Homeopathy

Homeopathy is based on the concept that ‘Smilia similibus curantur’ which only confirms the ayurvedic theory that poison kills poison. Homeopathy created such a stir in Europe that many allopath’s abandoned their practice and started giving homeopathic medicines. At first, people thought that it was just a fad, but gradually they realised that this therapy had some solid basis. Those who came to scoff became its firm supporters. There is no doubt that it is quite an effective therapy that has performed many miraculous cures even in chronic diseases. But, like everything else in the world it has its limitations and at present it seems that its progress has been stalled and the pace of its development slackened.

The founder of this method of treatment was an allopathic doctor, Hahnemann obtained his M.D. degree in allopathy in 1779. In no time he became one of the most successful, renowned and affluent physician in Germany. But the man was restless. He was not satisfied with what he was doing. He felt that the method that he used for treatment of diseases suffered from a basic defect. It was certain that it suppressed the symptoms of the disease, but it give rise to new problems and ailments. In a letter to a friend, in 1784, Hahnemann wrote,” We are all shooting arrows in the dark. I am also doing it but I am not happy. We are also prescribing the same medicines which others have done. There is no time to think about these things.”

In this letter, Hahnemann further divulged that his faith in allopathy was shaken to a great extent when the medicines that he prescribed to his children, after his marriage, somehow did not suit them. He pondered over the matter. After all, why should a particular system of medication or medicines not suit some persons? What was the sense in treating a person by a particular method if the system did not suit him?

Homeopathy

Hahnemann did some experiments on himself. He found that some medicines produced symptoms of the disease itself. After experimenting with some 50 medicines, he came to the conclusion that the allopathy system was half baked in certain matters. In 1796, he propounded his theories in an article. He said, “Every potent medicine, produces symptoms of a new diseases in the human body. These symptoms are as potent as the medicine itself. As such, if symptoms are produced by some medicine to fight out a disease, the body shall be free of the disease itself. The symptoms should be under control.”

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, Founder of Homeopathy

Hahnemann wrote a book entitled “Organon of the Rational Art of Healing” based on his researches and findings. It raised a storm on publication. In the beginning, Hahnemann was able to convince the public and the administration about the efficacy of his system, nut later on, he had to leave his country and go to France. He died on July 2, 1843 in Paris due to exhaustion and hard work during the treatment of a patient. He was 64 at that time.

After his death, many of his disciples made some miraculous cures. The attention of the people was again diverted to this system as newspapers gave wide coverage to these cures. The net result was that homeopathy became subject matter of the study in the entire world. It became so popular in Great Britain at that time it became a sort of cottage industry in that country. Homeopathy came to India during the British rule. John martin Hein Berger was eminently successful in treating people by this method as a court physician of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Lahore. The vaidyas and hakims became jealous of his popularity and entered into a conspiracy to make him flee the court.

In India, a homeopathic was stared in Calcutta in the year 1851. It was established by Babu Rajan Datta with the help of French homeopath Dr. Toner. Many doctors learnt about homeopathy in this homeopathy in this hospital. Amongst them was Dr. Mahendra lal Sarkar, who played a significant part in popularising this system of medicine in India. Both Dr, Toner and Dr. Sarkar were renowned allopath’s. This somewhat facilitated their work the eminent social reformer, Ishear Chandre Vidyasagar, openly advocated the cause of homeopathy. His advocacy had the desired effect on people who started trusting this system. It is important that one should have faith in the system of medicine which is administered to him. The allopathic doctors did not like the growing popularity of homeopathy. They had Dr. Sarkar removed from the services of Calcutta University where he was teacher. He was accused of advocating doctors considered homeopathy nothing but an idiosyncratic idea. But, the general public took to this method and soon homeopathy became popular in the whole country during the forties. The government also gave it recognition.