"The highest and only appointment of a doctor is to restore health to the patient - to heal him."
Samuel Hahnemann

Homeopathy is a highly systematized method of powerful stimulation of the body's vitality in order to cure disease. It is based on several simple but deep laws of Nature, which, however, contradict conventional wisdom. The ramified system of homeopathy is too complex to be learned in a few seminars or after reading this book. Its laws are easy to formulate, but difficult to understand. It takes many years of study and practice to start using them; no less, if not more, than for conventional medical education.

For a good introduction to Homeopathy, we should turn to a 170-year-old story, one of the most interesting in the history of medicine. It revolves around one person. I am sure that over time this man will take his place among such giants of history as Einstein, Newton and Hippocrates. Like them, this man, with his discoveries, radically and for a long time changed our ideas not only about health and disease, but also about nature as a whole. Therefore, we will now trace in more detail his life, the evolution of his thoughts, which should help us clarify the basic principles of homeopathy.
In 1810 in Torgau, a small German town, the book Organon of Medical Art was published. Its author, Samuel Hahnemann, was known as an eminent physician and author of medical books, so the release of his new work in itself aroused the interest of readers. However, after reading the book, the European medical community was outraged. They were offered a completely new system of medicine, fundamentally opposing the traditional medicine of that time.
Hahnemann called his system of medicine homeopathy - from the Greek homeos - "like" and pathos "suffering". Thus, homeopathy means "treatment with something that produces an effect similar to suffering itself." In a new book, Hahnemann outlined the laws and principles of his science, collected empirically over 20 years. In short, Hahnemann argued and argued that:

1. Healing occurs in accordance with certain laws inherent in nature.
2. Cure bypassing these laws is impossible.
3. There are no diseases as such, there are only sick people.
4. Since disease is a state of dynamic nature, then the medicine must be the same.
5. At each stage of the disease, the patient needs only one medicine. If this medicine is not found, then it cannot be cured, but it may receive temporary relief.

The beneficial effects of homeopathy were so noticeable that the new method quickly gained recognition in Europe and the world. However, when it was first published, Hahnemann's book met with fierce opposition from doctors, who continued to prescribe bloodletting, laxative and diaphoretic to patients. But Hahnemann was not discouraged: an extraordinary personality, he was accustomed to misunderstanding.
His first biographer, Thomas Bradford, recounts how Hahnemann's father locked up his son alone for what he called "mental exercise" *
* Thomas Lindslcy Bradford, "Life and Letters of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann: Pliiladelphin, Boericke & Tafel, 1895.
those. tasks that the boy had to solve on his own. Thus, Hahnemann developed his intuition and understood the limitations of rational logic.
Hahnemann showed signs of early development in almost everything he touched. So, at the age of 12, he received an assignment from his teacher to teach Greek to other children. At the university, he took up chemistry and medicine, as well as translating books on these sciences from English into German. In 1779 he graduated from the University of Leipzig with a medical degree and soon published a series of papers on medicine and chemistry. In 1791, for his work in chemistry, he was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences in Mayens. His "Pharmaceutical Dictionary" became the universally recognized textbook of the time; he was chosen to carry out the standardization of the German Pharmacopoeia.
Soon after completing his medical education, Hahnemann married and had children. With a family and a solid reputation in chemistry and medicine, he nevertheless continued to experience dissatisfaction. Much to the chagrin of colleagues and friends, he left medical practice. Explaining his act, he wrote to one of his friends:
“It was a torment for me to wander in the dark while treating a patient, prescribing a medicine in accordance with one or another hypothesis, which got into pharmacology in connection with someone's arbitrary judgment. Soon after my marriage, I left medical practice, as I could no longer put patients at risk That is why I turned exclusively to chemistry and writing. "

Hahnemann's convictions were not shaken even after his beloved children fell ill. He wrote to one of his friends: "My doubts doubled when I found that I could not give the children any permanent relief." Hahnemann continued to translate, providing the family with a very meager source of food. Through medical practice, he could have provided a comfortable existence for the family, but he preferred poverty to the need to accept a system whose mistakes and uncertainty disgusted him.
But Hahnemann's mind remained inquisitive, open and systematic. He relentlessly researched basic issues of health and disease. It was during this time that he stumbled upon the first fundamental law of homeopathy. He translated Materia Medica (collection of information on the action of drugs), written by Cullen, professor at the University of London. Cullen devoted 20 pages of the book to the healing indications of the Peruvian bark (the source of what is now called quinine).
The author attributed the beneficial effects of the drug in the treatment of malaria to its bitter taste. Hahnemann was so dissatisfied with the explanation that he did something completely out of the ordinary: he took the Peruvian crust himself! This act had no precedent in medicine. It is still unknown what prompted him to do this, but the experiment began a new era in medicine. He described the result as follows:
"I began to take 4 drachmas of good quina twice a day, which made my feet, fingertips, etc. feel cold, I became lethargic and drowsy. Then my heartbeat began, my pulse became small and hard. My limbs were engulfed. trembling and weakness, the head was throbbing, the cheeks were reddened, and intense thirst began. each part of the body. The attack lasted about 2-3 hours each time and was repeated only if the medicine was taken. I stopped taking the medicine and became completely healthy. "
* T.L. Bradford, op. cit.

