Homeopathy

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Revision as of 06:07, 7 September 2008

Definition

Homeopathy is a form of alternative and complementary medicine. It was developed by a German physician Samuel Hahnemann in the late 18th century. The underlying principle philosophy of Homeopathy considers the mind, body and emotions as not distinct, but as a totally integrated system. Based on this principle, the homeopath finds a remedy suitable for psychological and physical symptoms of the patient. Homeopathic remedies are prepared from the substances which cause the symptoms resembling to the disease. These substances are used in serially diluted form. The major advantage of Homeopathic remedies is that it has absolutely no side effects on the body. Homeopathy in India is rapidly gaining popularity and hence many people seek homeopathic treatment because of its numerous benefits.

Principles of Homeopathy

Every science has certain fundamental principles which guide the whole system. Homeopathy as a science of medical treatment has a philosophy of its own and its therapeutics is based on certain fundamental principles. These are:

1. Law of Similia 2. Law of Simplex 3. Law of Minimum 4. Doctrine of Drug Proving 5. Theory of Chronic Disease 6. Theory of Vital Force 7. Doctrine of Drug-Dynamisation

1.Law of Similia

Homeopathy is a system of medicine founded on a definite law 'Similia Similibus Curantur' which means 'Like Cures Like'. The word Homeopathy is a Greek derivation where 'homeos' means 'similar and pathos means 'suffering'. So Homeopathy may be defined as the therapeutic method of symptom-similarity. Various texts have been discovered that support the fact that this law existed even before Hahnemann. Paracelus, Hippocrates, and ancient ayurvedic texts have on occasions mentioned this law. But it was Hahnemann who recognized the universality of this law and lifted it from oblivion to make it the basis of a complete system of medicine.

According to this system, the choice of the medicine is fundamentally based on the principle that the medicine must have the capability of producing most similar symptoms of the disease to be cured in healthy persons. In a certain aphorism of the 'Organon of Medicine', Hahnemann states this law: "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."

2.Law of Simplex - The Single Remedy

In a certain aphorism, Hahnemann states that only one single, simple medicinal substance is to be administered in a given case of time. This is because:

1. The homeopathic remedies were proved singly, and the Materia Medica was built up on the observed effects of drugs given singly, either in planned provings or in accidental provings. 2. Only one remedy can be the most similar at any given time to the condition of any given patient. 3. Moreover, if more than one remedy is used the doctor will never know which element was curative and our source of future guidance is obscured. 4. If more than one drug is given in one prescription the possibility of synergistic action cannot be ruled out, but it cannot be argued that the effect will be the sum total of the effects of the separate drugs. The ingredient drugs may even result in interactions that may have adverse effects in the body. A mixture of more than one remedy in a single dose would constitute a new remedy which would require to be proved as such for a proper estimate of its probable effects.

3.Law of Minimum

The suitableness of a medicine for any given case does not depend on its accurate homeopathic selection alone, but likewise on the proper size of dose too. Under this principle, medicines to the patients are administered in very minute doses. A minute dose means that quantity of a medicine which is though smallest in quantity produces the least possible excitation of the vital force and yet sufficient to effect the necessary change in it. The quantity is minimum, yet appropriate, for a gentle remedial effect. This concept of minimum dose leads to the discovery of a practical process called potentisation. Administration of the minimum dose has the following advantages:

1. To avoid unwanted aggravation

  2. The specific dynamic action which produces the uncommon, characteristic, distinguished symptoms of the drug, is produced by the minimum quantity of drug.

3. The smallness of the dose does not allow the drug to do any organic damage nor there is any risk of drug addiction and drug effects. 4. The Arndt-Schultz law states that small doses stimulate, medium doses paralyze and large doses kill. Hence the action of small and very large doses of the same substance on living matter is opposite. 5. The Law of Least Action, formulated by Maupertius, the French mathematician, states : "The quantity of action necessary to affect any change in nature is the least possible, the decisive amount is always a minimum, an infinitesimal."

Health is a matter of perfect equilibrium, perfect balance, trifling circumstances may sway it, and so may it be balanced by the least possible in medication.

4.Doctrine of Drug Proving

In Homeopathy we prescribe only those medicines whose medicinal properties are known through 'drug proving'. Drug proving is a systematic investigation of pathogenic (disease-producing ) power of medicine on healthy human being of different ages, both sexes and of various constitutions. These recordings of drug proving give the only reliable knowledge of medicines which is very essential to cure disease homeopathically. Different medicines must be proved thoroughly in order to obtain full details of their curative properties.

The drug must be proved on human beings because:on humans because:

1. Animals do not give subjective or mental symptoms. 2. Effects of the same drug on animals and on human beings are different. 3. We do not get the modalities and finer symptoms in animal provings.

