|
The principle of 'let like be cured by like', which is the basis
of homeopathic (homoeopathic / homœopathic) medicine, has been known in medical
philosophy since the time of Hippocrates (approx 460-375 BC). Several of
the writings of the Hippocratic Corpus expound this natural law. Galen (129-200
AD) is considered to be the father of modern orthodox medicine but, in his writings, even
he acknowledged the truth of the Principal of Similars.
Paracelsus, in the 16th Century, was a reformer who proposed a crude
form of homeopathy but it was based on the testing of medicines on the sick. He
failed to achieve what the German Physician, Samuel Hahnemann (1755 -
1843) did, 200 years later.
Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann was a gifted and highly educated man and an
expert in languages and chemistry. He qualified as a physician but became so
disillusioned by the medical practices of his day that he ceased to practise. To
support his family, he turned to the translation of medical texts. Whilst
translating a Materia Medica by William Cullen, a Scottish physician, in 1790,
he came across an explanation of how Cinchona Bark cures Malaria. He disagreed
with Cullen's theory and, while considering the problem, took doses of the
substance himself. The Cinchona induced in him symptoms which he realised were
indistinguishable from those of Malaria. He repeated these experiments on
himself and every time produced the same effect. He had rediscovered the natural
law of 'like cures like'. He was unique in his testing of medicines on healthy
individuals.
Being a true scientist Hahnemann set out to test this theory. Using, family,
friends and students, he tested over 60 substances in the next 20 years. These
tests or provings were carried out on many people under strict controls of diet
and life-style and provided the basis for his Homeopathic Materia Medica.
He called his new system of medicine 'Homeopathy' from the Greek - homoios
(similar) and pathos (suffering). He also wrote the first edition of 'The Organon
of Medicine', which described his theory and philosophy of homeopathy.
At first Hahnemann was using material doses of substances but, in an attempt to
reduce the risk of toxicity and side effects, he began to reduce the dose. He
developed a methodical system of serial dilution and succussion (vigorous
shaking), which he found made his medicines both safer and, paradoxically, more
potent.
While Hahnemann's method proved highly effective in the treatment of acute
disease, he continued to have problems in the cure of chronic disease. After
several years of study, he concluded that all chronic disease originated from
three 'miasms' or 'taints'. He proposed that the variations of chronic disease arise from the
continual passage and mixing of these infections, from generation to generation. He believed
that most individuals have one or more of these 'miasms' dormant within them and
that any of life's stresses can trigger manifestation of the dormant miasm.
Nowadays we would refer to these as patterns of 'disease tendency'. They are
expressions of the body's three ways of reacting to disease: deficient reaction,
excessive reaction, destructive reaction. Suppression of chronic disease (the
result of much orthodox treatment) will drive the disease inward, possibly to be
later expressed as allergy, asthma, epilepsy, cancer etc. He utilised
homeopathic medicines which were capable of counteracting these miasms, in his
revolutionary and very successful treatment of chronic disease.
Hahnemann was able to treat, homeopathically,
an epidemic of Typhus in Leipzig, in 1813. His amazingly successful treatments
were all the more surprising to us now, since they predated any knowledge of
bacteria or, of course, antibiotics. After his death, cholera was successfully
treated by homeopathy, in London (1854). This fact does not appear in modern
medical textbooks and was even suppressed at the time (see Hansard 1855). The
medical establishment of whatever era has always had difficulty in embracing
homeopathy, ever since its discovery in 1790. The extreme dilution of the
medicines in common use appears to be the main stumbling block. Modern
bioenergetics, molecular and atomic physics and knowledge of the effects of
cavitation of water during violent agitation are, however, providing new insights into its
possible mechanisms.
In circa 1813, in Leipzig, Hahnemann lectured on the use of homeopathy in
animals (at the Leipziger Ökonomischen Gesellschaft, of which he was a
member). The manuscript for this lecture is held in the Universitätsbibliothek,
Leipzig. He stated that the principles and application in animals were broadly
similar to those in humans. Veterinary homeopathy has developed ever since.
Boenninghausen and Lux were early proponents. In
more recent times, in the UK, homeopathy for animals was kept alive, somewhat
paradoxically, by the vets of the PDSA. This animal charity acknowledged its
great benefits and was undoubtedly also swayed by the great economy of its use,
when compared to expensive drugs. This state of affairs has more or less ceased,
now, since so few vets, relatively, are trained in and understand this form of
medicine.
The BAHVS was founded in 1982, by George Macleod (President), Christopher Day
(Hon. Sec.), Francis Hunter, John Saxton and others. Many key veterinary
personalities have since held office in this organisation.
