Historical aspects of complementary medicine

1998

This ground-breaking publication places the history of homeopathy into its international context. Essays by leading scholars re-examine homeopathy's status as an alternative medical system with particular attention to the shifting fortunes of Hahnemann's medicine within national networks of professionals and lay persons.

2024

Homeopathy, a holistic system of medicine founded by Samuel Hahnemann in the late 18th century, has undergone a remarkable evolution from its classical beginnings to contemporary practice. This comprehensive article explores the historical origins of homeopathy, its underlying principles, and the transformations it has undergone to adapt to modern times. By examining the philosophical underpinnings, therapeutic approach, and scientific discourse surrounding homeopathy, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of this complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modality. Furthermore, we delve into the contemporary landscape of homeopathic practice, highlighting its integration into mainstream healthcare systems, regulatory frameworks, and ongoing research efforts. Through this comprehensive analysis, we shed light on the enduring relevance and potential contributions of homeopathy to holistic healthcare.

Journal of Complementary Medicine & Alternative Healthcare, 2019

Complementary Therapies for the Contemporary Healthcare, 2012

Based on personal experiences of its founder, Samuel Hahnemann, homeopathy began as a medicinal reform movement in the eighteenth century. Frequently featured as an alternative to regular, often labeled " heroic " medicine, this medical system spread from Europe to America and even Asia, particularly India during a period of significant therapeutic skepticism and even nihilism. This essay revisits the genesis of homeopathy's most fundamental principle, similia similibus curantur, (likes are cured by likes) within its unique historical circumstances.

Journal of Complementary Medicine & Alternative Healthcare, 2018

International Journal of High Dilution Research - ISSN 1982-6206, 2003

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift

SummaryHomeopathy was first postulated by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796 and 220 years later homeopathy is the most popular and widespread alternative medicine. Partly, it is also part of the national healthcare and insurance systems but homeopathy is not without controversy within the medical and healthcare community. Its implausible basic assumptions, some of which contradict natural laws, do not lead us to expect that its remedies have any specific effect. In fact, there is no study or systematic review to date that reliably certifies homeopathy to have an effect beyond the placebo effect and other context effects. In this respect it must be disconcerting how widely homeopathy is applied and represented in therapeutic practice. It indeed claims a role within scientific (evidence-based) medicine but cannot substantiate this claim. It displays clear characteristics of pseudoscience [1]. This implies a lot of problems, such as misleading people and tackling medical et...

There are strong advocates and opponents to alternative medicine being widely available to the general population, whether this is over the counter or through the NHS. Indeed, if anything this area is increasingly becoming a major discussion point both medically and socially, especially with new constraints on budgets. In this balancing medical matters opinion piece, Dr Russell Malcolm outlines the unfolding story and background of homeopathic medicine and suggests that the medical and scientific communities should be less resistant to some of these interventions.

Journal of bioethical inquiry, 2016

The debate around the ethics of homeopathy in recent issues of the journal has been approached as a binary question; is homeopathy ethical or not? This paper suggests that this is an unhelpful question and instead discusses a framework to establish the extent to which the dominant (medical) culture should tolerate non-dominant health practices such as homeopathy. This requires a sophisticated understanding of the placebo effect, a critical evaluation of what evidence is available, a consideration of the harm that the non-dominant practice might cause, and a consideration of how this might be affected by the culture of the patient. This is presented as a matter of cultural competence. At a clinical level clinicians need to respect the values and beliefs of their patients and communicate with all the practitioners involved in a patient's care. At a societal level there are a number of factors to be considered when a community decides which practices to tolerate and to what extent.