The drug must be proved on a healthy human being because:

1. The symptoms of the drug and the disease will be mixed together. 2. Moreover, the action of the drug on the sick person is different from normal person.

5.Theory of Chronic Disease

During the early age of homeopathic practice Hahnemann observed that in spite of best homeopathic treatment some cases would return with a recurrence of symptoms at intervals. This failure led him to investigate thoroughly a large number of chronic cases and after 12 years of observations he reached the conclusion that the chronic diseases are caused by chronic miasms. The miasms are Psora, Syphilis and Sycosis.

Psora is the real fundamental cause and producer of innumerable forms of disease. It is the mother of all diseases and at least 7/8th of all the chronic maladies spring from it while the remaining eighth spring from Syphilis and Sycosis. Cure is only possible by proper anti-miasmatic treatment.

6.Theory of Vital Force

It is Homeopathy which stresses the existence and operation of the vital force in a living organism. The human organism is a triune entity consisting of body, mind, and spirit. This spirit which is responsible for different manifestations of life was termed by Dr. Hahnemann as 'Vital Force'. Hahnemann speaks of the vital force in Aphorism 10 of his Organon of Medicine as : "The material organism without the vital force is capable of no sensation, no function, no self preservation; it derives all sensations, and performs all functions of life solely by means of the immaterial being (the vital force) which animates the material organism in health and disease."

In the healthy condition, it is the vital force which maintains normal functions and sensations of the organism. But when the vital force is primarily dynamically deranged by morbific influence, it causes abnormal sensations and functions which are manifested outwardly through the material body as abnormal signs and symptoms, the totality of which constitutes the disease.

Again if a cure is to be established it is the vital force that must arouse itself or be abided to arise for the recovery. If the vital force is too debilitated and exhausted then no medicinal aid is of help.

7.Doctrine of Drug Dynamisation

Homeopathic dynamisation is a process by which the medicinal properties which are latent in natural substances while in their crude state, become awakened and developed into activity to an incredible degree.

According to Dr. Stuart Close, "Homeopathic potentisation is a mathematico-mechanical process for the reduction, according to scale, of crude, inert or poisonous medicinal substances to a state of physical solubility, physiological assimilability and therapeutic activity and harmless, for use as homeopathic healing remedies."

Drugs are potentised by two methods:

1. Trituration - in case of insoluble substances. 2. Succussion - in case of soluble substances.

The objectives of potentisation in Homeopathy are:

1. To reduce the medicinal substance which helps to avoid unwanted medicinal aggravations and side effects. 2. Homeopathy believes that vital force is dynamic in nature and that is affected by disease, can only be cured by the dynamic power of serviceable medicine, not by its material quantity. 3. By this process the most virulent and deadly poisons are not only rendered harmless, but are transformed into beneficial healing remedies. 4. Substances which are medicinally inert in their crude natural state are thus rendered active and effective for healing the sick. 5. The medicinal qualities of other drugs which are more or less active in their natural state are enhanced and their sphere of action is broadened by this process. 6. The action of potentised medicines is deeper, longer and more wide-spread.

Homeopathy in India

The history of Homoeopathy can be traced as far back as the year 1835 when a Romanian man Dr. John Martin Honigberger visited India. He was called in by the Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore who was suffering from paralysis of the vocal cords with swelling of the feet. He treated the Maharaja dispensing "Dulcamara" in wine, in low potency. This medicine cured him. The Maharaja was also impressed when he treated his favourate horse of his ulcer of the leg. Dr. Honigberger became the chief physician of his court.

Later on after the Maharaja’s death Dr. Honigberger shifted to Calcutta. In Calcutta, he was known as the "Cholera Doctor". He wrote many books among which were "Thirty five years in The East, Adventures, Discoveries, Experiments and Historical sketches of Punjab and Kashmir". He practised in Calcutta up to 1860. Dr. Honigberger happened to go to Vienna and caught Cholera. He saved himself by taking Ipecac, every half an hour. This incident greatly impressed him and he started dispensing Homeopathic medicines both for himself and for others.

Over the years, Homeopathy gained wide acceptance and a fair amount of popularity. In 1972, the Central Research Institute at Calcutta was established by the Government of India and three regional research institutes were set up at Delhi, Kottayam and Orissa.

In this year, the research council was divided into three independent bodies :

1) Central Council for research in Ayurveda.

2) Central Council for research in Unani.

3) Central Council for research in Homoeopathy.

The headquarters of the 'Central Council for Homoeopath' was at Ghaziabad in Delhi. Presently, there are 200 units and 10 regional institutes.

The Central Council of Homoeopathy along with other recommendations, formed a uniform syllabus for diploma, degree and linked courses (diploma holders of new course and diploma holders of old course). They were called D.H.M.S., B.H.M.S. and B.H.M.S. (graded degree) respectively.

