Philosophy of homoeopathy

Hahnemann proposed the law of homeopathy in 1796: “Like Cures Like,” or in Latin, “Similia Similibus Curantur.” Homoeopathy is based on inductive method of reasoning.

1. PHILOSOPHY OF HOMOEOPATHY DR SAROJ RANJIT SAWANT M.D.(HOM)

2. HAHNEMANNIAN VIEW

3. HISTORY The olden day medicine was dominated by materialistic concepts . People used to believe that the removal of the material cause removes the disease. According to the  germ theory of disease   micro organisms were considered as the cause of infectious diseases. The old school of medicine dealt with only ultimate of disease..

4. HISTORY Old fashioned system is completely based on medicine of experience . They used to conduct a series of experiments on animals and came through different theories and doctrines. Their experimentation is not based on definite laws or principles, their theories are ever changing or kaleidoscopic changing every year .

5. HISTORY Their treatment also included painful procedures like bloodletting, leeching, venesection , surgical removal of the affected part etc.

6. FATHER OF HOMOEOPATHY Dissatisfied with the mode of medication of his time  Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann  created a system of alternative medicine called Homeopathy.

7. HISTORY OF HOMOEOPATHY Hahnemann observed that the medicine he had been taught to practice did the patient more harm than good. He then gave up his practice and made his living chiefly on translating books.

8. HISTORY OF HOMOEOPATHY In 1790 while translating  William Cullen’s  “a treatise on material medica ” he came through a line that cinchona bark is effective in treating malaria due to its bitterness.

9. HISTORY OF HOMOEOPATHY Hahnemann  was not satisfied with this statement. He experimented the drug on himself and observed that it produced similar symptoms like malaria. He concluded that it would do so in any healthy individual. This led him to postulate a healing principle: “that which can produce a set of symptoms in a healthy individual, can treat a sick individual who is manifesting a similar set of symptoms .

10. DISCOVERY OF HOMOEOPATHY After experimenting with other drugs in the same manner, and then clinically practicing their results Hahnemann proposed the law of homeopathy in 1796: “ Like Cures Like ,” or in Latin, “ Similia Similibus Curantur .”

11. HISTORY OF APPLICATION OF LAW

12. In the history Hippocrates (460 – 350B.C.), regarded as the “father of medicine,” who authored the Hippocratic oath, wrote, “By similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like is cured.”

13. Aristotle (384 – 322B.C.) knew the principle as well, and wrote, “Often the simile acts upon the simile.”

14. It was Samuel Hahnemann who developed this natural law into a profound and unprecedented healing science called Homeopathy.

15. PHILOSOPHY Homoeopathy is based on inductive method of reasoning .

16. This inductive logic requires— 1-EXACT OBSERVATION 2-CORRECT INTERPRETATION 3-RATIONAL EXPLAINATION 4-SCIENTIFIC CONSTRUCTION

17. EXACT OBSERVATION   Hahnemann’s honest disappointment with practice of medicine made him to quit practice and he turned to translations. His  observation on the effect of cinchona bark and experimentation with medicinal substances made him understand the ability of the drug to produce symptoms on one hand and the symptoms of the patient on the other.

18. CORRECT INTERPRETATION   Thorough study of the phenomenon produced by the experiments or provings on different groups, age, sex reduced the probability of error in observation.

19. RATIONAL EXPLANATION   Explaining the observed facts by referring  them with known natural laws

20. SCIENTIFIC CONSTRUCTION   Putting the facts in such coordination that system reached shall agree with reality. He applied the principles evolved from inductive reasoning and correlated them with experiments he conducted

21. SCIENTIFIC CONSTRUCTION Hahnemann discussed about principles of homoeopathy, analysis of other modes of treatment, qualities  and duties of a physician, proving of drugs on healthy human beings, classification of diseases, selection of remedy, dosage, causes of disease and auxiliary methods of treatment in his book  ORGANON OF MEDICINE  in the form of aphorisms

22. ORGANON The word ORGANON was derived from Greek word  ‘ organum ’ which means a literary work, system of logic. This word was first used by Greek philosopher ARISTOTLE. Later LORD FRANCIS BACON wrote a book on logic ‘ novum organum ’.