Imagine how Hahnemann was shocked by the result of this experiment! In medicine, it has always been generally accepted that when a symptom appears, a medicine should be given to relieve this symptom. This connection is automatically imprinted on the heads of doctors and patients. However, Hahnemann discovered from his own experience that the malaria medicine causes these very symptoms in a healthy person!
Many would simply ignore these observations as an exception. But Hahnemann was a true empiricist scientist. For him, it was the fact that was more important, regardless of whether it fits the generally accepted dogmas or not. Taking his observation seriously, he set about further experiments. The results confirmed that his "accidental" observations reveal a real phenomenon of Nature: a substance that causes certain symptoms in a healthy person cures them in a sick person.
This discovery, despite the fact that its author was already widely known, attracted to Hahnemann a significant number of doctors - like him, seekers of truth. Together, they began experimenting on themselves, adopting various means. These experiments continued for six years. All observations after taking each of the drugs were scrupulously recorded. At the same time, Hahnemann, who had access to an extensive medical library and was fluent in Latin, Greek, Arabic, English and French, compiled an extensive collection of accidental poisoning records made by doctors from different countries over the centuries. Descriptions of the symptoms caused by the poisons were combined with those obtained in experiments on Hahnemann and his fellow physicians - into detailed volumes.
Soon, Hahnemann and his colleagues discovered that these symptom complexes were similar to many diseases, before which scientific medicine found itself powerless. Having tried to give these medicines to patients who were found to have similar symptoms, they were amazed at the cures achieved in accordance with this principle for the so-called "incurable" diseases. Hahnemann made sure that any medicine helps precisely with the group of symptoms that it causes in a healthy body.

The process by which pathogenesis of certain substances is experimentally caused in a healthy organism, Hahnemann called the "test" of a drug. Orthodox medicine (which homeopaths call "allopathy" from the root allo meaning "other") also tests drugs; but the important difference is that allopaths test drugs on animals. Animals don't speak. They cannot talk about the subtle changes in mood, the different types of pain that the people tested can describe. In addition, the physiology of animals differs significantly from that of humans. Hahnemann clearly understood the limitations of animal medicine. In order to create a valid therapy, an experiment must be set up under the same conditions, within the same framework, in which the drug will act. Simple common sense requires it, but for Hahnemann's contemporaries it was a revolution.
After devoting several years to experimenting, Hahnemann returned to medical practice, but this time homeopathic. During the consultation, he recorded all the patient's physical and mental symptoms. Then he looked for a homeopathic medicine that caused similar symptoms in him or his colleagues (or these symptoms were observed as a result of accidental poisoning). Thus, he achieved very significant success in treatment, and sometimes he achieved a quick and lasting effect even with one single dose of medicine!

The homeopathic principle, known today as the Law of Similarity, is substantiated by Hahnemann in paragraph 19 of the Organon.
"Since diseases are nothing more than a change in the state of health of a healthy person, manifested through visible signs, and how cure is possible only through a change from a disease state to a healthy one, it is easy to understand that drugs could not be cured if they did not have forces to change the state of human health, sensations and functions of the organism, and that only this force is based on their healing properties. "

Hahnemann, having understood and formulated this fundamental law, did not feel like its discoverer. He cites many authors who, it seems to him, formulated or at least hinted at this law long before him. For example, Hippocrates several times in his books calls two methods of treatment: "similar" and "opposite". Bulduk wrote long before Hahnemann that rhubarb cures diarrhea due to its laxative properties. Another author, Betarding, said that senna herb cures colic precisely because it causes it in healthy people. And a contemporary of Hahnemann Stahl wrote that "it is a completely false rule in medicine to treat in the opposite way. On the contrary, diseases are cured and disappear from drugs that can cause a similar defeat" *.
* S. Hahnemann, Organon of the Art of Healing, 6th ed. Boericke and Tafel, Phila., 1917, p. 46. ​​Turning back to the depths of the ages, in the Old Testament times, we will come across Mekilta's assertion that man heals with opposite means, and God with similar ones!
"Come and see: the healing of the Holy One, be He blessed, is not like that of a human. A man does not heal with the same thing that he wounds: he wounds with a knife, but heals with a plaster. But not so Holy, be He blessed, for He heals with the same, than strikes a blow "*.
* "Mekilta de-rabbi Ishmael", trans J.Z. Lauterbach, The Jewish Publication Soc. of America, Phila., p. 239.

