Homeopathy: A History & Quick Guide

Homeopathy is a safe, effective and holistic system of medicine which is gentle and non-toxic, yet often provides profound healing effects. Homeopathy treats the whole person, affecting mind, body and emotions. The medicines are made from herbs, minerals and other natural sources in serial dilutions, and are recognized and approved by the FDA.

The homeopathic medicines, also known as remedies, are selected according to the person's overall make up and not just their primary symptoms. For instance, 10 different patients with asthma will likely be prescribed 10 different remedies based on the individual's mental, emotional, and physical characteristics, as well as the specific presentation of their asthma.

Developed over 200 years ago, Homeopathy has gained popularity worldwide. It was a predominant system of medicine in the 19th and early 20th  century in the United States, and has re-emerged over the last 30 years as an important therapy.

Learn how this method of healing became popular by reviewing the information below:

“Let Likes Be Cured By Likes” 
The principle of curing illnesses with remedies that induce symptoms similar to those of the original disease is a principle discovered by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.  He discovered that a South American tree bark, which was being used to treat malaria , when ingested by a healthy person, induced symptoms of malaria, . Due to this discovery, Hahnemann is credited as the founder of homeopathy. Shortly after graduating from Medical School in 1779, Hahnemann became disenchanted with the modes of medicinal practices used at that time, such as bloodletting, treating ailments with toxic chemicals, and encouraging patients to purge. While taking time off from practicing medicine, he stumbled upon his momentous discovery, and paved a new path for the treatment of poor health.

A School of Medicine is Born 
In the late 1800s, former students of Hahnemann opened a homeopathic medical school in the U.S. Soon after, the school was acknowledged for the successful treatment of scarlet fever, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, and other deadly epidemics of the time. Over the next 100 years, homeopathic medicine became increasingly popular, until eventually there were more than 20 homeopathic medical schools in operation— including Boston, Stanford, and New York Medical College. However, homeopathy’s popularity declined after the 1920s,  due to increased political and economic influences of the American Medical Associationand  the pharmaceutical drug industry.

Homeopathy Returns 
While popularity in homeopathic medicine declined in the U.S., popularity increased in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. Over time, these countries developed schools of homeopathic medicine and pharmacies. Today, the United States is seeing a resurgence in the popularity in homeopathic medicine.  Homeopathic medicines are  officially approved by the FDA, and are safe and with none of the toxic side-effects of pharmaceutical medicines.