Homeopathy Has Survived the Test of Time

Can Homeopathy, a Particularly Mild Therapeutic Approach, Survive and Grow in a World of Violence?

Dr. George Vithoulkas's debate article, “Can Homeopathy, a Particularly Mild Therapeutic Approach, Survive and Grow in a World of Violence?”,[1] is a presentation of his ideas about the existence and status of homeopathy in the present-day violent world. Torturing questions bothered him for three decades and led him to create his theory which, in summary, states that “homeopathy is not a therapeutic approach suited for a modern ‘developed’ society, it will never be widely practiced in our contemporary world, and it will never become truly adopted by medical schools—apart from a few avant-garde medical institutions that have visionary leadership”. Dr. Vithoulkas feels that the conventional medical world is not afraid of a harmless homeopathy that will never occupy its space.

One of my reactions to the article was recognizing the relationship between homeopathy and its apparent helplessness for existence in today's world. Homeopathy has survived, withstanding all odds against it, for 200 years. Dr. Hahnemann was bold enough to face cruel challenges to bring homeopathy to light. He tried to explain its principles by every possible scientific approach available at that time. With the subsequent revolution in science, researchers have developed techniques that accidentally prove the basic principles of homeopathy. For example, personalized medicine or precision medicine is an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that is based on individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person.[2] This concept is very similar to homeopathy's emphasis since its inception. Homeopathy deals with individualization: i.e., a patient is characterized by “his moral and intellectual character, his occupation, mode of living and habits, his social and domestic relations, his age, sexual function, etc”.[3] Homeopathy deals more with the phenotypical than the genotypical aspect of personalized medicine.

Advanced technologies are also helping us understand the relationship behind extreme high dilutions of homeopathic medicines and the nature of their starting material. Transmission electron microscopy can visualize these starting materials, and their quantitative estimation is possible by chemical analysis using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy.[4] It is my perception that with the advancement of technologies, the mechanism of action of homeopathy will become explained more extensively. Many physicians cannot connect with these developments due to their inexperience in modern science. The time has come to use a different terminology for this beautiful therapeutic science—one which the world understands. If not, a day may come when a new science will come into existence without including the word “homeopathy”, yet having all the principles involved in it.

Dr. Vithoulkas also mentions the long hours of homeopathic case studying. There are various methods of prescribing. Prescribing is also an art with individualization. We need to select different prescription methods accordingly. If a patient comes with an acute complaint, he/she may need a short case taking and a keynote prescription. Another might come with many mental general symptoms, calling for repertorization using the Kent repertory. Or maybe he/she seeks treatment for pathological symptoms or a diagnosis—the best way then is to repertorize with the Therapeutic Pocket Book as acknowledged by Dr. Hahnemann and Dr. Boenninghausen.[5]

The violence all over the world makes people sicker in all aspects. Homeopathy plays an important role in healing mental, emotional, and physical health, all together. Therefore, patients do come back again and again for re-setting their health with this “peaceful” therapeutic system. In conclusion, I strongly commend Dr. Vithoulkas's debate article to those who care about the existence of homeopathy. Ultimately, peace prevails over violence.

Publication History

Received: 19 May 2020

Accepted: 21 May 2020

Article published online:
27 July 2020

• References

• 1 Vithoulkas G. Can homeopathy, a particularly mild therapeutic approach, survive and grow in a world of violence?. Homeopathy 2020 109. 179-181
• 2 Goetz LH, Schork NJ. Personalized medicine: motivation, challenges, and progress. Fertil Steril 2018; 109: 952-963
• 3 Hahnemann S. Organon of Medicine. 5th & 6th eds. India: B. Jain Publishers; 2008:67
• 4 Chikramane PS, Suresh AK, Bellare JR, Kane SG. Extreme homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: a nanoparticulate perspective. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 231-242
• 5 Gunavante SM. Introduction to Homoeopathic Prescribing: Aude Sapere. India: B. Jain Publishers; 2000