Introduction
Homeopathy is non-toxic system of western medical science originated in Germany by Dr. Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (10 April 1755 Germany-1843 France) (the founder and father of homeopathy). He received his M.D. with honours in conventional medicine from University of Erlangen, Germany on 10 Aug 1779. He realised his own school of conventional medicine was not helping the patients and spent years researching on homeopathy. The term “homoeopathy” and “homeopathic” was first mentioned in a paper [24] in 1807.
How Homeopathy defines the health of an individual
Homeopathy is a most rational science with respect to its concepts of health, disease and cure. According to Homeopathy, health (and disease) is a dynamic entity. Signs of good health, apart from others, are mental clarity, emotional calm and refreshing sleep.
Health is not just merely an absence of disease but a state of equilibrium of the vital force that keeps the constitution of an individual in harmony.
Disease is not an entity. It is dynamic disposition (alteration) in harmony of constitution (due to dis-arrangement of vital force) not just the physio-chemical alteration of tissues.
Cure (-the single purpose and highest ideal of the medicine) is “the rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of health, or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, based on easily comprehensible principles” [18]. Cure means the recovery of the state of stability of physiological norms [19].
“The Physician’s high and only mission is to restore the sick to health, to cure, as it is termed”
-Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, Aphorism 1, Organon of Rational Art of Healing, 1819
Principles of Homeopathy Medicine
1. Principle of similars [21] (1796): Like cures like
[9] In 1790, he discovered principle of similar when he said, “Substances which arouse a kind of fever extinguish the types of intermittent fevers”. But the principle was published in 1796.
Disease can be cured by a medicinal substance given in nano doses that produces similar symptoms in health people when given in large doses. In simple words, the medicine can cure when given in nano doses what it can cause in large doses.
a. An onion is a substance which makes your eyes water and your nose burn. If you are having an attack of hay fever with watering eyes and a burning nose, a homeopathic remedy made from onion called allium cepacan relieve it.
b. Poison ivy causes redness, intense itching, burning, blistering and sometimes stiff muscles. Potentised poison ivy called as rhus tox (a homeopathy medicine) has been used for herpes, burns, eczema, allergy, arthritis, etc.
c. When you are stung by a bee you feel a burning, stinging pain and the tissues surrounding the area swell up. Some relief is gained from applying cold to the area. If you had swollen tonsils with burning and stinging pain relieved by cold, a homeopathic remedy prepared from the same source Apis Mellificia could cure.
d. Coffee keeps people awake and alert. A remedy prepared from coffee called coffea cruda in very small doses might be appropriate for helping someone with insomnia with an overly alert mind.
e. Eyebright causes a clear and bland nasal discharge along with tears that burn and irritate the skin under the eye. The homeopathy medicine Euphrasia prepared from eyebright cures it.
f. Quinine (derived form Cinchona bark) given in daily doses to a healthy person can cause symptoms similar to malaria. Indeed, the Cinchona Officinalis, a homeopathy medicine prepared from cinchona bark, is curative in many patients with malaria.
g. White Hellebore, in large doses, causes violent purging that leads to severe dehydration-symptoms similar to cholera. Veratrum Album, a homeopathy medicine prepared from White Hellebore is effective against cholera
h. Belladonna, a homeopathy medicine, is used o treat scarlet fever, since the symptoms of belladonna poisoning closely resemble those of scarlet fever
The idea/concept of ‘principle of similars’ had first been mentioned by Hippocrates, then by P.A. Paracelsus (1493-1541) , and later by others. The medical maxim of Hippocrates is being followed in homeopathy. Hippocrates said, “By similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like it is cured”.
g. White Hellebore, in large doses, causes violent purging that leads to severe dehydration-symptoms similar to cholera. Veratrum Album, a homeopathy medicine prepared from White Hellebore is effective against cholera
h. Belladonna, a homeopathy medicine, is used o treat scarlet fever, since the symptoms of belladonna poisoning closely resemble those of scarlet fever
The idea/concept of ‘principle of similars’ had first been mentioned by Hippocrates, then by P.A. Paracelsus (1493-1541) , and later by others. The medical maxim of Hippocrates is being followed in homeopathy. Hippocrates said, “By similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like it is cured”.
The application of the Principle of Similars is found in chemistry, and immunology. For example, a basic principle of solvent chemistry states that a substance will be a solvent to another substance when it has a similar type of molecular bond. It has to be either similarly polar or similarly apolar, and then like will dissolve like. Immunology applies the Principle of Similars to activate antibody responses with small doses of a similar substance that will evoke the allergic symptoms.
Principle of similar in conventional medicine
a. Ritalin is an amphetamine (psycho-stimulant, a substance that would normally cause hyperactivity) chemically identical to cocaine. Conventional medicine gives this "stimulant" to treat hyperactivity in children
b. Radiation to treat people with cancer (radiation causes cancer)
c. The vaccines in conventional medicine is derived from Principle of Similars with few differences
d. Anti-venom against snake bite prepared from snake venom
“Why would a patient swallow a poison because he is ill, or take that which would make a well man sick." L.F. Kebler, M.D.