In 1984, the Faculty of Homeopathy* (UK) started a veterinary teaching and
examination programme, later developing standards, syllabus and 'code of
practice'. The first veterinary homeopathic qualification in the world
(VetMFHom) was granted, by the Faculty, in 1987. Those who have qualified in
veterinary homeopathy, after three years of accredited study, hold the
specialist qualification VetMFHom.
The first Veterinary Dean was elected in 1988, to further veterinary academic
development and the first Veterinary Fellow (VetFFHom) was elected in 1991. In
2001, the Faculty created an ‘introductory level’ qualification for vets, the LFHom(Vet). This is attainable after only one year of accredited study and the
level of competence expected does not include the taking of referrals. It is
designed to raise the level of competence in early trainees and to recognise the
commitment to preliminary study.
In January 1991, the BBC QED series featured both
medical homeopathy and veterinary homeopathy, in a landmark programme entitled 'Homeopathy –
Medicine or Magic'. The main planks of its support for the science of
homeopathy were the clinical research projects of Dr David Reilly and vet
Christopher Day. This raised levels of public and academic interest to new
heights. Veterinary homeopathy has developed over the intervening years, until
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in the year 2000, listed the holders
of the specialist qualification (VetMFHom) in the Register, as an aid both to
those veterinary surgeons seeking specialists to whom to refer and for those
members of the public seeking homeopathic help for their animals**.
Faculty-Accredited training of vets now takes place in
Australia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, and other countries.
At an international level, the International Association for Veterinary
Homeopathy (IAVH) was founded in Luxembourg, in 1986. Its first Congress was
held in Oxford (UK) in 1987. It has since gone on to conduct or to guide
teaching programmes, worldwide and to set examinations leading to the
qualification CertIAVH. Much of this work was based on the UK Faculty’s
pioneering programmes. Some UK veterinary surgeons hold this qualification.
Important personages
Frederick Hervey Foster Quinn (1799 - 1878) was the first practising
English homeopathic physician. After qualifying in medicine, he visited Europe
and eventually studied under Hahnemann. In 1833 he returned to open a
homeopathic practice in London and in 1844 he formed the British Homeopathic
Society - the forerunner of the present day Faculty. He raised funds to build
the first London Homeopathic Hospital and started the first school of
homeopathy in Britain.
Constantin Hering (1800 - 1880) was studying medicine in Leipzig and set
out to refute the claims of Hahnemann but, in studying the system, became
convinced of its validity. He was the first homeopath to carry out provings on a
snake venom and also the first to suggest the use of nosodes - remedies made
from the products of disease. In 1833 he moved to America and founded the first
homeopathic institute in the world.
James Tyler Kent (1849 - 1916) was converted to homeopathy through the
illness of his wife and became one of the most able teachers of homeopathy in
the United States of America. He produced Kent's Repertory, a
comprehensive ‘symptom dictionary’, which has had an enormous influence on the
development of homeopathy in modern times.
Johann Joseph Wilhelm Lux
(1773 – 1849) had contact with Hahnemann,
while in Leipzig. Both were members of the Leipziger Ökonomischen Gesellschaft,
to which Hahnemann gave the first lecture on the homeopathic treatment of
animals. He was part of the historic continuity of veterinary homeopathy, from
1813 but later branched into ‘isopathy’.
Clemens Maria Franz Baron von Boenninghausen (1785 – 1864)
was a German
baron, lawyer and agriculturalist, who also had contact with Hahnemann and later
went on to become one of the major contributors to the homeopathic literature.
His enthusiasm for the subject came from his own homeopathic cure, in 1827, from a
serious chronic disease (purulent tuberculosis), from which his doctors gave him
no hope of recovery. He used homeopathy on animals and, in fact, homeopathically
treated the animals on his own vast Westphalian estate.
George Macleod MRCVS (1912 – 1995) was perhaps the most famous of UK
veterinary surgeons using homeopathy. He was responsible for keeping homeopathy
available for animals in the UK, almost single-handedly, for the middle part of
the 20th Century.
Frederik Schroyens has recently pioneered and is developing the
world’s first veterinary repertory, which is based on his Synthesis Repertory,
which was originally modelled on Kent’s Repertory (see above). This work is in
partnership with key individuals from the IAVH.
*
The Faculty of Homeopathy, Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street West, Luton,
Beds LU1 3BE – 0870 444 3955.
** Holders of the specialist qualification VetMFHom
were listed by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in a separate
section of the ‘Register’, from 2000 to 2007, in order to help veterinary
surgeons locate a specialist to whom to refer cases or to help members of the
public to locate homeopathic help for an animal. The Royal College has since
decided to 'streamline' the Register by removing that page. The BAHVS regrets
this reduction of client service.
|
