The Development of Homoeopathy and Samuel Hahnemann's life history...

<p>An allopathic doctor Samuel Hahnemann was the founder of homoeopathy. He was the first man who felt that allopathic medicines having harmful side effects were not suitable for his patients. He was so much clear and confident in his perception that he gave up allopathic practice and adopted profession of translating different books in German language.<br>Christian Friederich Samual Hahnemann was born April 11, 1755 in Meissen, a town situated in Upper Saxony, Germany. The following pages are designed to trace the history of homoeopathy whilst at times placing emphasis on the man who discovered and put together the principle of Homoeopathy.The early years of Samuel Hahnemann. Samuel Hahnemann had great respect for his father and it seems that C. Gottfried Hahnemann became his first teacher in regards to what is good and worthy, how to live and act without pretense, the dignity of humanity, moral principles and how to be a tender feeling man. Another important person during those early years of Samuel Hahnemann was Master Miller, rector of the Meissen private school. Samuel was loved and supported by his rector and well educated in ancient languages. Even though Samuel had many privileges at school his fellow students appreciated him nevertheless. Already during those early years Samuel developed the ability to think for himself. His father though wanted him to learn a trade instead of studying in order to contribute to the family income.In 1775 Samuel moved to Leipzig where he stayed for two years teaching and translating. During this time he was invited to attend free of charge the lectures of many medical professors. His interest in practising medicine grew and ultimately led to his move to Vienna in order to study medicine. He left Vienna nine months later after having gone through pretty hard times relating inparticular to money. Von Quarin, physician to the Prince, was instrumental in Samuel’sdevelopment and study both in regards to medicine and humanity skills. Samuel was invited to go to Hermanstadt by Baron Bruchkenthal as physician to his family.In August 1779 Samuel received the honourable title of Doctor of Medicine. As a doctor he spent time in Hettstadt, Dessau (1781) and spent more than two years in Commern (1791).His interest in chemistry, practical mining and smelting went hand in hand with all the other studies and led to him visiting pharmacies (apothecary) and laboratories. In 1782 Samuel was married to Johanna (Elisa) Kuchler whilst starting up his practice as a physician in Commern. In 1783/84 his first daughter was born, named Henrietta. Also during this time his translation work became more and more important to the people of Europe. Especially his knowledge of chemistry became apparent and many times he added new directions and corrected mistakes made by others.Doctor Hahnemann gave much attention to hygiene, exercise and open air, change of climate, seashore. “His book was received with much praise by the profession ” (Quote Ameke: History of Homoeopathy). “As Doctor Hahnemann’s knowledge increased so did his dissatisfaction with the medical knowledge of the day”. In a letter to Hufeland (a friend of Hahnemann) he expressed his dismay. For him it was no longer possible to practice a kind of medicine which could produce death, or new affections and chronic maladies (side effects) which often are more difficult to remove than the original disease.Being a man of such sincerity and integrity this kind of attitude is understandable. This led to an important moment in the life of Doctor Hahnemann he renounced the practice of medicine after his marriage. “I feel sure that God must have ordained some certain method of healing the sick”. Hahnemann moved consequently to Dresden (1784) where he and his family lived for five years. He did not practice medicine here but focused on his translations and the study of chemistry. During this time in Dresden his son Frederick and daughter Wilhelmina were born. One of the most important stepping stones towards fulfilling his true purpose was initiated by the translation of Cullens “MATERIA MEDICA”. After his translation Hahnemann decided to experiment on himself to discover what effect Peruvian bark would have on a healthy person. He did the same with “Cinchona” and found: “Substances which excite a kind of fever, as very strong coffee, pepper, aconite, pognetics, arsenic - extinguish the types of the fever”. This initial testing resulted in many more thereafter. Hahnemann’s curiosity was awakened. He realised that the effects of the Peruvian bark for example on a healthy person were apparently the same as the symptoms of the disease. Hahnemann