Similia Similibus Curenter
This principle was formulated by Hahnemann with the Latin motto ‘simila similibus curentur’. Similars are cured with similars. Hahnemann believed this to be one of the fundamental laws of cure. The idea had first been mentioned by Hippocrates, then by Paracelsus, and later by others.
And while conventional medicine believes that it must fight the disease bearing factor which it sees as the main cause for disease, homeopathy believes that it must strengthen the organism’s defence mechanism in order to be able to fight the imbalance.
Homeopathy aims to treat the root cause of a disease and not just suppress symptoms, with the ultimate aim being total alleviation of symptoms & cure of the disease rather than just symptomatic relief.
Homeopathic medicines are prescribed to the patient; and not to the illness.
Dr. Samuel Hahnemann was originally trained as an allopathic (conventional) physician. He studied medicine at the University of Leipzig and later at the University of Erlangen, earning his medical degree in 1779. However, he became disillusioned with the harsh and often harmful medical practices of his time, such as bloodletting, purging, and the use of toxic substances in high doses.
Frustrated with these methods, Hahnemann abandoned his medical practice and turned to medical translations and research. It was during this period that he developed the principles of homeopathy