Homeopathy is a system of medicine that is based on the Law of Similars. The truth of this law has been verified experimentally and clinically for the last 200 years.Let’s look at an example: If your child accidentally ingests certain poisons, you may be advised to administer a Syrup of Ipecac to induce vomiting. Ipecac is derived from the root of a South American plant called Ipecacuanha. The name, in the native language, means “the plant by the road which makes you throw up.” Eating the plant causes vomiting.
When a group of healthy volunteers took this substance to determine the effects of this drug, they found that the drug-induced other symptoms as well. The mouth retained much saliva. The tongue was very clean. There was a cough so severe that it led to gagging and vomiting. There was incessant nausea. While it is expected that vomiting would usually relieve nausea, this was not the case.
Such an experiment, using healthy volunteers, is called a proving, and it is the homeopath’s source of information about the action of a drug.
Of what use could this plant be? If a person were suffering from a gagging cough after a cold, or women were experiencing morning sickness with incessant nausea that is not relieved by vomiting, then Ipecacuanha, administered in a minute dose, specially prepared by a homeopathic pharmacy in accordance with FDA approved guidelines, can allay the “similar” suffering.
Samuel Hahnemann described this principle by using a Latin phrase: Similia Similibus Curentur, which translates: “Let likes cure likes.” It is a principle that has been known for centuries. Hahnemann developed the principle into a system of medicine called homeopathy, and it has been used successfully for the last 200 years.
What is Homeopathy and why it is needed?
Homeopathy is a very well-known method of treatment, which was discovered by a German doctor, named Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. In India, Homeopathy is prevailing for more than two centuries.
It works on the principle “Like cure likes”. In simple words, if something has produced the symptoms in someone, it should be able to remove the same set of symptoms in another one.
This system of medicine emphasizes treating the man as a whole, rather than treating a man in disease. In simple words, Homeopathy believes to cure a person as a whole rather than treating his diseased condition. These medicines enhance the vitality, the sense of well – being and the immunity of a person, and hence the disease gets vanished on its own.
According to WHO, Homeopathy is the second most favored mode of treatment used all over the world.
This system of medicine offers a mild, gentle, and rapid way of cure. These medicines are easy to consume. They are sweet in taste and easy to carry with. It is a 100% painless mode of treatment.
These medicines show their faster effectiveness as well as other conventional modes of treatment.
These medicines are very safe to consume as they do not have side – effects.
Homeopathy is immunity – based science and hence the chances of relapse of disease are very rare and there is no need to take multiple medicines for multiple diseases.
These Homeopathy Medicines can be taken along with other medicines of another mode of treatment.
There are usually no food restrictions related to treatment unless the ones due to the diseased condition itself.
Origin & Growth of Homeopathy in India
Homeopathy came to India as early as 1810 when a French traveler, Dr. John Martin Honigberger who learned Homeopathy from Dr. Samuel Hahnemann visited India and treated patients with Homeopathy. In his second visit in the year 1839, he treated the then ruler of Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh with Dulcamara. Maharaja was so happy with the results and he encouraged him to continue the Homeopathic treatment in India. Homeopathy continued to spread and Indians found in its philosophy and principles, a reflection of their belief and culture. The ancient Hindu physicians had, in fact, recognized the “Law of Similars” as one of the principles of treatment. In the Bhagwat Purana, written hundreds of years ago the Bhagwat Purana – a Sanskrit couplet says “Vishaya Vishmoshashi” to which Homeopathy took root and flourished. Surgeon Samuel Brooking, a retired Medical Officer had the courage and conviction to establish a Homeopathic Hospital at Tanjore, in South India, in 1847. There have been a number of other well-known enthusiasts like Dr. Cooper and Dr. J. Ruther ford Russel, two Government Medical Officers, Mr. H. Ryper, a military pensioner, Captain May, and others of Calcutta, made Homeopathy popular among the masses of Bengal. Last but not the least, was the services rendered by Dr. C. J. Tonnere, M.D. the French Homeopath, proved “Acalpha Indica” in the year 1851 was first Health Officer of the town of Calcutta and later he established Homeopathic Hospital. In 1861, a virulent epidemic of malarial fever was raging over lower Bengal and it was at this juncture that the great philanthropist, Late Babu Rajendra Lall Dutta, a layman, truly laid the foundation of Homeopathy and started its practice with astounding results. He converted the redoubtable allopath and his opponent, Dr. Mahendra Lall Sircar, M.D. D.L., C.I. E. to Homeopathy. Dr. P.C. Majumdar, M.D. another Homeopath of Calcutta started his practice in 1864 and laid the foundation of Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College in 1885.
The year 1867 is also memorable for the establishment of Banaras Homeopathic Hospital with Shri Loke Nath Moitra as Physician in In-charge. In August 1869 a homeopathic charitable dispensary was started at Allahabad with Shri Priya Nath Bose as the Physician In-charge of the dispensary while in another important event in 1870 the Maharaja of Jaipur sent for Dr. Salazar of Calcutta for the treatment of his cataract. From this time onwards, homeopathy spread not only in Bengal but also to other parts of India. The Rev. Father Muller, the great Jesuit Missionary of Mangalore in the South; Mr. P. Subbarayulu, the large-hearted lawyer of Kakinada in the East; and Mr. V. M. Kulkarni, the tireless telegraphist of Bombay in the west – all these like Babu Rajendra Lall Dutta of Calcutta, are names to conjure with in the Indian Homeopathic world. The Homeopathic Treatment proved to be highly effective in practice and its fame spread rapidly with the opening of several dispensaries in the second half of the nineteenth century. Now the process of its recognition by the Government of India was started. In April 1937, Md. Ghias-ud-idin, M.L.A. moved a resolution in the Legislative Assembly for its recognition. The resolution was passed and forwarded to the State Governments for its implementation and Bengal was the first province to constitute a Homeopathic State Faculty in 1943. After independence and formation of the National Government, on 17th February 1948 Shri Satish Chandra Samanta, M.P. (West Bengal) moved a resolution which runs as follows ” This Assembly is of opinion that homeopathic system of treatment is recognized by the Indian Union and that a General Council and a State Faculty of Homeopathic Medicine be established at once “. This resolution was unanimously adopted and subsequently, the Government appointed a Homeopathic Enquiry Committee in 1948 and the Committee submitted its report in 1949. In 1952, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, the then Union Health Minister appointed a Homeopathic Ad-hoc Committee which functioned up to 1954. In 1954 Government constituted a Homeopathic Advisory Committee. In 1956 this Advisory Committee was taken over by the Minister of Health and the Secretary in the Ministry of Health became its first Chairman. Govt. of India appointed Dr. K. G. Saxena as first Honorary Homeopathic Advisor in 1962. A Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee was established in the year 1962 to lay down the standard of Homeopathic drugs. In 1969 for the development of ISM & Homeopathic drugs an autonomous council was established. On 17th December 1973, the Central Council of Homeopathy was established by the Government of India with the enactment of the Central Council of Homeopathy Act, 1973 with the following objectives.
“To evolve minimum standards for admission, duration of course of training, details of curricula and syllabi of studies of Homeopathy, the uniform title of degree and diploma, uniform courses of study of not less than four years duration and maintain a central register of practitioners of Homeopathy”.
Uniform Education in Homeopathy at diploma and graduate-level was enforced in the country in the year 1983. Forum for Post Graduation has also been notified by the Central Council of Homeopathy. In 1978 separate Central Council for Research in Homeopathy was established.