23. PRINCIPLES OF HOMOEOPATHY LAW OF SIMILIA  LAW OF SIMPLEX LAW OF MINIMUM   DOCTRINE OF DRUG PROVING  THEORY OF CHRONIC DISEASES THEORY OF VITAL FORCE  DOCTRINE OF DRUG DYNAMIZATION

24. LAW OF SIMILIA   :    Homoeopathy is based on SIMILIA SIMILIBUS CURANTUR which means likes cure like. It is derived from Greek word  ‘ homoeos ’ means similar and ‘pathos’ means suffering. He mentioned about this in § 26 A weaker dynamic affection is permanently extinguished in the living organism by a stronger one, if the latter (whilst differing in kind) is very similar to the former in its manifestations. And in § 29 how a homoeopathic cure takes place as MODUS OPERANDI.

25. LAW OF SIMPLEX In § 272 Hahnemann states that only one single, simple, medicinal substance should be administered in a given case at a time. Remedies were proved singly Only one remedy similar at a time If more than one remedy given pure effect of the remedy cannot be observed Vital force which is governing the material body is single and dynamic.

26. LAW OF MINIMUM    Under this principle the given medicine should in a very minute dose. This can be achieved by a process of potentisation or drug dynamisation . In this the quantity of the medicine is decreased and the quality of the given medicine is increased. The advantages of minimal dose are To avoid unwanted aggravation To increase the dynamic action of the given remedy This concept of minimal dose can also be verified by ARNDT-SCHULTZ LAW that small doses stimulate, medium doses paralyze, and large doses kill. Accoding to Fincke ‘the quality of the action of homoeopathic remedy is determined by its quantity in inverse ratio’.

27. DOCTRINE OF DRUG PROVING    Hahnemann explained about drug proving from § 105-145. It is a systematic investigation of pathogenetic powers of medicine on healthy human beings of different ages, both sexes, and various constitutions. Ideal prover must be healthy, intelligent, delicate, sensitive, lover of truth, unprejudiced. Benefits of proving on humans-  Subjective and mental symptoms can be understood We can get the pure symptoms of the drug Action of drug on sick person is different from healthy person.

28. THEORY OF CHRONIC DISEASES Hahnemann added the theory of chronic disease in 4 th  edition of organon . In spite of the best homoeopathic treatment Hahnemann observed that there was recurrence of chronic diseases. This led him to investigate into number of chronic diseases and after 12 years of observation he came to a conclusion that chronic diseases were due to chronic miasms . The word ‘MIASM’ was originated from Greek word miasma which means  ‘ a polluting agent ’. The chronic miasms are PSORA, SYCOSIS, SYPHILIS.

29. MIASMS PSORA  :  It is the fundamental cause and producer of innumerable number of diseases. It is manifested externally as cutaneous itching eruptions.   SYPHILIS   : characterized by granulation, degeneration, and ulceration. SYCOSIS    : characterized by warty,cauliflower like growths on genital region. Induration,infiltration .

30. THEORY OF VITAL FORCE  In $ 9 of organon Hahnemann said that ‘ In the healthy condition of man, the spiritual vital force (autocracy), the dynamis that animates the material body (organism), rules with unbounded sway, and retains all the parts of the organism in admirable, harmonious, vital operation, as regards both sensations and functions, so that our indwelling, reason-gifted mind can freely employ this living, healthy instrument for the higher purposes of our existence.’

31. THEORY OF VITAL FORCE  In § 10 Hahnemann said that  The material organism, without the vital force, is capable of no sensation, no function, no self preservation ;it derives all sensation and performs all the functions of life solely by means of the immaterial being (the vital principle) which animates the material organism in health and in disease.

32. DOCTRINE OF DRUG DYNAMIZATION By this process of dynamization medicinal properties which are latent in natural crude substances become awakened. It was introduced in organon in 5 th  edition. Purpose of dynamisation Deadly poisons rendered harmless Medicinally inert substances in crude state become active Action of potentised medicines are deeper and longer. Unnecessary aggravations are avoided.

33. TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS  Health is a condition of life where there is harmonious play of vital force. Disease is a condition of discomfort where the harmony of vital force get disturbed and it is manifested through the material and symptoms form the conceivable portrait of the disease. It is the outwardly reflected picture of the internal essence of the disease. The totality of individual symptom includes location, sensation, modalities and concomitant. The totality of the symptoms constitutes subjective, objective symptoms, those enquired from bystanders. To ensure CURE totality of symptoms must be removed.