While others have noticed this principle, Hahnemann's genius took a huge step forward. He was given to see that the Law of Similarity is a deep truth, that we can determine the healing properties of substances by systematically testing them on healthy people. This systematic method was the first of his many contributions to medical thought.

Homeopathy has been controversial for a long time and spears are breaking. Let's talk about the history of its appearance and about its author. Homeopathy is one of the areas of modern alternative medicine. It arose more than 200 years ago, thanks to the extraordinary scientist and physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843).

Life and professional path

After returning to the medical profession in 1779, he managed to defend his thesis at the University of Erlangen and receive the title of doctor. While practicing medicine in Dresden and Leipzig, Samuel Hahnemann increasingly doubted the effectiveness of the methods of modern medicine. The revolution in his mind came after the study of the therapeutic effect of quinine, which was widely and effectively used against malaria. Deciding to take cinchona powder as an experiment, Dr. Hahnemann noticed that it caused fever and other symptoms similar to malaria. The discovery led the scientist to believe that "like is cured by like." This conclusion became the main postulate of a new direction in medicine - homeopathy.

Establishing the foundations and principles of homeopathic treatment

Hahnemann's technique found its admirers, although traditional medicine immediately recognized it as quackery. Many essays on the history of homeopathy describe cases of this doctor curing hopeless patients, although his opponents called it nothing more than happy accidents. Due to opposition from the authorities, Hahnemann often had to change his place of residence.

Being engaged in active practice, Samuel Hahnemann did not forget about the theoretical component of his teaching. He regularly published scientific papers on this topic. The most famous works: "The Organon of Medical Art", "Pure Medicinal Substances" in 6 volumes, "Chronic Diseases" in 4 parts. These books detailed the main tenets of homeopathy:

Human health is supported by vitality, its disorder leads to disease.
The causes of disease are dynamic and not critical to successful treatment.
Specific symptoms need to be treated.
A disease can be overcome only with a similar disease, only more pronounced.

Besides homeopathy, Dr. Hahnemann is the author of two more theories. The first dealt with the use of coffee as the cause of many diseases. After some time, the scientist himself abandoned it in favor of the version of the existence of psoric miasms. The essence of this hypothesis lies in the existence of infectious miasms that cause most chronic diseases, primarily skin diseases.

The unusual method of treatment was popular and found many followers in Germany, and in our time - all over the world. The last years of his life, Samuel Hahnemann successfully worked in France, and his works still find their readers.

Homeopathy is a branch of alternative medicine founded back in the 18th century by Samuel Hahnemann. The industry has principles such as treat like like, use minimal doses of medicine, and cure not a disease, but a person. Due to the fact that several centuries ago, official medicine was not much different from homeopathy, it was very popular, and has helped the lives of hundreds of people. And all this thanks to the person who created this direction - Samuel Hahnemann.

Friedrich Christian Samuel Hahnemann was born on April 10, 1755 in the small German town of Meissen in Saxony. His father and grandfather worked as artists in the famous porcelain factory for which the region was famous, and prepared Hahnemann for the same job. The family was poor, there was always not enough money, so the boy often had to not go to school. By the age of twelve, Samuel was already fluent in many languages: English, French, Italian, Greek and Latin. Knowledge gave him the opportunity to engage in translation and tutoring, thus earning his living.

Hahnemann's father played an important role in the development of his son. So, for example, he often locked little Samuel in a room, puzzling him with some question, so that his thinking would develop. His father told him: "Prove everything, hold on to the good, do not be afraid to be wise." In addition, when the boy grew up, his father turned to the prestigious school of St. Afra with a request to take his son to study, and the leadership took him in 1770. Thanks to the boy's outstanding mental abilities, he studied for free.

In 1775 he successfully defended his diploma on "The Wonderful Device of the Human Hand" and graduated from the St. Afra School. Hahnemann still had practically no money, but nevertheless he decided to leave Meissen and go to Leipzig. There he entered the University of Leipzig and began to study medicine, but after two years of study he realized that the scientific base of the educational institution was weak and transferred to the University of Vienna, where he studied with the famous Austrian doctor Josef von Quarin for 10 months. Even then, he began his medical practice, and soon, after completing his studies, he had to enter a private service.

