Similia Similibus Curentur

The Gift of Homeopathy

Revised and updated September 3, 2024, Originally Published in Illumination Curated

photo by Kenneth Silvestri ©

“Homeopathy avoids anything that is even the slightest bit debilitating”

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann

As part of a decision to live a life with a strong respect for communication, collaboration, and seeing things systemically, it makes sense to consider a health maintenance perspective such as Homeopathy. Homeopathy emanates from nature and is a wonderful example of holistic healing. It was founded by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann in the 19th century. Hahnemann was a Renaissance man who spoke numerous languages and would stay up all night every other evening to acquire knowledge. Hahnemann’s system of healing has weathered nearly 200 years. However, it continues to be attacked by corporate pharmaceutical companies and those who cannot accept the efficacy of anything except allopathic medicine. It is effective and non-toxic.

The American Medical Association was founded to oppose homeopathy’s successful clinical results, which were seen as competing with its allopathic members. The term allopathic, which Hahnemann coined. However, it referred to those who prescribed high doses of toxic medications and were still bloodletting at that time, though it has come to be defined as a protocol opposite to homeopathy. (Allopathic: The method of treating disease using agents that produce effects different from those of the disease treated.)

Homeopathy is based on the “law of similars,” Similia Similibus Curentur or “let likes be cured with likes.” The homeopathic pharmacies regulated by the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States (and included in the FDA by US Senator Royal Copeland from New York, himself an MD who also ran Wards Island Homeopathic Hospital)) dilute and potentize a substance in water. Each homeopathic remedy is diluted until it is nearly non-existent. Opponents of homeopathy often criticize this process of dilution. However, abundant research and clinical practice demonstrate the effectiveness of Homeopathy (see* below for research citations). The Homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum, available in most drug stores, has been proven to successfully treat flu-like symptoms within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms with no side effects.

When taken in homeopathic potency, a remedy will activate one’s immune system, healing the presenting symptoms and activating one’s immune system. The first remedy Hahnemann “proved” was China officinalis (Peruvian Bark/Quinine Tree). Given that this substance elicited symptoms similar to Malaria, he used it to successfully cure and prevent the spread of that disease. Arnica is another well-known remedy that is used widely for trauma and contusions. It is derived from a mountain daisy that, if taken full dose, will give you bruises (not to be taken this way), but when produced as a homeopathic remedy, will treat contusions and muscular injuries.

When conducting an assessment, a homeopathic practitioner will ask many questions to find the holistic essence of an individual. The assessment consists of a detailed interview that includes mental, emotional, and physical narratives, dreams, traumas, and any unusual symptoms that will help assess the temperament and unique attributes of those being evaluated. The assessment enables the homeopath to discover the most appropriate remedy. For example, there are over 180 remedies for depression, yet the correct remedy for someone depends on it being congruent with who that person is emotionally and physically (see Luc De Schepper’s “Discovering Life: Homeopathic Portraits,” Full of Life Publishing: Santa Fe, NM).

There are approximately twelve hundred FDA-listed remedies in the United States, and over three thousand remedies have been proven worldwide. The process of “proving” a remedy involves it being taken by healthy people during a controlled study. In a very detailed manner, subjects record all symptoms elicited by the remedies, sensations, modalities (what makes it better or worse, etc.), and where the symptoms are located. If a remedy produces a symptom in a healthy subject, given the philosophy that “like cures like” it will heal those same symptoms in a person afflicted with them.

In the late 1800s and well into the mid-twentieth century, thousands of medical doctor practitioners and numerous homeopathic hospitals throughout the United States had years of successful clinical results. For example, there were twenty-one homeopathic hospitals in New Jersey and forty in New York State, which also had homeopathy practiced in its State Psychiatric Hospitals for nearly one hundred years. Flower Hospital in Manhattan (which is now the New York Medical College) and Hahnemann Hospital, now Drexel University in Philadelphia, were flourishing centers, as well as numerous other American Homeopathic Medical Colleges, including the University of Michigan and Boston University, to mention a few, with many documentations of clinical successes.