Principle of similar in conventional medicine
a. Ritalin is an amphetamine (psycho-stimulant, a substance that would normally cause hyperactivity) chemically identical to cocaine. Conventional medicine gives this "stimulant" to treat hyperactivity in children
b. Radiation to treat people with cancer (radiation causes cancer)
c. The vaccines in conventional medicine is derived from Principle of Similars with few differences
d. Anti-venom against snake bite prepared from snake venom
“Why would a patient swallow a poison because he is ill, or take that which would make a well man sick." L.F. Kebler, M.D.
Preventive use of homeopathy (called homeo-prophylaxis) was first applied in 1799 during an epidemic of scarlet fever in Königslütter, Germany, when Dr. Hahnemann prescribed a single dose of Belladona, as the remedy of the epidemic genius to susceptible children in the town with 100% success [17].
3. Law of minimum dose (1801): Less is More
The medical maxim of Hippocrates is being followed in homeopathy. Hippocrates said, "First Do No Harm".
The medical maxim of Hippocrates is being followed in homeopathy. Hippocrates said, "First Do No Harm".
According to H. A. Roberts, the law of minimum dosage could be summarised from the fundamental Law of Least Action, formulated by Moreau de Maupertius, the French mathematician in 1744, which states: "The quantity of action necessary to affect any change in nature is the least possible; the decisive amount is always a minimum, an infinitesimal."
1799: In the "Apothecaries Lexicon" Hahnemann recommends Sabina "in very small doses" and Hyoscyamusalso "in very small doses according to my method one-sixtieth to one-thirtieth grain (2.16-1.08 mg) of the concentrated juice given in solution." [11]
1800: Hahnemann translated a "Treasure of Medicine or Collection of chosen Prescription" (Thesaurus Medicaminum) from English. In the preface, he wrote, "When it will be recognised, that the curing of maladies needs the perfectly appropriate medicine in less quantity-a simple formula and yet more correct"
1801: "Cure and prevention of scarlet fever", published in Journal of Practical Medicine, his discovery of the prophylactic properties of Belladonna in scarlet fever. His dose: 0.416 nanograms of Belladonna, to repeat the dose every 72 hrs. This is the first recorded nano dose of medicine used in treatment of any disease. Thus Hahnemann can be attributed as The Father of Nano Medicine.
§242. The counter-disease force (the remedy), chosen as appropriate as possible for the cure of the natural disease, should be made only strong enough to effect our purpose, and should not injure the body in the least by unnecessary strength. (Dudgeon 5th edition of the Organon, p. 220)
Since homeopathy is a nano-medicine and acts a dynamic level, smallest possible dose of medicine (the dose that is just greater in strength than the natural disease) is administered which is sufficient to stimulate the vitality and evoke a natural healing response to bring about the necessary curative change in a patient. This ensures there is no overdosing and no addiction. The smallest dose of the homeopathy medicine is: in case of dry dose is one pellet/globule; in case of wet dose is one drop, unless you go for divided doses. The minimum dose may be different for different people based on patient's sensitivity.
[12] The greater the sensitivity to a substance, the smaller the dose required. This smallness is to be optimal, that is, effectively the amount by which the medicine exceeds the strength of the disease. Only pure experiments, careful observation of the arousability of each patient, and correct experience can determine this in each particular case. Even where the amount of medicine seems large, it works to the extent that it exceeds in a slight amount the sensitivity of the organism.
Out of all homeopathic medicines, one that is similimum is a remedy.
Similimum, like disease, is dynamic. It modulates the energy inside the body. Similimum is one which is based on law of similars given in correct potency and minimum dose
Minimum dose of correctly selected remedy based on law of similars but incorrect potency is still homeopathic, however curative effect will be non-existent or less than what is anticipated or an aggravation
Similimum, like disease, is dynamic. It modulates the energy inside the body. Similimum is one which is based on law of similars given in correct potency and minimum dose
Minimum dose of correctly selected remedy based on law of similars but incorrect potency is still homeopathic, however curative effect will be non-existent or less than what is anticipated or an aggravation
Arndt-Schultz Law (1887) [16,22]
The law of minimum dose got verified by Arndt-Schultz law. This pharmacological principle was concurrently discovered by two separate researchers, Rudolf Arndt, a homeopath physician and Hugo Schultz (German), a conventional scientist.
The law of minimum dose got verified by Arndt-Schultz law. This pharmacological principle was concurrently discovered by two separate researchers, Rudolf Arndt, a homeopath physician and Hugo Schultz (German), a conventional scientist.
This law states that, "weak stimuli slightly accelerate the vital activity, medium-strong stimuli raise it, strong ones suppress it and very strong ones halt it”.
In simple words, 'Minimal (minute: below its toxicity threshold) doses (weak stimuli) of a drug stimulate (increases physiological activity), medium doses inhibit or suppress and large doses (strong stimuli) abolish/destroy cellular activity.' For example Schultz published examples such as very weak concentrations of iodine, bromine, mercuric chloride and arsenic acid will enhance the development of yeast (fungus), moderate dosages of these elements will suspend it and large dosages will kill it.
In other words, substances vary in action depending on whether the concentration is high, medium, or low. This is known as ‘bi-phase response’ i.e. every medicine has two action phases that depend upon dosage. Therefore, rather than the effectiveness of a medicine increasing with the increase of the dosage, research has consistently proven that very small dosages of a substance have the opposite result of larger ones. For example, it has been proven that the usual medical dosages of atropine inhibit the parasympathetic system and cause dryness in the pituitaries, while very small dosages cause increased secretions.
