Sir William Osler, the father of modern medicine, stated in 1919, “No individual has done better to the medical profession than Samuel Hahnemann, the father of Homeopathy” in Times magazine.

“Dr. Hahnemann had a brilliant mind and developed a method in which there is no limit to the human life to save. Late Dr. Hahnemann was a man of superior intellectual nerve and a mean of vast saving for human life. I bow myself in awe of his ability and the great humanitarian work, which he created.” stated Mahatma Gandhi, referring to the importance of homeopathy as a holistic form of treatment.

Dr Samuel Hahnemann discovered Homeopathy in 1796 in Germany. He was an allopath and had obtained his degree of M.D from University of Leipzig. But he was dissatisfied with the prevalent system of medicine. Being a master of dozens of languages, he started translating medical books. While translating William Cullens’ material medica, he came across a reference stating that if cinchona bark is given to a healthy person, it produces symptoms of malaria. On the contrary it was mentioned that cinchona bark is a good medicine for malaria. It means that if a medicine is given to a healthy person, it produces certain symptoms. If the same medicine is given to a diseased person having same symptoms it acts as a curative agent. Let Like be cured by likes! Similia Similibus Curentur!! This principle of treatment was also mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic literature under the name of “Samchikitsa”. We find the similar principle of treatment mentioned in Hippocratus writings. But it was in 1796, Homoeopathy, a branch of medicine based on this principle was developed and reached to masses.

CLASSICAL HOMOEOPATHY: HEALTH AND DISEASE

Man is governed by a triad called “vital force” which is formed by Mind, Soul and Body. Tomorrow science can form a human body in laboratory. But scientist cannot form and introduce mind and soul to the same. It means there is some energy in the body governing functions and maintaining equilibrium of the body. When this force is balanced, man experiences health.

When this vital force is deranged, the functions of the body go out of gear and man becomes diseased. It means that there is “something deranged” beyond the symptoms of the disease, patient’s examination findings and laboratory findings that has to be restored to health. The symptoms, examination and laboratory findings guide us in understanding that “something deranged”.

This was the philosophical concept of health and disease explained in Homoeopathy.

Let’s understand the same concept in the light of modern medicine.

There is Psycho-Neuro-endocrine axis in the body coordinating functions of the body.

• PSYCHO-MIND
• NEURO-NERVOUS SYSTEMS
• ENDOCRINE-GLAND SYSTEM OF BODY

These three systems of body coordinate with each other and different actions and reactions of body go smooth and man experiences health. (Concept of Homeostasis).

The derangement of this axis gives rise to different diseases. So, to cure diseases by its roots we must know this axis, the complete man; his mind and body functions; in health and in disease.

CLASSICAL HOMOEOPATHY: CONSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT

Classical Homoeopathy stresses to treat the man who is diseased rather that just treating the diseased part. No two human beings are similar in all aspects except uniovular twins. So, their diseases are also going to be different in some or other way. So, homoeopathy believes in treating diseases in the individualistic way.

The entire man, his nature, mind, temperament, his food, habitat, sleep, dreams, sexual life, menstrual history, his past illness and family illnesses etc are taken into consideration along with his disease(s) and the constitutional medicine is selected for him.

This medicine brings man’s appetite normal, induces sound sleep and clears his bowels. As his mind is also taken into consideration it brings a kind of calmness at general level. As the entire human being along with his diseases is considered in TOTALITY, it cures disease by all ideal means; by its roots, by rapid, gentle and permanent way in the shortest possible time.

As both mental and physical aspects of human being are taken into consideration, this is also called as Holistic mode of treatment.

CLASSICAL HOMOEOPATHY: SOME FACTS

• There are no dietary restrictions in classical homoeopathy. There are no restrictions on consumption of garlic, onions and even coffee, contrary to popular misconception. Dietary restrictions for that disease only are to be followed like reduced carbohydrate consumption in diabetes mellitus.
• There are no specific medicines in classical homoeopathy like “Arnica” for “knee pain”. We consider the peculiarities of disease along with the peculiarities of man having that disease for selection of the Homoeopathic medicine.
• “How can these small globules turn useful for my big disease?” is the frequent question arising in our mind. Homoeopathic medicines are prepared in a special way (Trituration’s and succussions) in which there is gradual quantitative reduction of the medicine but qualitative increase of the medicinal power of the substance having medicinal power. Thus, this medicine does not have any side effects.
• The ongoing allopathic medicines are to be continued while starting Homoeopathic medicines. They are to be tapered off gradually and carefully only after the constitutional medicine takes hold of the body. For that the detailed knowledge of disease and allopathic medicine is necessary.
• “Homoeopathic medicines act only in chronic, long-standing diseases only” is a great misconception about homoeopathy. Homoeopathic medicines are very useful in acute conditions too. The acute conditions like diarrhea, cold, fever can be controlled well with Homoeopathic medicines in the shortest possible duration. The intermittent fevers like typhoid, malaria can be cured well in the shortest possible time. Diseases like hepatitis, pneumonia can also be cured with classical Homoeopathic medicines.
• Disease diagnosis is very important in classical Homoeopathy. The different reasons thereof are as follows:
  1. To decide the prognosis of disease; to decide whether disease can be cured or just controlled or palliated, diagnosis is necessary.
  2. Homoeopathy classifies diseases into certain group i.e. miasms depending on which the regulation, frequency and potency of Homoeopathic medicine is decided. To understand this miasm of the case, disease diagnosis is important.
  3. For medico-legal purposes, disease diagnosis is important.
  4. For patient education which is the very important step in disease management disease diagnosis is necessary
  5. To decide other ancillary modes of treatment like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological counselling etc, disease diagnosis is necessary.
  6. To decide dietary and other restrictions, disease diagnosis is required.
  7. To determine the end point of the treatment, disease diagnosis is necessary.

As per the say “The best physician diagnoses his patient well; not only the disease”, a classical Homoeopath always tries to be the best physician.

Homoeopathic medicines are useful for all diseases from the pediatric to geriatric age. In the modern civilized era full of competition and stress classical homeopathy is the key to the mental and physical health!

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