A few years later, in 1779, he went to Erlangen, where he defended his dissertation "On the causes and treatment of convulsive diseases" and received his doctorate in medicine. He got a chance to start a real practice. He traveled to small German towns, and in a couple of years won the trust of dozens of local residents who turned to him with their ailments. An acquaintance with a pharmacist from Dessau led him to Johann Leopoldine Henrietta Kühler, the woman whom young Samuel married in 1781. In their marriage, four daughters and one son were born.

For some time he did not go well with his work, he even had to deal with translations again, but in the same 1781 he received the position of a village doctor at the Saxon copper mines. During these same years, Hahnemann began to study in more detail some aspects of modern medicine. His curiosity led him to lack the theories and therapies he was using at the time. In his opinion, many methods of treatment had no explanation, but were applied to people. He became disillusioned with the possibilities of modern medicine.

After a while, he abandoned medical practice, admitting that patients can live without his help. He got a job teaching at the Leipzig Academy. He studied scientific articles of foreign writers, since by that time he knew almost all European languages ​​and several ancient ones. Chemistry and pharmacology attracted his attention. From 1875 to 1789 he lived in Dresden and earned his living by translating scientific literature.

About his medical practice at that time, he wrote the following: "I can treat my practice only as an occupation that delights the heart." In 1789, he moved with his wife and children to Leipzig, where he published a scientific work on syphilis, which described a preparation of mercury, developed personally by him, and which is still known as "Heman's soluble mercury." But the money from this activity was not enough for his family to live on. According to the scientist, they had to wash their clothes with raw potatoes because they had no money to buy soap.

Because of the criticism of modern medicine, many of his colleagues ridiculed Hahnemann. Despite this, he was a man who thought outside the box and showed a tremendous interest in the business he was doing. Hahnemann read a lot and tested the drugs he learned about. But he was disappointed that conventional medicine did not cure people and, moreover, brought very little money.

His life began to change in 1790 when he came across an English essay by William Cullen "Materia medica", which described the basics of pharmacology. He wrote about the antimalarial properties of the cinchona peel, about its bitterness and astringent properties. Hahnemann examined small doses of cinchona on himself, and then experienced painful disorders reminiscent of the symptoms of malaria he had previously encountered. He was amazed, and decided to study this issue deeper and identify a pattern. As a result, he learned that china is used in the treatment of malaria because it contributes to malaria itself. For the scientist, this was a real discovery, and then he revealed the first fundamental law of homeopathy, which says: "Like heals like." In addition, experiments led him to the fact that small doses of drugs can act very differently than large ones.
A few years later, in 1796 in the medical journal of Hufeland in 1796, he published his first work on homeopathy "Experience of a new principle for finding the healing properties of medicinal substances", in which he spoke about the principles of homeopathy and the emergence of a new direction in medicine in general. He resumed his practice.

His patients were attracted by the new method of treatment, but Hahnemann was still unable to settle down in any city. In 1799, he was able to demonstrate to many people the effectiveness of homeopathy, which is based on the pattern "like cures like". An epidemic of scarlet fever began, and Hahnemann began to treat people. After he successfully applied the homeopathic doses of Belladonna, people finally turned their attention to homeopathy. This created a sensation, however, Samuel was attacked by the public, as he asked for a small reward for his discovery. At the same time, poor patients received Belladonna completely free of charge, in contrast to wealthy patients.

In subsequent years, Hahnemann continued to conduct experiments with drugs, read literature and write scientific articles. In 1803, he wrote an essay "On the Effects of Coffee Based on Original Observations," which stated that many diseases in humans are caused by the use of coffee. Later, he refuted this theory, but then, at the age of 80, he put forward a "psoric theory" of diseases, which he attributed to the same consequences as when drinking coffee. In the latter theory, he argued that all chronic diseases arise not from drinking coffee, but from some "primary psora", which is transmitted from person to person.

In 1805, Hahnemann published in Latin the first experiments on the action of various drugs on a healthy person, where the word "homeopathy" was first mentioned. He named the new therapy "Homeo pathy"

In 1810, Samuel Hahnemann publishes the book The Organon of the Art of Medicine, which describes the foundations and laws of treating patients. In it, the practitioner talks about the law of similarity, the principle of using one drug, as well as the minimum doses and the appointment of only those drugs that have been tested on living people. However, after the publication of this book, he gained both support and complete misunderstanding and attacks from the public. Many insulted him.

The point was that Hahnemann made his own medicines, since they did not require a lot of raw materials. This literally infuriated doctors and pharmacists, they saw in him a serious competitor that could undermine their activities. However, this did not frighten Hahnemann. He continued to test the drugs on himself and his family, and to give them to patients. In 1812 he finally settled in Leipzig, and began teaching, opening a course of lectures on "rational medicine". At the lectures, he told students about homeopathy in more detail and in more depth.

