If you are familiar with the Gaurdian you will have seen the newspapers Bad Science column. This often focuses on alternative medicine, especially homeopathy, accusing homeopath's of being flaky and unscientific. This is ironic since homeopathy is founded on just about the most rigorous scientific research and experimentation you can imagine, thanks to Samual Hahnemann, the doctor who first discovered the homeopathic principle of "like cures like" in the eighteenth century.
The basis of the scientific method is to formulate is to formulate an hypothesis, i.e a testable conjecture, and then perform experiments which will etheir confirm or disprove it. Only after repeated conformation of the hypothesis do you have a scientific theory. That is exactly what Hahnemann did back in 1790. Whilst translating a book by physician William Cullen, Hahnemann read that Cullen attributed bitter taste or astringency. Doubting that things were this simple, Hahnmann stated dosing himself up with cinchona. He was surprised to discover that he soon developed the symptoms of an intermittent fever - the kind of alternating high temperature, chills and shivering that you get with malaria.
He came up with this hypothesis - namely, that substances that can provoke symptoms in a healthy individual can cure those same symptoms in a sick person. So did he shriek "Eureka" and leave his residence to make a lot of money.? not exactly. This was one of the most careful and pain staking scientists in history.
For another eight years Hahnemann rigorously tested other substances to see what symptoms they would produce in his healthy body. Using this information he then used these remedies in his practice working on "like cures like" principle. It was remarkably successful. In 1798 he was satisfied enough to publish his findings in "Essay on Ascertaining the Curative Power of Drugs". He went on testing different plants and minerals for another seven years before he published a book outlining the various symptoms they could produce. In this first volume we find detailed accounts of twenty seven remedies most of which have remained important to homeopath's ever since: Pulsatilla, Aconite, Belladona, Ignatia are all included. For the rest of his long life Hahnemann continued to refine this new system of medicine. His was, in fact one of the first examples of good scientific method seen in Western Medicine.
Homeopathic quotes ; Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merlely the absence of disease or infirmity. world health organization, 1948
Recent Comments