Study in Homeopathy

Homeopathy is the third-most popular method of treatment after Allopathy and Ayurveda. Homeopathic education is one of the best career options. Today, several students opt for the Homeopathic studies. There are many Homeopathic colleges spread all over India offering diploma, degree and masters courses in Homeopathy. Presently, there are about 186 homeopathic medical colleges spread in different states of India.

List of Homeopathy Colleges in India

A comprehensive list of homeopathy colleges offering various degrees is provided here (state-wise, in alphabetical order):

Andhra Pradesh

1 Dr. Alluramalingaiah Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Rajahmundry 2 Dr. Gururaju Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College, Gudivada 3 Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College, Cuddapah 4 J.S.P.S. Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College, Hyderabad

Bihar

1 G.D. Memorial Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Patna 2 Gaya Homoeopathic Medical College & Institute, Amwan-Bodh Gaya 3 Homoeopathic Medical College, Mihijam 4 K.N.H. Homoeopathic Medical College, Bhagalpur 5 Kent Homoeopathic Medical College, P.O. Khilwat 6 Magadh Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Nalanda 7 Maharshi Mahi Homoeopathic Medical College, Katihar 8 Mangala Kamla Homoeopathic Medical College, Professor Vishnu Kumar Marg, Srinagar Siwan 9 Mirganj Homoeopathic Medical College, Mirganj 10 Muzaffarpur Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Muzaffarpur 11 Patna Homoeopathic Medical College, Patna 12 R.B.T.S. Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College, Muzaffarpur 13 R.D. Kedia Homoeopathic Medical College, Motihari, East Champaran 14 R.N.S. Homoeopathic Medical College, Begusarai 15 Saran Homoeopathic Medical College, Chhapra 16 Sinha Homoeopathic Medical College, Darbhanga 17 The Temple of Hahnemann Homoeopathic Medical College, Munger

Chandigarh

1 Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh

Delhi

1 Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Kashmere Gate 2 Dr. B.R. Sur Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Moti Bagh 3 Nehru Homoeo Medical College & Hospital, Defence Colony

Gujarat

1 Ahmedabad Homoeopathy Medical College, Ahmedabad 2 Anand Homoeopathic Medical College, Anand 383301, Distt. Kheda 3 Baroda Homoeopathic Medical College, Varodara 4 C.D. Pachigar Homoeo Medical College, Surat 5 Dr. V.H. Dave Homoeopathic Medical College & Smt. S. I. Patel (Ipcowala) Homoeopathic Hospital, Anand 6 Gujarat Homoeopathy Medical College, Baroda 7 Navyug Shiksha Samiti's Brahamanand Homoeopathic College, Karnal 8 Rajkot Homoeopathic Medical College, Rajkot 9 Samarpan Charitable and Educational Medical & Research Trust's Homoeopathic Medical College, Rajkot 10 Shri Chotalal Nagindas Kothari Homoeopathic Medical College and Research Centre, Surat 11 Shri Mahalaxmi Mahila Homoeopathic College, Vadodara 12 Shri Shamlaji Homoeopathic Medical College and Institute, Godhra 13 Smt. A.J. Savla Homoeopathic Medical College and Research Institute, Mahsana

Haryana

1 Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak

Himachal Pradesh

1 Solan Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Distt. Solan

Karnataka

1 A.M. Sheikh Homoeopathic Medical College, Belgaum 2 AI-Ameen Homoeopathic Medical College, Bijapur 3 Alva's Education Foundation, Dakshina Kannada 4 B.D. Jatti Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital 5 Bhagavan Budha Homoeopathic Medical College, Bangalore 6 Bharatesh Homoeopathic Medical Colleg, Belgaum 7 Fr. Muller's Homoeopathic Medical College, Mangalore 8 Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College, Bangalore 9 H.K.E. Society's Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Gulbarga 10 Homoeopathic Medical College, Gulbarga 11 Lea Homoeopathic Medical College, Dharwad 12 Maratha Mandal's Homoeopathic Medical College, Belgaum 13 Moulana Azad Homoeopathic Medical College, Hubli 14 Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Karnataka Homoeopathic Medical College, Hubli 15 S.B. Shirkoli Homoeopathic Medical College, Belgaum 16 Shiva Basava Jyothi Homepathic Medical College, Belgaum

Kerala

1 Athurasramam N.S.S. Homoeopathic Medical College, Kottayam 2 Dr. Padiar Memorial Homoeopathic Medical College, Chottanikara 3 Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College, Calicut 4 Shri Vidyadhiraja Homoeopathic Medical College, Trivandrum

