The World Homeopathy Day is celebrated each year today (April 10) in memory of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann – the Founder of Homeopathy who was born on this day.
Born on April 10 1755, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann was an acclaimed scientist, a great scholar, and linguist. He discovered the way to heal through the use of homeopathy.
The day is also celebrated to raise awareness about the homeopathy and to improve the accessibility to homeopathy. It is also important to understand future strategies required to develop homeopathy on a larger scale and its challenges.
The theme of 2020 is “Enhancing the scope of Homoeopathy in Public Health”
Let’s take an in-depth review about the World Homeopathy Day, its history and some key facts about homeopathy.
What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine, which believes that ‘Like cures like.’ Homeopathy is derived from the Greek words homeo, means similar, and pathos, means suffering or disease. Homeopathy is a medical system that believes that the body can cure itself. Those who practice it use tiny amounts of natural substances, like plants and minerals. They believe these stimulate the healing process.
Another principle suggests that the homeopathy means each person is treated as a unique individual and their body, mind, spirit and emotions are all considered in the prevention of disease. Taking all these factors into account a homeopath will select the most appropriate medicine based on the individual’s specific symptoms and personal level of health to stimulate their own healing ability.
Some achievements by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann
Dr. Samuel Hahnemann was the first to scientifically establish and systemize the principle of curing by similar.
He also introduced a new test for arsenic for use in toxicology and forensic medicine. His test for the detection of adulterants in wine was authoritative, as was his standardized pharmacy lexicon used in Germany for a good part of the 19th Century.
Dr. Hahnemann introduced medicinal preparations of inert substances such as platinum and vegetable charcoal.
When it is used?
Homeopathy is used for a wide range of health conditions. Some practitioners believe that it can help with any condition.
Some of the most common conditions that people seek homeopathic treatment for are:
1- Allergies such as skin allergies
2- Asthma
3- Infections such as ear infections
4- Mental health conditions, such as depression, stress, and anxiety
5- Arthritis
It can also be used for minor issues like bruises, scrapes, toothaches, headaches, nausea, cough and colds. The ingredients from which homeopathy medicines are created include plants, animals, salts and chemicals.
Does it work?
There’s been extensive investigation of the effectiveness of homeopathy. Some studies show that homeopathic remedies are helpful, while others don’t.
Critics chalk up the benefits to the placebo effect. That’s when symptoms improve because you believe the treatment is working — not because it really is.
Doctors are divided because some of the theories behind homeopathy don’t line up with the principles of chemistry and physics. Scientists argue that medicine with no active ingredient shouldn’t have an effect on the body.
However, Homeopathic medicines are generally safe, and the risk of a serious adverse side effect is thought to be small.
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