1896: Hueppe, a bacteriologist extended the findings to bacteria1943: Southam and Ehrlich coined the term 'hormesis' to describe this. Hormesis is an adaptive response that is induced by stimulation at low doses and inhibition at high doses. Hormesis ensures homeo-stasis is maintained.
1945: Miller et al. confirmed that at low doses penicillin actually stimulated the growth of Staphylococcus.
1945: Miller et al. confirmed that at low doses penicillin actually stimulated the growth of Staphylococcus.
More about relationship of homeopathy to hormesis athttp://www.siomi.it/siomifile/siomi_pdf/BELLE_newsletter.pdf
The idea/concept of ‘Arndt-Schultz law’ had first been mentioned by P.A. Paracelsus (1493-1541). He said, “All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous." He said, “It depends only on the dose whether a poison is poison or not”.
4. Potentisation (1801): Potentisation is a pharmaceutical process of preparing a homeopathy medicine. It involves preparation of a liquid base substance (called Mother Tincture) from adding the original drug substance in a hydro-alcoholic (double distilled de-mineralisd water-95% pure medicinal extra-neutral ethanol mixed in a particular ratio) solution or sugar of milk (lactose) if it is insoluble, successive serial dilution (makes drug chemically non-toxic) and succussion/trituration of the mixture after each dilution.
In some substances such as water, alcohol and sugar, because of their atomic and molecular structures, the formation probability of the free electrons, is relatively more. These materials are used as carrier substances of homeopathic remedies
Potentisation = Serial Dilution + SuccussionSuccussion is a very specific and carefully controlled process in which there is agitation by vigorous shaking (10 to 150 damped strokes, boiron does 150 times in 7.5 seconds) or turbulent motion resulting in vibrations or molecular friction. Molecules contained in the drug substance gets liberated themselves from their inter-molecular bonds and get ionized. These ionized drug molecules thus attains a full expression of their chemical and biological properties, and become more virulent than the tightly packed original molecules. Latent energy (negatively charged) in the form of electro-magnetic pattern (negatively charged electro-magnetic energy) is released into the diluent/diluting liquid which become charged. Succussion is the amplification of that energy. Formative intelligence of the medicine is imprinted on the carrier (water-ethanol mixture). The diluent liquid then carries the energy.
Potentisation potentises (activates) the properties of the physical/remedy substance and transfers them to the solvent at the subtest energy level. The end result is refined and absolutely safe remedy that contains the 'dynamic curative power' of the crude drug substance. The potentised medicines influence the biochemical processes and relieve the pathological molecular inhibitions. This enables it to affect the body therapeutically. Potentisation increases the range and depth (more readily absorbed into the body tissues) of curative action of a drug.
The more a substance has been potentised, the more collative medicinal powers it has. No chemical or physical trace of the original substance remains past 23X/12C (Avogadro limit) potency. Such potencies are called high dilutions (serial agitated ultra-molecular dilutions/dilutions beyond avogadro number). What remains is the energy imprint (code) which is hold in (the structure of) water.
The latest research says homeopathic medicine beyond 12C potency retains nano-grams of fine nano-particles of the original starting material
For metals which can not be diluted in water the method of pulverisation is used.
The latest research says homeopathic medicine beyond 12C potency retains nano-grams of fine nano-particles of the original starting material
For metals which can not be diluted in water the method of pulverisation is used.
The homeopathy potencies are prepared in three scales:
1. De-cimal (X or D)
2. Centi-cimal (C or CH),
3. Mille-cimal (LM or Q). LM potency is derived from 3C
These three scales are dilutions in multiple of 10, 100 and 50,0000 respectively.
Relationship between various scales dilution wise
2X = C (C is succussed more than X at same potency)
LM1 = 5.35 C (LM1 succussed considerably more than 6C)
LM3 = 10.35C (LM3 succussed considerably more than 12C)
LM30 = 63C (LM30 succussed considerably more than 30C)
7X is 10 times more diluted and 150 times more succussed than 6X.
The Potentisation problem
Video on How to prepare a remedy: Part-1 Part-II
1800: Hahnemann used Arsenicum in at least the 3C potency [11]
1801: In paper "Cure and prevention of scarlet fever", he mentioned the method to prepare potentised Belladonna
“we dissolve a grain of this powder ... in one hundred drops of common distilled water, by rubbing it up in a small mortar; we pour the thick solution into a one-ounce bottle, and rinse the mortar and the pestle with three hundred drops of diluted alcohol (five parts of water to one of spirit), and we then add this to the solution, and render the union perfect, by diligently shaking the liquid. We label the bottle strong solution of belladonna. One drop of this is intimately mixed with three hundred drops of diluted alcohol by shaking it for a minute, and this is marked medium solution of belladonna. Of this second mixture one drop is mixed with two hundred drops of the diluted alcohol, by shaking for a minute, and marked weak solution of belladonna; and this is our prophylactic remedy for scarlet-fever, each drop of which contains the twenty-four millionth part of a grain (0.0416 nanograms) of the dry belladonna juice.” (Lesser Writings, p. 380-381).