Maharastra

1 Ahmednagar Homoeopathic Medical College, Ahmednagar 2 Antrabharti Homoeopathic Medical College, Nagpur 3 Baliraja Shikshan Prasarak Mandal's Padmashree Shyamraoji Kadam Homoeopathic Medical College, CIDCO, New Nanded 4 Bharati Vidyapeeth's Homoeopathic Medical College, Pune 5 Dr. J.J. Magdum Trust's Homoeopathic Medical College, Dist. Kolhapur 6 Dakshin Kesari Muni Mishrilalji Homoeopathic Medical College, Aurangabad 7 Dapoli Homoeopathic Medical College, Distt. Ratnagiri 8 Dr. D.Y.Patil Homoeopathic College & Research Centre, Pimpri 9 Dhondumama Sathe Homoeopathic Medical College, Pune 10 Foster Development Homoeopathic Medical College, Aurangabad 11 Gondiya Homoeopathic Medical College, Distt. Buldhana 12 Gulabrao Patil Homoeopathic Medical College, Dist. Sangli 13 Homoeopathic Medical College, Ahmednagar 14 Homoeopathic Medical College, Akola 15 Homoeopathic Medical College, Kolhapur 16 Homoeopathic Medical College, Solapur 17 Kaka Saheb Mhaske Homoeopathic Medical College, Ahmednagar 18 Kishan Gnyanoday Mandal Gudhe Sanchalit Homoeopathic Medical College, Distt. Dhule 19 Kishan Shikshan Prasarak Mandal's Latur Homoeopathic Medical College, Latur 20 Konkan Education and Medical Trusts' Homoeopathic Medical College, Distt. Thane 21 Lokmanya Medical Foundation's Homoeopathic Medical College, Pune 22 Motiwala (National) Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Nashik 23 Nagpur College of Homoeopathic and Bio-Chemistry, Nagpur 24 Panchsheel Homoeopathic Medical College, Distt. Buldhana 25 Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Institute of Homoeopathic & Medical Sciences, Distt. Amravati 26 Prabhat Education Society's P.D. Jain Homoeopathic Medical College, Parbhani 27 Purushottam Bagala Homoeopathic Medical College, Chandrapur 28 Samarth Educational Trust's Homoeopathic Medical College, Satara 29 Similia Similibus Curentur Janaeva Mandal's Homoeopathic Medical College, Distt. Thane 30 Sonajirao Kshirsagar Homoeopathic Medical College, Distt. Beed 31 Shri Bhagwan Homoeopathic Medical College, Aurangabad 32 Shri Janta Homoeopathic Medical College, Akola 33 Shri Takhatmal Shrivallabh Homoeopathic Medical College, Amravati 34 Smt. Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Homoeopathic College, Mumbai 35 Smt. Kanchanbai Babulalji Abad Homoeopathic Medical College, Nashik 36 Vengurla Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Sindhudurg 37 Venutai Yaswant Chavan's Homoeopathic Medical College, Kolhapur 38 Yerala Medical Trust's Homoeopathic College, Mumbai

Orissa

1 Co-Operative Homoeopathic Medical College, Berhampur 2 Dr. Abhin Chandra Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College, Bhubaneshwar 3 Mayurbhanj Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Baripada 4 Utkalmani Homoeopathic Medical College, Rourkela

Punjab

1 Homoeopathic Medical College, Abohar 2 Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, U.T. Chandigarh 3 Institute of Homoeopathic Medical Education and Research, V.P.O. Chunni Kalan District- Fatehgarh Sahib 4 Institute of Post-Graduate Homoeopathic Medical Education and Research, Mohali 5 Kalyan Homoeopathic Medical College, Taran 6 Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College, Ludhiana 7 Shri Guru Nanak Dev Homoeopathic Medical College, Ludhiana

Rajasthan

1 Bhartiya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Bharatpur 2 Dr. Madan Pratap Khuteta Rajasthan Homoeopathic Medical College, Jaipur 3 Homoeopathic Medical College, Udaipur 4 Yuvraj Pratap Singh Memorial Homoeopathic Medical College, Alwar

Uttar Pradesh

1 Bakson Homoeopathic Medical College, Greater Noida 2 State Dr. Brij Kishore Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Faizabad 3 State Ghazipur Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Ghazipur 4 State Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Bijnor 5 State K.G. Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Moradabad 6 State Kanpur Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kanpur 7 State Lal Bahadur Shastri Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Allahabad 8 State Mohan Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow 9 State National Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow 10 State Shri Durgaji Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Azamgarh 11 State Tilak Dhari Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Jaunpur

West Bengal

1 Bengal Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Asansol 2 Birbhumj Vivekanand Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Birbhum 3 Burdwan Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan 4 Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata 5 D. N. De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata 6 Kharagpur Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kharagpur 7 Mahesh Bhattacharya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Howrah 8 Metropolitan Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata 9 Midnapore Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Midnapore 10 Natai Charan Chakravarty Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Howrah 11 National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata 12 Pratap Chandra Memorial Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata 13 Purulia Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Purulia