In order to look at the future homeopathy one must look at the past of it. The history of homeopathy begins with the discoveries of its founder Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), a German physician. Hahnemann first coined the word "homeopathy” to refer the law of similars that is its basis. Actually, the law of similars was previously described by Hippocrates and Paracelsus and was utilized by many cultures, including the Mayans, Chinese, Greeks, Native American Indians, and Asian Indians, but it was Hahnemann who codified the law of similars into a systematic medical science. Hahnemann was particularly disliked by many in the medical profession of the time and the apothecaries especially because he recommended the use of only one medicine at a time and believed in prescribing only limited doses of it. Because he recommended small doses of each medicine, the apothecaries could not charge much for them. And because each medicine required careful preparation, Hahnemann found that the apothecaries were not always making them correctly or were intentionally giving his patients different medicines. As his distrust grew toward the apothecaries, he chose to dispense his own medicines, an illegal act at the time in Germany. The apothecaries then accused Hahnemann of "entrenching upon their privileges by the dispensing of medicines." Arrested in Leipzig in 1820, he was found guilty and forced to move. He then moved to Kothen, where he was delegated special permission to practice and dispense his own medicines by Grand Duke Ferdinand, one of the many European royalties who supported homeopathy. Despite the persecution, homeopathy continued to grow. It grew not just because it offered a systematic approach to treating sick people, but also because orthodox medicine was ineffective and even dangerous. Most medical historians today agree that orthodox medicine of the 1700s and 1800s frequently caused more harm than good. Homeopathy then comes into strong opposition from the Physicians of the time. They criticized herbalists, midwives, and various other "non-regular" practitioners because they were not medically trained. Homeopaths, however, could not be discredited as being unlearned, since they had been were graduates from many of the same medical schools as "regular" physicians. In fact, many of the initial practitioners of homeopathy graduated from some of the most prestigious medical schools of the day. Perhaps the most important reason that conventional physicians disliked homeopathy and homeopaths was well expressed at an A.M.A. meeting by one of the more respected orthodox physicians who said, "We must admit that we never fought the homeopath on matters of principles; we fought him because he came into the community and got the business." Hahnemann's principles posed a philosophical, clinical, and economic threat to orthodox medicine. Although most physicians, past or present, won't as easily admit it, economic issues play a major role in what is practiced and what is allowed to be practiced.
Homeopathy despite so many attempts to be snuffed out is again experiencing a renaissance in the United States. In the early 1970s there were only 50-100 physicians who specialized in homeopathy, and yet by the mid-1980s, it can be estimated that there are approximately 1,000 physicians who specialize in homeopathy. There has been many a news article speaking to the numbers of physicians in the U.S. who specialize in homeopathy and even speculate that it has doubled from 1980 to 1982. Approximately 1,000 other health professionals in the U.S. use homeopathic medicines, and these include dentists, podiatrists, veterinarians, physician assistants, nurses, naturopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and psychologists. Although these numbers still represent only a very small percentage of licensed health professionals, the rapidly growing interest in homeopathy portends significant increases to come. The rediscovery of homeopathy by the general public is even more encouraging. It is difficult to predict how the future of homeopathy will be in the United States in the 21st century. Growing numbers of consumers are learning to self-prescribe homeopathic medicine for common acute conditions and hopefully will demand homeopathic care from their physicians for more serious medical conditions. All of this struggle; this rich and dramatic history brings us into the NOW and into the future of homeopathy. In Washington State today 2009 homeopaths still must fight for the legal right to practice because homeopathy falls into the scope of “practicing medicine with out a license” the Naturopathic doctors curiously aren’t supportive of the lay homeopath and want the exclusive rights to homeopathy. These brothers with a similar vision in healing are now part of the suppression of the lay homeopath. The medical community and state laws currently enacted completely ignore aphorism 11 from the Organon which beautifully states that “the spiritual vital force” is the only thing that is being treated in homeopathy. I believe they are in violation of a human beings right to practice a form of healing that delves into the spiritual realm and should never be suppressed. I am finding that it is requiring of me more than anticipated. Not only do I desire to be a healer but it is now requiring me to be an activist as well. My vision for the homeopathic future is long, I also see it being arduous and difficult but I also see it in micro steps just like these beautiful micro doses that our founder placed in the world for us. Diane Miller a Minnesota attorney and activist for homeopathy states: “I think homeopaths need to be leading the world in understanding energy, people and the law of similars. Homeopathy is by nature evolving, just as the human spirit and consciousness is evolving. Homeopathy is assisting us in out own understandings. If homeopathy can’t evolve, it will harnessed and corralled by those that do not honor or understand energy and the breadth of the human experience and homeopathy will lose its vitality and it will become impotent and die.” I believe homeopathy shouldn’t be regulated by the government, but we regulate ourselves so that it is allowed to evolve and grow in a natural way. I believe homeopathy is safe and like many professions in out culture that should be protected as always being free to practice in the public domain. I will fight for that right as long as I am blessed with the gift of homeopathy and its wonder.
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