulsory insurance; homeopathy and other complementary medicine is covered by additional insurance, if the treatment is provided by a medical doctor.

The histories of homeopathy in many different countries, written in their own languages, are available at the Liga website

Sponsored Links: