| Homoeopathy as a science
of medical treatment has a philosophy of its own and
its therapeutics is based on certain fundamental principles.
These are:
- Law of Similia
- Law of Simplex
- Law of Minimum
- Doctrine of Drug Proving
- Theory of Chronic Disease
- Theory of Vital Force
- Doctrine of Drug-Dynamisation
The Law of Similars
It is also called the Law of Cure. This law demonstrates
that the selected remedy is able to produce a range
of symptoms in a healthy person similar to that observed
in the patient, thus leading to the principle of Similia
Similibus Curentur i.e. let likes be treated by likes.
To give a simple example the effects of peeling an onion
are very similar to the symptoms of acute cold. The
remedy prepared from the red onion, Allium cepa, is
used to treat the type of cold in which the symptoms
resemble those we get from peeling onion. The principle
has been verified by millions of Homoeopaths all over
the world.
The first and most important "natural law"
expressed by Hahnemann, the one from which Homoeopathy
derives its name, is similia similibus curentur—let
like cure like. This means that the appropriate substance
to treat a disease is one which induces similar symptoms
in a healthy person. Then, it is crucial to know the
symptoms associated with various substances, remedial
pathogeneses. They are to be determined by drug provings
on healthy persons, in which subjects take the remedy
and record all physical, mental, emotional and modal
changes in symptoms.
The Principle of Dilution
Hahnemann developed the system of Homoeopathic dilution,
where one part of the starting material (usually plant
extract) is diluted with 99 parts of diluent (usually
alcohol and water). The mixture is then "succussed"
or "potentised", which is a rhythmical shaking
of the liquid which helps to release the energy within
the substance. The dilution is called a 1C Homoeopathic
potency. The process of dilution can be repeated with
the 1C potency to make a 2C potency, and so on until
the desired potency is reached. Hahnemann discovered
that by administering infinitesimally small doses, he
not only cured ailments without undesirable side effects
but in fact the cure was more effective than with larger
doses. Later two more scales for menufacturing Homoeopathic
medicines were created. The Decimal scale developed
by Hering uses the 1:9 ratio for successive dilution,
whereas the LM scale given by Dr. Hahnemann uses a dilution
scale of 1:50,000.
The Law of Single Remedy
This law directs to choose and administer such a single
remedy, which is most similar to the symptom complex
of the sick person at a time.
The Law of Minimum Dose
The similar remedy selected for a sick should be prescribed
in minimum dose, so that when administered there is
no toxic effects on the body. It just acts as a triggering
and catalytic agent to stimulate and strengthen the
existing defense mechanism of the body. It does not
need to be repeated frequently.
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