5. Law of simplex (Organon 1st edition, 1810): One single similar medicine for the patient
[23] In 1797 in his essay, "Are the obstacles to the attainment of simplicity and certainty in Practical Medicine insurmountable?" he wrote, "Is it good to mix various kinds of medicines in a prescription? He further asked, "How can medicine attain a higher degree of certainty, when the doctor seems intent only on allowing a number of miscellaneous forces to be exerted at the same time on a pathological state?. He further said, "May I be allowed to confess that for several years I have never prescribed more than one medicine at a time....May I be allowed to confess that, as a result, I have successfully cured patients to their satisfaction..."
[23] In 1800, Hahnemann translated a "Treasure of Medicine or Collection of chosen Prescription" (Thesaurus Medicaminum) from English. In the preface, he wrote, "When it will be recognised, that the curing of maladies needs the perfectly appropriate medicine in less quantity-a simple formula and yet more correct.....Does it not occur to you that wo dynamic agencies together can never effect that which each individually might administered at different times?.... Nature likes simplicity and can perform much with one remedy, while you perform little with many. Imitate nature!”
This is what Dr. Hahnemann has to say on Hippocrates, "It is the masterpiece of art to give the right medicine, not the most complex. Hippocrates chose the simplest. When will it be recognised that the cure of diseases is better affected by simpler but properly selected remedies?"
At any given time, only a single remedy (one remedy at a time) can be the exact similar to the presenting disease condition of the patient. A single remedy known as Genetic constitutional similimum [1] is chosen/selected/matched on the basis of its patho-genetic similarity to the patient's disease condition, his constitution, and wholistic approach (totality of the symptoms which includes physical, mental, and emotional aspects/symptoms) which treats different complaints of the same person.
(W)holistic: medicine for the patient not just for the disease
Dr. Hahnemann in 1813 in his essay entitled ‘Spirit of the Homoeopathic Doctrine of medicine’ said Man is a “biological whole”. No single part by itself represents the human being nor can manifest itself independently [from the others] [20].
Disease is the disturbance of the whole organism. The parts of the body do not independently get sick [5]. It is the whole person who is affected by the disease and it is the whole person who responds to the medicine [5] . Therefore homeopathy does not believe in giving different medicines for different afflicted parts of body (head, nose, ears, throat, etc) but rather give one single constitutional remedy, which will cover the disturbance (different complaints) of the whole (same) person. Thus one does not have to visit ten different specialists for his/her ten different body parts.
The concept of disease in homeopathy is that disease is a total affection of mind and body. Mind and body are dynamic and complex, with each part influencing the other and acting together. Neither mind nor body fall sick as separate units [7, pp.183]. Homeopathy is based on the fact that the person’s experience in emotional and mental (state of mind) life can not be separated from their physical complaints (body). Illness and physical problems can result in anxiety or emotional uneasiness. The opposite is also true. Most (not all) illnesses have their roots on mental plane. Very often mental troubles come first followed by physical complaints. Desire, anger, greed, pride, jealousy, suspicion, etc go on harassing and making our body also weaker and unable to resist diseases [7]. Prolonged emotional stress can cause physical problems, like upset stomach, difficulty in digesting foods, poor nutrient assimilation, weaker immune system, sleeplessness, etc. Emotions are closely related to endocrine glands and nerves. The mind/emotions have real power to influence over the working of the physical body. That’s why homeopathy medicine is excellent for psycho-somatic diseases such as Migraine, Asthma, Peptic ulcer, Allergy, Ulcerative colitis, etc.The medical maxim of Hippocrates and Plato is being followed in homeopathy. Hippocrates said, “It is more important to know the person who has the condition than it is to know the condition the person”. Plato said, "For the part can never be well, unless the whole is well".
Genetic constitutional Similimum[1]
Genetic code genome is responsible for what's going to constitute the make-up of a resulting individual. This code map is responsible for physical, mental and emotional symptoms, which are a result of both functional disorders and structural changes in the body.
1. Physical symptoms: Structure/built/looks, thermals such as tolerance to external factors like heat, cold, sun, wind, sound, light, peculiar symptoms such as inflammation without pain, etc Immunologists claim that the body has the capacity to “remember” every “assault” on the system that it has ever reacted to, and this process confirms that capacity [6]. Genetic code genome is responsible for what's going to constitute the make-up of a resulting individual. This code map is responsible for physical, mental and emotional symptoms, which are a result of both functional disorders and structural changes in the body.
2. Mental symptoms: state of mind, likes, dislikes, preferences, cravings, desires, aversions, thirst, appetite, temperament (reactions of mind to various external stimuli or circumstances)
3. Emotional Symptoms: Nature, behaviour, mood, emotions, sensitivity, reactions.
Constitution in homeopathy means a person’s state of health, including their temperament and any inherited and acquired characteristics. Environment (stress, shock, traumas producing changes in glands) modifies the constitution. When a homeopath physician during case taking takes all these above along with family history for prescribing a medicine, it becomes a genetic constitutional simillimum.
Individualisation: each person is unique/one size does not fit all.
