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Natural Health News Articles
| Posted: 27th July 2004 |
| History of Homeopathy |
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Homeopathy (also spelled homśopathy / homoeopathy) comes from the Greek words homoios (similar) and pathos (suffering)
The founder of homeopathy was Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), who formulated the ‘principle of similarity’, which states that a given substance can cure in a diseased person the symptoms that it produces or causes in a healthy personIt is a well-described, scientifically based system of approaching health and disease.
Homeopathy is based on the theory that each naturally occurring element, plant, and mineral compound will, when ingested or applied, result in certain symptoms. By diluting these substances in a standardized manner, one reaches the true essence of that substance. Hahnemann described this process of dilution as "potentizing" the substance. These dilute amounts are then used to treat the very symptoms they were known to produce.
Hahnemann and his students approached their treatments in a holistic way, meaning that the whole of the body and spirit is dealt with, not just the localised disease. Hahnemann himself spent extended periods of time with his patients, asking them questions that dealt not only with their particular symptoms or illness, but also with the details of their daily lives. It is also suggested that the gentle approach of homeopathy was a reaction to the violent forms of medicine of the day, which included techniques such as bleeding as a matter of course.
Homeopathy teaches that symptoms are to be encouraged, by prescribing a "remedy" in minuscule doses that in large doses would produce the same symptoms seen in the patient. These remedies are intended to stimulate the immune system, helping to cure the illness |
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