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Overview of Classical Homeopathic Philosophy

Classical homeopathy rests on a rich philosophical foundation first established by Hahnemann in his Organon of the Healing Art at the turn of the nineteenth century and refined over the past two centuries since.

Homeopathy is rare among systems of medicine in possessing a clear and thorough view of the dynamics of health and disease. In homeopathy disease is regarded as an affection of the spiritual core of the person, and the treatment of disease is guided by specific laws of healing.

The Law of Similars

First, the law of similars calls for the application of remedies made from substances whose pattern of illness best matches that of the person. This is the fundamental law of homeopathy, and the term homeopathy (“homeo” + “pathy”, from the Greek homoios [similar] and pathos [suffering]) derives from this idea. The pattern of illness is determined through a combination of sources including formal experiment and collected clinical data (as will be explored in future posts).

The Single Remedy

Second, the disease pattern encompasses the whole being of a person, so classical homeopathic treatment usually consists of prescribing one remedy at a time even when multiple symptoms are present, in order to address the (singular) spiritual cause of illness. A homeopathic remedy is a specially prepared formulation originating in some natural or synthetic substance and used in homeopathic treatment.

Individualization of Treatment

Because the single remedy depends on many factors and not just on the presenting complaint or medical diagnosis, the remedy is necessarily custom-fit to each and every patient. Thus homeopathy is said to offer an individualized prescription that cannot be predicted in advance of case analysis.

Suppression

Fourth, classical homeopaths are very attentive to the phenomenon of suppression, and carefully distinguish between it and true curative action. Suppression happens when symptoms disappear under some treatment but the person as a whole feels worse (more tired, depressed, or otherwise lacking in vitality). Many conventional and alternative therapeutic approaches rely on suppressive treatment (and sometimes suppression is necessary and even life-saving), but it is a harmful approach in the long term.

Order of Healing

Fifth, homeopaths note that usually healing under homeopathic treatment (or any other treatment that respects the natural laws of healing) takes place in a certain order of healing. During homeopathic treatment the following are positive indicators of correct (non-suppressive) healing:

1. Past symptoms or sensations will frequently reappear (in weaker form and for a shorter period) before disappearing for good.
2. In cases of deep pathology, symptoms relating to vital organs will improve first while superficial tissues (such as the skin) will improve later on.
3. The head and upper body will tend to improve before the lower body and legs

Throughout treatment, it is essential for both the homeopath and the patient to respect this natural hierarchy of healing and not interfere with it.

The Minimum Dose

Finally, the ideal of minimum dose was the main reason that compelled Samuel Hahnemann (the founder of homeopathy) to establish a new system of medicine in the first place. Working as a conventional physician in late-eighteenth-century Germany, he was looking for a way of reducing the side-effects from the aggressive medical approaches of the time (which included the frequent use of mercury and bloodletting). Through this he was led to the serendipitous discovery that whenever there is a correspondence between remedy and disease state (following the law of similars), a medicinal effect will persist even if the original substance is diluted so much that it is no longer present in chemical form.

In summary, classical homeopathy rests on (1) the law of similars, (2) prescribing one remedy at a time in (3) individualized form, (4) avoiding suppression by (5) respecting the natural order of healing, and (6) prescribing the minimum possible dose required to achieve a therapeutic effect. This means that whenever a practitioner claiming to be practicing homeopathy does not respect one or more of these principles, he cannot be said to be practicing classical homeopathy, the original and still most-effective form of homeopathy.

Welcome to the HomeopathyZone Blog!

You are about to embark on an exciting journey into homeopathy (often referred to as “classical homeopathy” and sometimes spelled “homoeopathy”) — one of the most mysterious yet arguably the most powerful system of medicine ever devised.

Homeopathy untaps the full healing potential that each of us possesses within. Through its action on the spiritual core of the organism (a claim that will be made much clearer in upcoming articles), homeopathy can address anything from the common cold to complex and serious diseases. Both physical and psychological illness can yield to homeopathic treatment through the indirect effect it has on individual symptoms. Homeopathy works by changing the whole state of the organism for the better, so that disease can no longer take hold as it used to.

For the patient, the process of homeopathic treatment is at once simple and complex. On the one hand, it does not demand sweeping lifestyle or dietary changes like some other natural approaches. On the other hand, it requires emotional maturity to realize that symptoms do not exist in isolation, and that in order to achieve a deep and lasting cure it is often necessary to change the way we think and act in daily life. Homeopathy helps in making just such changes, but this process of change often takes time. This means that for many chronic conditions, it is essential to approach homeopathic treatment with faith in the healing process. By “faith” I do not mean that homeopathy works only for those who believe in it (what is know as suggestion or the placebo effect), but that in order to achieve success one must be patient enough with the body’s healing process and not expect an quick reversal of symptoms that may have been many years in the making.

You host is David Nortman, N.D. I am a naturopathic and homeopathic doctor, having studied naturopathic medicine (encompassing fields such as nutrition, Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, and more) and specialized in classical homeopathic medicine. I work with patients mostly online (this is possible with homeopathy), and my clinic site is www.homeopathic-doctor.com.

May you enjoy this homeopathic journey of discovery!