spent six years in proving drugs on the healthy (including his own family) before he passed his findings on to the world. There was only one objective in Hahnemann’s mind and heart and that was to find a better and safe method of healing. His determination to discover the TRUTH has no doubt been an inspiration especially taking into account his financial circumstances which forced him to translate during the day and research at night. A quote form his father’s wisdom explains his persistence and dedication to finding the truth. “Never take anything for granted, nor receive anything in any science as a truth, until you have investigated it for yourself”. Hahnemann was elected a member of the Oekonomische Gesellschaft of Leipzig and also fellow the Academy of Science of Mayence in 1791, a reflection of his widespread recognition for his contribution in chemistry and translations. The circumstances on the homefront (sick children and poverty) and the associated frustration pushed Hahnemann forward towards finding a new way of healing, finding God’s gift to mankind. In 1792 Hahnemann was placed in charge of an asylum for the insane. Here Hahnemann had the opportunity to use his discovery during proving on the healthy, on the insane by moral, gentle methods and with great success. In Molschleben Hahnemann composed the standard work on pharmacy which received praise from all corners of the scientific society. Because Hahnemann was no longer a medical practitioner and preferred to use methods uncommon and unfamiliar to Physicians of his day he was forbidden to pass on drugs to the public (he was called an irregular practitioner). In 1796 whilst in Konigslutter Hahnemann introduced for the first time to the public his new discovery in medicine - The law of similars. He published in Hufeland’s Journal many of his cures, a means by which to introduce his new TRUTH. Furthermore he now started to officially question the means by which patients were treated.In 1805 Hahnemann published his first collection of provings of medicines upon the healthy body.Included also were the records of the symptoms these medicine produced upon the provers. The last book Hahnemann translated was Albert von Haller’s MATERIA MEDICA in 1806 and during the same year he published the forerunner of the organon called “The Medicine of Experience”. In this book Hahnemann gives details relating to the philosophy of the new system. He speaks of the spiritual aspect of healing and how it involves God and Nature and how healing needs to be governed by a fundamental law. And for the first time he stresses the importance of taking a proper case by letting the patient describe his ailments. Included also is the proper choice and administration of the proper dose. He said: The smallest doses are equal to the disease. The dose must therefore be reduced to the smallest point, capable of causing an aggravation of the symptom. Later Hahnemann adopted one uniform dilution and dynamisation for every medicine - the thirtieth - (even though he did not always confine himself to this rule) Hahnemann believed that through dynamisation drugs would be given a greater spiritual power. Hahnemann”s constant effort was to make the dose of medicine as small as he possible could and still cure the patient. Hahnemann and others entertained the idea of combined doses that is two remedies given together or shortly after one another to cover all aspects of the disease. This novelty though was soon rejected again. It actually never entered into the Fifth edition of the Organon. Whilst living in Torgau Hahnemann put together his greatest written achievement - the Organon of RATIONAL healing which was published in 1810. In the Organon he explains this law of cure with all his discoveries, experiments and opinions also distinguishes between the old mode of cure (Allopathy) and the new laws of Homoeopathy. By doing so he once again attacked the established medical world this time though Hahnemann backed his statements up by producing the organon. This rift between Hahnemann and the traditional Physicians became even greater. It is quite amazing that Hahnemann, a scholar far better educated and equipped to educate than many of his colleagues had to endure such scrutiny. On the one hand he was congratulated for his knowledge in languages, chemistry and medicine on the other hand he was booted out of Leipzig for preparing his own medicines. Once again it is easy to see what solid foundation Hahnemann was standing on because nothing stopped him from maintaining his commitment to Homoeopathy, his commitment to the truth as he had discovered. In April 1812 Hahnemann presented his first course of lectures at the Institute for Graduate Physicians