Symptom X will always be cured by remedy Y no matter who the patient is. But no two patients can have same set of identical symptoms (physical+mental+emotional). Therefore two people suffering from the same disease are unlikely to be prescribed the same remedy and will come out to be different one. This is individualisation. No two individuals are alike in health or in disease. Thus homeopathy is not ready-made but tailor-made in terms of selection of remedy, potency (strength) and repetition to suit an individual. You can say homeopathy is a designer medicine.
6. Progress of cure in Chronic Diseases (The Chronic Diseases, 1828): It states that during the course of treatment the cure progresses from above (top of the body) downwards (bottom), from within outwards, center to periphery, from more important organ (wisdom of the body heals those most vital to life first) to less important one, in reverse order of coming of the symptoms (presenting symptoms disappear in the reverse order of their appearance i.e. First In Last Out, so old symptoms might resurface).
1845: Hering published in the preface of the first American edition of Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases an extract of an essay called "Guide to the Progressive Development of Homœopathy", a reference to the hahnemann's progress of cure.
1911: Kent in the first volume of the Transactions of the Society of Homœopathicians called "Correspondence of Organs, and the Direction of Cure" made a mistsake of reference of Hahnemann by Hering in 1945 as Hering's law.
More details here and here
To the list of Hahnemann, Dr. Praful Vijaykar adds a corollary: From more destructive miasm to less destructive i.e. from syphilis to sycosis to psora.
Immunologists claim that the body has the capacity to “remember” every “assault” on the system that it has ever reacted to, and this process confirms that capacity [6].
7. Theory of Miasms (Organon 4th edition, 1829):
Homeopaths have known since 1829 that there can be predispositions to illness, and that these can be passed on. Dr Samuel Hahnemann believed that living organisms were responsible for disease. He used the term ‘miasm’ for these organisms.
Dr. Hahnemann in 1829 (the modern light microscope was not invented then) said the cause/origin of diseases is miasm. Bacterial Infections (material) and disease tendency arising from these infections are called as miasms. Suppression is the stopping of any physiological activity or the stopping of visible signs of illness. Dr. Hahnemann was of the view that suppressing symptoms disables the organism’s innate healing mechanism and drives the disease deeper and so the patient develops a more chronic disease at a later stage. Therefore, the body should be stimulated to encourage its natural healing process.
Hahnemann identified three diseases which, if the symptoms were suppressed, led to other long-lasting (chronic) conditions and predispositions to illness. These three diseases he called:
1. Psora (Greek for itch) – the ‘itch’ disease arising from scabies. The one arising from Scabies was called Psora or non-venereal miasm Hahnemann had discovered that chronic maladies...had some connection with a previous outbreak of Psora (skin diseases).
He said, "The fact that this extremely ancient infecting agent has gradually passed, in some hundreds of generations, through many millions of human organisms and has thus attained an incredible development, renders it in some measure conceivable how it can now display such innumerable morbid forms in the great family of mankind." [2]
This was published 31 years before Darwin proposed his theory of evolution in On the Origin of Species
The other two were called venereal miasms as they arose from sexual conduct.
2. Syphilis – The one arising from Syphilis was called Syphilitic miasm
3. Sycosis (Greek for fig since this disease produces fig-like warts) – gonorrhoea. The one from Gonorrhea was called Sycotic miasm.
These miasms has to be neutralized and annihilated by a more powerful homeopathy medicine.
He said, "On board ships – in those confined spaces, filled with mouldy watery vapours, the cholera-miasm finds a favourable element for its multiplication, and grows into an enormously increased brood of those excessively minute, invisible, living creatures, so inimical to human life, of which the contagious matter of the cholera most probably consists millions of those miasmatic animated beings, which, at first developed on the broad marshy banks or the tepid Ganges– on board these ships, I say, this concentrated aggravated miasm kills several of the crew ... [8].
It was another 59 years (1890) before Koch saw these organisms, and later on orthodox medicine gave them the name ‘germs’.
Further advancements in theory of miasms
Facts and Figures about Homeopathy
Dr. Hahnemann in 1829 (the modern light microscope was not invented then) said the cause/origin of diseases is miasm. Bacterial Infections (material) and disease tendency arising from these infections are called as miasms. Suppression is the stopping of any physiological activity or the stopping of visible signs of illness. Dr. Hahnemann was of the view that suppressing symptoms disables the organism’s innate healing mechanism and drives the disease deeper and so the patient develops a more chronic disease at a later stage. Therefore, the body should be stimulated to encourage its natural healing process.
Hahnemann identified three diseases which, if the symptoms were suppressed, led to other long-lasting (chronic) conditions and predispositions to illness. These three diseases he called:
1. Psora (Greek for itch) – the ‘itch’ disease arising from scabies. The one arising from Scabies was called Psora or non-venereal miasm Hahnemann had discovered that chronic maladies...had some connection with a previous outbreak of Psora (skin diseases).
He said, "The fact that this extremely ancient infecting agent has gradually passed, in some hundreds of generations, through many millions of human organisms and has thus attained an incredible development, renders it in some measure conceivable how it can now display such innumerable morbid forms in the great family of mankind." [2]
This was published 31 years before Darwin proposed his theory of evolution in On the Origin of Species
The other two were called venereal miasms as they arose from sexual conduct.
