Homeopathy

Homeopathy [ˌhomøopaˈtiː] (from ancient Greek ὁμοῖος homóios, German 'same', 'like', 'similar', and πάθος páthos, German 'suffering', 'pain', 'affect', 'feeling'; literally, "similar suffering") is an alternative medical treatment method based on the ideas of the German physician Samuel Hahnemann, published from 1796.

Its name-giving and most important basic assumption is a principle of similarity formulated by Hahnemann: "Let similar things be cured by similar things" (Latin similia similibus curentur). According to this principle, a homeopathic remedy (as opposed to an allopathic remedy) should be selected in such a way that the ingredients of the basic substance could cause similar symptoms in a healthy person as those from which the sick person suffers. The "temperamental and mental character" of the patient should also be taken into account. For this purpose Hahnemann and his successors drew up extensive tables (repertories), with the help of which the homoeopath is to assign the patient and his symptoms to a drug picture.

For the production of homeopathic medicines, the basic substances are subjected to a so-called potentisation (dilution). This means that they are repeatedly (usually in a ratio of 1:10 or 1:100) shaken with water or ethanol or rubbed with lactose. Dilution was initially done because of the toxicity of many of the substances used. Only at a later stage did Hahnemann prescribe "high potencies". Hahnemann assumed that through the special procedure of potentization or "dynamization" a "spirit-like power hidden in the inner essence of the remedies" would become effective. To justify the high potencies he assumed that here "the matter [...] of raw medicinal substances [...] finally dissolves completely into its individual spirit-like essence".

The claimed selective enhancement of desired effects through the procedures of the dilution process contradicts scientific findings. The doctrine of homeopathy is counted among the pseudosciences. The Hahnemannian principle of similarity is also scientifically untenable. Clinical studies according to scientific standards could not prove any efficacy of homeopathic medicines in the treatment of diseases beyond the placebo effect. Success after treatment is attributed to the treatment environment, not to the remedy itself, such as the patient's belief in the efficacy of the treatment (autosuggestion) or the quality of the relationship between therapist and patient.

In a survey conducted in Germany in 2009 by the Allensbach Institute, 17% of respondents associated homeopathic medicines with the dilution or similarity principle.

Directions in homeopathy

Homeopathy is not a uniform doctrine. There are different directions, which partly fight each other. Also, alternative practitioners or conventional doctors who use homeopathy can not generally be assigned to one direction. The wide spectrum of directions is illustrated by the numerous proper names, such as classical homeopathy, genuine homeopathy, the Boenninghausen and Boger method, the miasmatic and scientific homeopathy, the scientific-critical direction, process-oriented homeopathy, creative homeopathy, impulse and resonance homeopathy, electronic homeopathy (frequency-based), the Seghal and Herscue method, central delusion, C4 homeopathy, and quantum-logical homeopathy. Terms such as organotropic and personotropic homeopathy are also used. The split in homeopathy began as early as Hahnemann's time, who also referred to deviants from his pure doctrine as bastard homeopaths. Hahnemann urged as early as 1796, "Imitate, but imitate exactly."

Classical homeopathy

The term "classical homeopathy" arose from the effort to distinguish itself from the wide spectrum of healing methods described as "homeopathic". The foundations of classical homeopathy are Hahnemann's teachings and the further developments of the healing method based on them (for example, by Boenninghausen, Hering, Kent and others). If Hahnemann's teachings are adhered to in a particularly stringent manner, they are referred to as "genuine homeopathy". In contrast to many other directions of homeopathy, in classical homeopathy only one remedy is administered at a time, usually in a medium or high potency. Medicines are selected after thorough anamnesis according to the individual symptom picture of the patient. Classical homeopaths treat both acute diseases and chronic conditions (constitutional treatment).

See also: Association of Classical Homeopaths of Germany

Scientific-critical homeopathy

Scientific-critical homeopathy is a branch of homeopathy that uses homeopathic medicines as a supplement to evidence-based medical treatment. Low potencies up to D12 are often used, in which there is still a detectable residue of the medicinal substance. Treatment with high potencies is rejected. Medicines are also not prescribed according to the often very complex overall symptom picture of the patient, but according to pathology (disease). This makes it particularly easy to find the right remedy, because for a cold, for example, one only has to choose from a list of a few remedies. However, this procedure is in contradiction to Hahnemann's teachings, who in his Organon opposed the mixing of homeopathy with non-homeopathic treatment methods and denounced it as treason:

Important representatives of this homeopathic movement were Moritz Müller, Ludwig Grießelich, Friedrich Rummel, Franz Hartmann, Otto Leeser, Alfons Stiegele (1871-1956), Julius Mezger and Fritz Donner. Although they had their own journal, Hygea, Rummel and Hartmann also served on the editorial board of the Allgemeine Homöopathische Zeitung.

Complex remedy homeopathy

The use of "complex remedies" is also widespread, i.e. a mixture of different remedies which is put together for a specific disease according to organotropic aspects or also clinical indications. They contain individual substances in very different dosages, which are supposed to reinforce each other in their effect. The Protestant clergyman Emanuel Felke is considered the founder of complex remedy homeopathy. Therapy with complex remedies also contradicts the essence of the original homeopathy. Hahnemann writes in his Organon:

Besides Emanuel Felke, the Italian Cesare Mattei and the Swiss Emil Bürgi were well-known representatives of this direction.

Animal Homeopathy

The first publication on the subject of animal homeopathy was by the court apothecary Donauer in 1815. Hahnemann himself took the view in 1829 that "... animals ... could be cured just as safely and surely as human beings". However, he did not take any steps of his own towards the development of animal homoeopathy. At the beginning of the 20th century this lost importance until the 1930s. The most important influence on its renewed spread in the post-war period was Hans Wolter.

Homeopathy supporters claim that there are treatment successes in animals and that these cannot be explained by placebo effects, since animals cannot "believe" in the efficacy of homeopathic remedies. However, placebo-like effects have been demonstrated in animals, explained for example by classical conditioning or caring treatment. Furthermore, the opinion of animal owners on the type of treatment influences their assessment of the treatment success. These effects are also used by animal homeopaths.

J. C. L. Genzke published a textbook Homöopathische Arzneimitteltellehre für Tierärzte in 1837, in which he reported on 67 drug tests on dogs, horses and cattle. However, the selection of medicines in animal homeopathy is based on remedy pictures (AMB), which are predominantly of human homeopathic origin. The transferability of the AMB from humans to animals is justified by the fact that there is nothing in animals that is not also latent or homologous in humans as an organ, behavioural pattern or basic form of a pathology.

The EU regulation on organic livestock production, in force since 1 January 2009, requires that animal diseases be treated immediately. In this context, "[...] chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products, including antibiotics [...] may be used, if necessary under strict conditions, when treatment with phytotherapeutic, homeopathic and other products is unsuitable".

Large meta-analyses assessing the efficacy of homeopathy in veterinary medicine are lacking. However, the few methodologically well-designed clinical studies conducted so far did not show any medical efficacy of veterinary homeopathy.