During the well-documented 1918 Flu Pandemic, homeopathic hospitals that treated cases individually had a death rate of nearly 80% less than traditional allopathic hospitals. Most of these homeopathic institutions met their demise due to the influence of pharmaceutical companies and cultural changes of the 1950s. However, homeopathy thrives in Europe and South Asia and is rising again in the United States. It has also been documented and been useful in treating the current COVID-19 pandemic symptoms in Cuba, Africa, Europe, and India (https://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/homeopathy-to-prevent-and-treat-coronavirus-infection-amma-resonance-healing-foundation/ )

Homeopathy advocate Dana Ullman cites in his book “The Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy” that eleven American presidents and heads of state worldwide, including Gandhi and Churchill, were treated with homeopathy. After punching a foe in a film, even John Wayne stated, “Better get this guy some Arnica.” Famous entertainers, literary greats, scientists, artists, spiritual leaders, athletes, and many more, then and now, support and reference successful healing experiences using homeopathy. A statue of Hahnemann rests not far from the White House in Washington D.C., the only physician to be honored with a national park designation.

A 2012 study by the Swiss Government cites homeopathy as being effective and with cost savings.

Dr. Luc Montagnier, the Nobel Prize Laureate who discovered the AIDS virus, supported homeopathy. In addition, as previously mentioned, many scientists researching water molecules have confirmed that water retains the memory of substances’ molecular imprints despite being dissolved more than was believed possible.

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Implications for the Gift of Homeopathy:

A few years ago, I attended an Alternative and Complementary Healing seminar at a local Law School in New Jersey. One of the presenters, who represented the American Medical Association (AMA) and was from a university in California, discussed research covering over twenty alternative healing methods. Most healing methods were rigorously and, in many cases, rightfully disputed. When the presentation was nearly finished, and without mention of homeopathy, I raised my hand and asked, “What about homeopathy?” The speaker paused and smiled, quite different from his demeanor of the past ninety minutes. He then asked, “Do you use Homeopathy?” I smiled back, and he continued to say that they were following a sizable number of patients being treated with homeopathy in San Diego and Rochester, all of whom were getting better from their presenting symptoms. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “Well, Homeopaths spend much more time than the recommended eleven minutes that the AMA suggests for consulting with patients. Therefore, it must be the placebo effect.” His sheepish smile at that moment seemed incongruent amongst his many slick and extensive research charts.

Here are some prompts that you can consider when looking to alternative healing:

Was there ever a time in your life that you felt uncomfortable with traditional Western medicine?

How might any experience regarding your health have been more in harmony with who you are and what may have been occurring at that time in your life?

Have you ever had any side effects from medication, and how did you cope with it?

How might an integrative alternative healing modality complement your health care?

Would it be valuable for you to consider using homeopathy as part of your health resources? (To find a Certified Classical Homeopath, go to the website of The Council for Homeopathic Certification at homeopathicdirectory.com )

*Research:.(see the Homeopathic Educational Services’ website for research information and educational resources,

https://homeopathic.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooSsfO_gBqsvuctvfN-gEJ4SHglly-Owv9A-BIslNWvfeNSsBWS

Dana Ullman’s article in the Huffington Post, “Dysfunction at Wikipedia on Homeopathic” October 1, 2014, http://huff.to/1ssZ8Dp, as well as the American Institute of Homeopathy, the Association of American Medical Doctors, https://homeopathyusa.org/uploads/Homeopathy-Research-Evidence-Base-12-13-2019.pdf, as well as the National Center for Homeopathy, https://homeopathycenter.org/research-on-homeopathy )

Further resources:

See Jerry Kantor, Sane Asylums: The Success of Homeopathy Before Psychiatry Lose Its Mind, Healing Arts Press, 2022 and The Emotional Roots of Chronic Illness, Healing Arts Press, 2023; Luc Montagnier, Nobel Prize Winner, Takes Homeopathy Seriously, January 30, 2011, By Dana Ullman, The Huffington Post, and Homeopathy Vindicated as Cost-Effective by Swiss Government, March 23, 2012, also by Dana Ullman, The Huffington Post; an excellent book describing the state of modern medicine and the hope that an individualized approach can offer is Green Medicine: Challenging the assumptions of Conventional Health Care, by Larry Malerba, D.O., North Atlantic Books: Berkeley, Calif, 2010; Kenneth Silvestri, The Joy of Homeopathy: Mental and Emotional Healing, Selected articles 1997-2020 and media presentations, (found on my web site www.drkennethsilvestri.com, under publications 2019-21)