2. Syphilis – The one arising from Syphilis was called Syphilitic miasm
3. Sycosis (Greek for fig since this disease produces fig-like warts) – gonorrhoea. The one from Gonorrhea was called Sycotic miasm.
These miasms has to be neutralized and annihilated by a more powerful homeopathy medicine.
He said, "On board ships – in those confined spaces, filled with mouldy watery vapours, the cholera-miasm finds a favourable element for its multiplication, and grows into an enormously increased brood of those excessively minute, invisible, living creatures, so inimical to human life, of which the contagious matter of the cholera most probably consists millions of those miasmatic animated beings, which, at first developed on the broad marshy banks or the tepid Ganges– on board these ships, I say, this concentrated aggravated miasm kills several of the crew ... [8].
It was another 59 years (1890) before Koch saw these organisms, and later on orthodox medicine gave them the name ‘germs’.
Further advancements in theory of miasms
The following 8 miasms have been added so far: Tubercular (J. H. Allen), Vaccinosis (James Compton Burnett), Cancer (Foubister), Malaria ( Rajan Sankaran), Ringworm ( R. Sankaran), Typhoid ( R. Sankaran), Leprosy (R. Sankaran), Smallpox
Conclusion: [3] The theory of miasms has three different aspects –
1. Genetic predisposition to acquire a disease inherited by parents
2. Acquired predisposition for chronic diseases – through a suppressed disease or use of allopathic / antipathic measures or other strong influences on the vital force like vaccination, strong emotional or mental shock
3. Diseases which when untreated or maltreated, lead to chronic disease syndromes related to natural progression of disease or lead to an increase in susceptibility for other diseases when immunity is low.
8. Doctrine of Vital Force (Organon 5th edition, 1833): Dr. Hahnemann in 1833 said that the cause/origin of disease may not be always a bacterial infection and disease tendencies arising from these infections. It could also be due to dynamic morbid derangement/disorder/vibratory dys-rhythm of non-material vital force. Vitalism is the metaphysical doctrine that living organisms possess a non-physical bio-energetic self-powered inner inborn force that gives them the property of life. i.e. it maintains the vital operations, sensation and functions in all parts of material body and regulates the body’s self-healing capabilities. Being invisible, and recognisable solely by its effect on the organism, it can express itself and reveal its un-tunement only by pathological manifestations in feeling and function in the form of symptoms. The internal (weepiness, irritability) and external (fever, rash, inflammation) symptoms of a disease reflect efforts of the vital force to seek a new equilibrium to sustain homeo-statis, so as to counter infection, or to resist damage from environmental toxins or from various stresses. Homeopathy attempts to strengthen/stimulate/repair this vital force so as to restore balance/order with the help of potentised remedies. The vital force is akin to: chi or qi (chinese medicine), prana (ayurveda medicine), ki (oriental medicine, japan), and energy (conventional medicine).
9. Dynamisation (Chronic Diseases, 2nd edition, pp. 156): “This slight change in the degree of dynamization is even affected, if the bottle which contains the solution of one or more pellets is merely shaken five or six times, every time before taking it.”
10. Diet & Regimen [4]
1792: Dr. Hahnemann advocated healthy accommodation for the sick.
1795: He advocated improvements in public hygiene measures
1841: He had identified the need for healthy housing and a healthy diet, including avoidance of excess use of sugar and salt.
Facts and Figures about Homeopathy
1779: Dr. Hahnemann awarded M.D. with honours in conventional medicine from University of Erlangen
1790: First Proving with Cinchona
1792: Dr. Hahnemann advocated healthy accommodation for the sick, before anyone else
1795: He advocated improvements in public hygiene measures, before anyone else
1796: Principle of Similars
1797: In one of his publication in Journalof practical Medicine, he distinguished between “dynamically” and “chemically” acting medicines [10]
1799: Homeo-prophylaxis introduced by Dr. Hahnemann
1801: Law of minimum dose
1801: Potentisation introduced
1807: The term 'homoeopathy' and 'homeopathic" was first published in Journal of Practical Medicine
1810: Organon 1st edition: Law of Simplex
1811: Materia Medica Pura introduced
1823: First homeopathy Journal (german): Dr. Johann Ernst Stapf's Archive for the Homoeopathic Medicine
1825: First homeopathic pharmacopeia by Carl Gottlob Caspari
1828: The chronic Diseases: their nature and homoeopathic treatment published
1829: Organon 4th edition: Theory of Miasms
1829: A Society was formed under the name - Society for the Promotion and Development of Homoeopathic Medicine with Hahnemann as its president. It was later called The Central Homoeopathic Union.