which he brought into being. His objective was to explain the principals of the Organon to the young and old. He continued these lectures until 1820. Besides his lectures Hahnemann focused on completing his “Reine Arzneimittellehre or Materia Medica Pura”. All six volumes were completed by 1820. A second edition was finalised by 1827. The Materia Medica Pura provided a record of symptoms obtained from different medical substances proven on healthy individuals by Hahnemann and his followers. At the age of 66 Hahnemann had been practising medicine for 42 years. Many people from many countries came to see him and still he was not given permission to dispense the simple Homoeopathic medicine. All Hahnemann was looking for now was a quiet and favourable place where he could continue his life and study without the constant harassment form Authorities. Finally in 1821 Hahnemann was invited to Coethen as a private physician to the Duke Frederich of Anhalt - Coethen with permission to conduct his new methods in any way he saw fit. In May 1822 he was elevated to the position of councillor to the court. A formal recognition of the Homoeopathic method of healing was given in Leipzig in 1821 (in the absence of Hahnemann) allowing under certain conditions the right to dispense Homoeopathic medicines. This royal decree came into being due to a petition initiated by supporters ofHomoeopathy. Despite this victory Hahnemann remained in Coethen. During Hahnemann’s lifetime a total of 5 editions of the “organons were published with a number of notes for a sixth edition”. It is here in the organon that Hahnemann mentioned Homoeopathy for the first time. It is composed of two Greek words. In 1821 Dr Ernst Stapf published the first Homoeopathic magazine in order to spread the essence and importance of Homoeopathy. “The archives for Homoeopathic Healing” as the magazine was called gave many followers of Hahnemann a chance to share their findings with the world. In 1828 Hahnemann published his book “Chronic Diseases, their nature and Homoeopathic Treatment”. By 1830 Hahnemann completed his 4th volume. The second edition was issued from 1835-39 in five volumes. Hahnemann had noticed over many years that even though his remedies restored patients to health it was not a true cure and not permanent. Hahnemann realised that these conditions which he called chronic diseases needed to be treated as separate and independent diseases to bring about a cure. Every symptom and condition of this “obscure primary evil (as he also called it) must be known to the physician before a more effective remedy could be found. Neither a robust constitution nor the best diet would be able to overcome this miasmatic chronic problem but it would develop new and worse symptoms until the end of life. The hindrance to the cure of these diseases were primarily based upon a pre-existent itch eruption (single itch, vesicles, herpes etc.) this latent predisposition of the body Hahnemann called PSORA, a sort of internal itch. Two of his students Dr Stapf and Dr Gross were asked to test practically the action of certain remedies which Hahnemann called “antipsoric remedies”. Hahnemann named three causes responsible for producing chronic diseases:</p><p>1. Psora</p><p>2. Syphilis</p><p>3. Sycosis which may exist alone or combined in the system.</p><p>According to Hahnemann the Psora condition were manifestations of ancient chronic lepracy and itch miasm, which were in numerous varieties already described by Moses 3400 years ago. Regardless of where it appeared, how it manifested and what it was called amongst the nations of the world the essence of this miasmatic itch disease always remained the same. Much evidence has been given by Allopathic authorities of cases of varied chronic diseases resulting from suppressed eruptions. Hahnemann’s book on chronic diseases stirred up many Homoeopaths and especially allopathic doctors. Over the years the preparation of Homoeopathic medicines changed in many ways. Hahnemann first used for his triturations porcelain mortars with sugar of milk (Hahnemann introduced sugar globules already in 1813) later the porcelain mortars were preplaced by ones of marble. Bohemia supplied the glass in which the globules could be stored and dispensed. Christian Ernest Otto of Roet ha was the first to establish a regular Homoeopathic Pharmacy. On August 10th, 1829 Hahnemann celebrated the 50th Anniversary of his graduation from medical school in Erlangen. He was honored by many be it townspeople, the Duke and Duchess or friends and pupils from all over the world. After all the years of persecution and insult Hahnemann finally received the recognition, reverence, gratitude and love which no doubt he deserved.</p>