34. INDIVIDUALISATION It is a process of differentiating one from the other. According to Hahnemann no two individuals are same. Each of them manifest different symptoms for a similar problem. The symptoms are divided into two main  types   COMMON  :  symptoms common to every one who is suffering from similar problem   UNCOMMON  : symptoms which are peculiar, characteristic, of a individual which help to individualize the patient. These uncommon symptoms play a vital role in homoeopathic prescription and guide for the differentiation of similar cases and remedies.  

35. STUART CLOSE VIEW

36. STUART CLOSE VIEW Stuart close in his book  “the genius of homoeopathy”   said that homoeopathy rests on following general interpretations or fundamental laws of nature The laws and ways of Nature are uniform and harmonious . Effects follow causes in unbroken succession To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Action and reaction are ceaseless, equivalent and reciprocal Motion is, ceaseless and transformation continuous. Matter is indestructible and infinitely divisible Force is persistent and indestructible The quantity of action necessary to effect any change in nature is the least possible

37. STUART CLOSE VIEW He described about relation of homoeopathy with science and art. He said that EVERY ART HAS ITS FOUNDATION IN SCIENCE AND EVERY SCIENCE FINDS ITS EXPRESSION IN ART.

38. STUART CLOSE VIEW An artist by his inner instinct by natural force applies principles unknowingly and develops his own method of technique through his experience . Homoeopathy as an art is unknowingly a part with all necessary rational non medical agents like hygiene, dietics , sanitary sciences, psycho therapy etc. These were unknowingly a part of homoeopathy.

39. STUART CLOSE VIEW A scientist on the other hand exactly knows what he must do. Based on principles with reason and logic he applies the principles on his technique. Homoeopathy as a science applies the general laws of nature like inductive logic by Bacon. It also applies Newton's 3 rd  law action and reaction are equal and opposite.

40. STUART CLOSE VIEW ABOUT SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY  : MATERIALISM  :   Facts of experience must be confirmed by reality as a material substance. This believes only in things which are seen, tangible, physical matter. The studies like psychology—believes reality as soul and cosmology—believes god as absolute power denies the materialistic theories.   IDEALISM   : E xplains the whole universe, things and there relations. SUBSTANTIALISM    :  It believes in existence of real beings. It says that sources or underlying causes which forms ground to other phenomenon can be material or immaterial in origin.   EX  : magnets, gravity, sound etc.  

41. KENTIAN VIEW

42. KENTIAN VIEW According to Kent the man is the will and understanding and the house in which he lives is the body. Organs are not man ,man is prior to organs. It is the man that is sick not the tissues. He also says that government acts as supreme power and controls. The will and understanding being the centre controls other functions in harmony. If the will and understanding are disturbed it produces functional manifestations. These when suppressed effects the internal organs. The symptoms appear from centre to periphery. He used the term ‘SIMPLE SUBSTANCE’ for vital force.

43. H.A.ROBERTS VIEW

44. H.A.ROBERTS VIEW H. A. Robert explained about the fundamental laws on which homoeopathy is based .

45. LAW OF CURE Similia similibus curentur Cure takes place from above downward, form within outward, form the more important to the less important organ, and in the reverse order of the onset of the symptoms.  

46. LAW OF ACTION : Action and reaction are equal and opposite.  

47. LAW OF QUANTITY AND DOSE The quantity of the drug required is in inverse ratio to the similarity

48. LAW OF QUANTITY The quantity of action necessary to effect any change in Nature is the least possible. The decisive amount is always a minimum, and infinitesimal.

49. LAW OF QUALITY The quality of the action of a homœopathic remedy is determined by its quantity, in inverse ratio.  

50. LAW OF USE The dose and quantity that will thoroughly permeate the organism and make its essential impress upon the vital force is that which will affect the functional sphere of the individual .  

51. LAW OF BIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT : Function creates and develops the organ 

52. LAW OF DISEASE DEVELOPMENT Functional symptoms are produced by the vital force in exact proportion to the profundity of the disturbance. Functional symptoms precede structural changes

53. LAW OF PROVING   Any drug which in its natural state affects the vital energy but little will develop a proving only in a high potency. Any drug which in its natural state disturbs the vital energy to functional manifestations only  may  be proven only in a potentiated form. Any drug which in its natural state disturbs the vital energy to destructive manifestations should be proven only in a potentiated form.

54. LAW OF REPETITION (for Proving): Never repeat the dose while symptoms are manifest from the dose already taken.

55. LAW OF REPETITION (for Cure) Never repeat your remedy so long as it continues to act.  

56. CONCLUSION   By this we can conclude that homoeopathy has a strong philosophical background and is based on fixed principles or laws of nature.