1832: First homeopathy repertory by Dr. Clemens von Bonninghausen ("The Repertory of the Anti-Psoric Remedies")
1833: Organon 5th edition: Doctrine of Vital Force, wet doses introduced
1833: Central Homoeopathic union was instrumental in establishing first Homoeopathic hospital in Germany
1833: First English translation of the Organon by Devrient and edited by Samuel Stratten in Dublin
1835: First Double-Blind Randomised Placebo Controlled Trial (DBRPCT) was conducted by a homeopath physician Johann Jacob Reuter
1838: Benoit Mure built the first potentisation machine
Late 1830s: Potencies prepared in De-cimal scale (X or D) introduced by Dr. Samuel Dubs, USA
1841: Dr. Hahnemann identified the need for healthy housing and a healthy diet, including avoidance of excess use of sugar and salt, before anyone else
1842: Organon 6th edition: introduced Mille-cimal (LM or Q) potency
1860: First homeopathy Journal (English): The North American Journal of Homeopathy
1881: Blood Pressure measuring instrument Sphygmo-graph was invented by a UK homeopath Robert Ellis Dudgeon
1887: Arndt-Schultz Law
Around 1900: Erhart and Karl used potentisation machine constructed by Kent. The first machine where succussion was done at each step and uses filtered water as opposed to tap water
1921: Organon 6th edition (German) published
1922: Organon 6th edition (English) published
1988: Memory of water (Dr. Jacques Benveniste, Ig Nobel laureater)
1994: Potentisation creates molecular clusters in water (G S Anagnostatos)
1999: Potentisation alters the properties of Water (Elia V, Niccoli M)
2001: Alcohol forms clusters with water (Wisniewski)
2005: Potentisation alters the structure of water (Dr. Rustom Roy)
2006: PPR Entanglement (Dr. Milogram)
2008: homeopathic medicines have stable and unique molecular structure with recognizable properties (Dr. Rustom Roy)
2009: Potentisation creates nano-structures (Dr. Luc Montagnier, Nobel laureate)
2010: Homeopathic medicine beyond 12C potency retains nano-grams of fine nano-particles of the original starting material (Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay)
1795: He advocated improvements in public hygiene measures, before anyone else
1796: Principle of Similars
1797: In one of his publication in Journalof practical Medicine, he distinguished between “dynamically” and “chemically” acting medicines [10]
1799: Homeo-prophylaxis introduced by Dr. Hahnemann
1801: Law of minimum dose
1801: Potentisation introduced
1807: The term 'homoeopathy' and 'homeopathic" was first published in Journal of Practical Medicine
1810: Organon 1st edition: Law of Simplex
1811: Materia Medica Pura introduced
1823: First homeopathy Journal (german): Dr. Johann Ernst Stapf's Archive for the Homoeopathic Medicine
1825: First homeopathic pharmacopeia by Carl Gottlob Caspari
1828: The chronic Diseases: their nature and homoeopathic treatment published
1829: Organon 4th edition: Theory of Miasms
1829: A Society was formed under the name - Society for the Promotion and Development of Homoeopathic Medicine with Hahnemann as its president. It was later called The Central Homoeopathic Union.
1832: First homeopathy repertory by Dr. Clemens von Bonninghausen ("The Repertory of the Anti-Psoric Remedies")
1833: Organon 5th edition: Doctrine of Vital Force, wet doses introduced
1833: Central Homoeopathic union was instrumental in establishing first Homoeopathic hospital in Germany
1833: First English translation of the Organon by Devrient and edited by Samuel Stratten in Dublin
1835: First Double-Blind Randomised Placebo Controlled Trial (DBRPCT) was conducted by a homeopath physician Johann Jacob Reuter
1838: Benoit Mure built the first potentisation machine
Late 1830s: Potencies prepared in De-cimal scale (X or D) introduced by Dr. Samuel Dubs, USA
1841: Dr. Hahnemann identified the need for healthy housing and a healthy diet, including avoidance of excess use of sugar and salt, before anyone else
1842: Organon 6th edition: introduced Mille-cimal (LM or Q) potency
1860: First homeopathy Journal (English): The North American Journal of Homeopathy
1881: Blood Pressure measuring instrument Sphygmo-graph was invented by a UK homeopath Robert Ellis Dudgeon
1887: Arndt-Schultz Law
Around 1900: Erhart and Karl used potentisation machine constructed by Kent. The first machine where succussion was done at each step and uses filtered water as opposed to tap water
1921: Organon 6th edition (German) published
1922: Organon 6th edition (English) published
1988: Memory of water (Dr. Jacques Benveniste, Ig Nobel laureater)
1994: Potentisation creates molecular clusters in water (G S Anagnostatos)
1999: Potentisation alters the properties of Water (Elia V, Niccoli M)
2001: Alcohol forms clusters with water (Wisniewski)
2005: Potentisation alters the structure of water (Dr. Rustom Roy)
2006: PPR Entanglement (Dr. Milogram)
2008: homeopathic medicines have stable and unique molecular structure with recognizable properties (Dr. Rustom Roy)
2009: Potentisation creates nano-structures (Dr. Luc Montagnier, Nobel laureate)
2010: Homeopathic medicine beyond 12C potency retains nano-grams of fine nano-particles of the original starting material (Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay)
The regulation of health care practice varies from one country to another. Undoubtedly, homeopathy is the medicine of the 21st century. As far as people demand quality multi-dimensional homeopathy health care, governments are obliged to provide. The patient/doctor relationship should be like that of a child/parent, full of care and trust.
References
[1] Dr. Praful Vijaykar, Predictive Homeopathy, Part II Theory of Acutes, download Book, FULL TEXT[2] Samuel Hahnemann, Organon of Medicine, Roy Publishing House, reproduced edition, Calcutta, 1972, § 181 pp. 160.
