About Homeopathy

Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel
Hahnemann

1755-1843

Homeopathy is a therapeutic system of medicine discovered by a German Physician, Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), in the late eighteenth century. It is based on the principle, “Similia Similibus Curentur” or 'let likes be treated by likes. This method of treatment cures the patient by using medicines that can produce similar symptoms in a healthy human being to the natural disease, which it can cure in the diseased person.

Homeopathy treats the patients not only through a holistic approach but also considers their individualistic characteristics. This concept of the ‘law of similars' was also enunciated by Hippocrates and Paracelsus, but Dr. Hahnemann established it on a scientific footing even though he lived in an age when modern laboratory methods were almost unknown.

Homeopathic medicines are prepared from traces of animal, plant, mineral, and other natural substances, through a standard method called dynamization or potentization. This method comprises successive dilutions and succussions to raise the inherent curative power of the drugs to the maximum. The medicines thus prepared through ‘potentization’ attain their potential enhanced enormously to combat ailments while at the same time ensuring the absence of toxicity.

Usually, the medicines are proven in healthy human beings to ascertain their curative properties. The system believes in the existence of a self-regulating force in the organism, which plays a vital role in health, disease, and cure. The symptoms are considered as the body's natural reaction to the illness and help to find a remedy against the illness.

The remedies work by stimulating the body's defense mechanism to correct itself naturally. This therapy adopts an individualistic and holistic approach towards the sick individual. A homeopathic doctor does not treat in the name of the disease, rather the treatment is targeted against the “patient” who is suffering from a particular disease.

The physician perceives all the derangements at the physical and mental levels of the patient, brings about a conceptual image of the patient through the totality of symptoms, and selects the medicine, which is most similar to the symptomatic totality of the patient. Homeopathic medicines are cost-effective, palatable, have no adverse side effects, and can be administered easily.

In some cases, the medicines can be prescribed based on the symptoms of the patients, without depending upon cumbersome and costly diagnostic modalities. Homeopathy has been useful in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders, autoimmune diseases, geriatric and pediatric disorders, ailments during pregnancy, obstinate skin diseases, lifestyle disorders, allergies, etc.

It also has a positive role in improving the quality of life in incurable chronic diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, terminally ill patients, and incapacitating diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Its popularity is gaining momentum all over the world.

Homeopathy in India

Homoeopathy was introduced in India when German missionaries and physicians began distributing homeopathic medicines to the local inhabitants. However, Homoeopathy became popular in India in 1839 when Dr. John Martin Honigberger successfully treated Maharaja Ranjit Singh for the paralysis of Vocal Cords. Dr. Honigberger settled in Kolkata (then Calcutta) and became a well-known doctor. Later, Dr. M.L. Sirkar, a reputed physician of his time, also started practicing Homoeopathy. He edited the first
Homoeopathic Journal, 'Calcutta Journal of Medicine', in 1868. In 1881, many renowned physicians, including Dr. P.C. Mujumdar and Dr. D. N. Roy, established the first Homoeopathic College - the 'Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College'. Dr. Lahiri, Dr. B. K. Sarkar, and many others made personal efforts to establish Homoeopathy as a profession. They are well-known for their contribution to the growth of Homoeopathy not only in West Bengal but also in the whole country.

Over the years, the number of amateur homeopathic practitioners grew steadily, and most of them approached
the Government to accord recognition to Homoeopathy. The turning point came in 1937 when the Central Legislative
Assembly resolved, “That this Assembly recommends to the Governor-General in Council that he may be pleased to

introduce Homoeopathic treatment in government hospitals and give homoeopathic colleges in India the same status and recognition as in the case of allopathic colleges”. Later, in 1948, the same Assembly adopted yet another resolution about Homoeopathy, which was followed by the constitution of the Homoeopathic Enquiry Committee. In 1949, this Enquiry Committee submitted its report recommending that the Central Homoeopathic Council be constituted. In 1952, a
Homoeopathic Adhoc Committee (later re-christened as ‘Homoeopathic Advisory Committee' in 1954) was constituted, which was to advise the Government on all matters related to Homoeopathy, namely homoeopathic education, homoeopathic research, regulation of practice, pharmacopoeia, rural medical aid, drug manufacture, family
planning, financial aid to homoeopathic colleges, dispensaries, hospitals, and cooperation with the International
Homoeopathic Medical League. In 1973, the Parliament passed the Homoeopathy Central Council Act to regulate
homoeopathic education and practice in the country.

Healthcare services in Homoeopathy are provided by 235 hospitals and 8117 dispensaries run by state governments
and municipal bodies, the Central Government Health Scheme, the Labor Ministry, and the Railway Ministry. The
Government of India launched the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), to carry out necessary architectural corrections in the basic health care delivery system in the country. A strategy in the NRHM is to mainstream the Indian systems of medicine and Homoeopathy to facilitate health care through these systems. Under NRHM, AYUSH facilities were co-located in 512 district hospitals, 2739 community health centres, and 9112 primary health centers in 2015. “AYUSH Wellness Centre” has recently been inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee on 25th July 2015 at the President’s Estate, New Delhi.

SARADA HOMOEO LABORATORY