[3] Miasms in the modern world
[4] Homeopathic Firsts
[5] Dr. Dooley, Homeopathy: Beyond Flat Earth Medicine, download book, FULL TEXT
[6] Dr. Andrew Lockie, Encyclopedia of Homeopathy, Dorling Kindersley publisher, 2006 edition, pp. 19., download Book, FULL TEXT
[7] Dr. K N. Mathur, Principles of Prescribing, Book
[8] Samuel Hahnemann, Appeal to Thinking Philanthropists Respecting the Mode of Propagation of the Asiatic Cholera, Leipzig, 1831, translated by Roberet Ellis Dudgeon, M.D. in The Lesser Writings of Samuel Hahnemann, 1851 edition, B Jain Publishers, reproduced edition, 2002, p. 758.
[9] JMS Schmidt, Josef M. Die philosophischen Vorstellungen Samuel Hahnemanns bei der Begründung der Homöopathie (bis zum Organon der rationellen Heilkunde, 1810). München: Sonntag, p. 29, 1990.
[10] GKS Hahnemann, Samuel. Gesammelte kleine Schriften. Herausgegeben von Josef M. Schmidt und Daniel Kaiser. Heidelberg: Haug, 2001, p.265
[11] Samuel Hahnemann: his life and work, Richard Haehl, p..312 http://bit.ly/l5kSdz
[12] Historical Development of Dose and Potency, http://www.heilkunst.com/dose2.html
[16] http://www.similima.com/thesis32.html
[17] http://homeopathyplus.com.au/human-homeopathic-immunisation-records-studies-and-trials/
[18] Hahnemann S. Organon da arte de curar. 6th ed. São Paulo: Robe; 1996.
[19] http://www.feg.unesp.br/~ojs/index.php/ijhdr/article/view/296/363
[20] Luz HS. Racionalidade médicas: a medicina homeopática. Estudos em Saúde Coletiva 1993; 64: 1-36.
[21] “An essay on a new principle for ascertaining the curative powers of drugs & some examinations of the previous principle.”, Hufeland's Journal of Practical Medicine, 1796, volume-II, parts 3 & 4, pages 391-439 & 465-561.
[22] http://www.homeorizon.com/homeopathic-articles/homeopathic-researches/perfect-homeopathic-research
[23] Samuel Hahnemann: his life and work, Richard Haehl, pp.68-70 http://bit.ly/l5kSdz
[24]. Indications of the Homeopathic Employment of Medicines in Ordinary Practice, Journal of Practical Medicine, Vol. 26, Part 2, p. 5-43, 1807.
[3] Miasms in the modern world
[4] Homeopathic Firsts
[5] Dr. Dooley, Homeopathy: Beyond Flat Earth Medicine, download book, FULL TEXT
[6] Dr. Andrew Lockie, Encyclopedia of Homeopathy, Dorling Kindersley publisher, 2006 edition, pp. 19., download Book, FULL TEXT
[7] Dr. K N. Mathur, Principles of Prescribing, Book
[8] Samuel Hahnemann, Appeal to Thinking Philanthropists Respecting the Mode of Propagation of the Asiatic Cholera, Leipzig, 1831, translated by Roberet Ellis Dudgeon, M.D. in The Lesser Writings of Samuel Hahnemann, 1851 edition, B Jain Publishers, reproduced edition, 2002, p. 758.
[9] JMS Schmidt, Josef M. Die philosophischen Vorstellungen Samuel Hahnemanns bei der Begründung der Homöopathie (bis zum Organon der rationellen Heilkunde, 1810). München: Sonntag, p. 29, 1990.
[10] GKS Hahnemann, Samuel. Gesammelte kleine Schriften. Herausgegeben von Josef M. Schmidt und Daniel Kaiser. Heidelberg: Haug, 2001, p.265
[11] Samuel Hahnemann: his life and work, Richard Haehl, p..312 http://bit.ly/l5kSdz
[12] Historical Development of Dose and Potency, http://www.heilkunst.com/dose2.html
[16] http://www.similima.com/thesis32.html
[17] http://homeopathyplus.com.au/human-homeopathic-immunisation-records-studies-and-trials/
[18] Hahnemann S. Organon da arte de curar. 6th ed. São Paulo: Robe; 1996.
[19] http://www.feg.unesp.br/~ojs/index.php/ijhdr/article/view/296/363
[20] Luz HS. Racionalidade médicas: a medicina homeopática. Estudos em Saúde Coletiva 1993; 64: 1-36.
[21] “An essay on a new principle for ascertaining the curative powers of drugs & some examinations of the previous principle.”, Hufeland's Journal of Practical Medicine, 1796, volume-II, parts 3 & 4, pages 391-439 & 465-561.
[22] http://www.homeorizon.com/homeopathic-articles/homeopathic-researches/perfect-homeopathic-research
[23] Samuel Hahnemann: his life and work, Richard Haehl, pp.68-70 http://bit.ly/l5kSdz
[24]. Indications of the Homeopathic Employment of Medicines in Ordinary Practice, Journal of Practical Medicine, Vol. 26, Part 2, p. 5-43, 1807.
Author: Dr. Nancy Malik, BHMS, Homeopath Physician. Sector-23, Gurgaon, Haryana (India).
Source: knol
Artículo traducido al español
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