Hahnemann's first students were Gross, Stapf, Rückert and Hartmann, who later gained popularity. In 1813, Napoleon attacked Leipzig with might and main, as a result of which his army was defeated. However, there were many wounded soldiers as well as people with typhoid fever. All this led to an epidemic. Hahnemann together with his disciples treated the sick, and this gave good results. Everyone who came to him for treatment recovered, however, he could not save everyone who suffered from typhus. Therefore, he sent out recommendations to practicing doctors throughout Germany, in which he described how to treat the sick. His homeopathic method saved several thousand patients, which proved the effectiveness of homeopathy. At the same time, many doctors and pharmacists still did not calm down, and complained that he was distributing the drug of his own manufacture.

Hahnemann continued his activities in Leipzig until 1820, when the board forbade him to independently make preparations for distribution to patients. In 1821 he moved to Köthen, where he acquired the support and protection of Duke Ferdinand. He became his patient, and allowed him to continue experiments and medical practice, and independently make medicines. By that time, they knew about him even in other countries, so foreigners were often his patients. Over time, people began to trust homeopathy, and Hahnemann became more and more supporters.

In 1828, Hahnemann developed the concept of miasms in his book Chronic Diseases. He argued that many chronic diseases in humans are caused by a hypothetical infectious agent (miasm). According to this theory, "primary psora" after the cure or spontaneous disappearance of symptoms further developed as a steadily progressive systemic disease (the so-called "internal psora"), which has a chronic nature and various manifestations. The modern concept of "homeopathic medicine" is based on this theory. Many homeopaths did not accept his concept because they did not find it natural enough.

In the years 1830-1831, the first-ever outbreak of cholera began in Russia, which rapidly spread throughout Europe. Standard medicine failed to cope with the epidemic, but homeopathy showed results again. Hahnemann used Camphor, Copper and Chemeritsa, and thus saved many people.

Brunnov wrote the following about Hahnemann: “... From his students, Hahnemann demanded not only mental development and diligence, but also strict morality. I know of one case when he turned down a talented young physician, because he learned that he was in close relationship with one person of easy virtue. In religious matters, Hahnemann, who belonged to the Lutheran faith, kept himself away from all positive dogmatic beliefs. He was a pure, firmly convinced deist. - "I cannot help but thank God and bow before Him at the sight of His creations," he often said. "

In 1835, Hahnemann decided to leave Germany because he did not like the fame he had acquired, and also in order to spread the doctrine of homeopathy to other countries. He settled in Paris, where he practiced successfully. In 1937 he treated Niccolo Paganini, who was suffering from urological pathology.

Hahnemann began a black streak in his life: his only son left Germany and went missing, his daughters got married, and his beloved died. But, having moved to France, he married a second time to a young French woman, Melanie d'Erville Goye, who was 2 times younger than Hahnemann. At the same time, she was an intelligent woman, so she and Hahnemann developed an absolute understanding and harmony in life. Melanie's hobbies were medicine, science and painting.

It was because of Melanie that he left for Paris, having lost all contact with his children. She seduced him with French recognition and relaxation, and then persuaded him to practice again. Thanks to this, Hahnemann, at the age of 80, not only reaped the fruits of his life, relaxing carefree, but also continued his activities. In turn, Melanie, thanks to Hahnemann, opened a clinic for the poor, and was his assistant until his death.

In France, he received recognition and fame. He was respected by those around him. Samuel Hahnemann wished that the following words were written on his grave: “There are two treasures in life: perfect health and an impeccable conscience; homeopathy gives the first, love for God and neighbor gives the second. " Hahnemann died on 2 July 1843 at the age of 89 from pneumonia. He was buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery. Homeopathic supporters from all over the world come to Hahnemann's grave on the day of his birth and death.

The German scientist Friedrich Christian Samuel Hahnemann is rightfully considered the founder of homeopathy as an independent system of treatment in medicine.

He was born on April 10, 1755 in Saxony, in the small town of Meissen . Both his grandfather and his father were artists in a famous porcelain factory and were preparing their son for this. It is possible that this very circumstance, the deep sense of harmony that art gives, left an imprint on the personality of Hahnemann and his scientific activity.

Hahnemann did not become an artist; he chose medicine. He received his medical education in Leipzig (1775), from 1777 in Vienna, then in Erlangen. In 1779 he defended his thesis. In 1781 he supplemented his medical education with the study of pharmaceuticals in Dessau.

After graduating from university, Hahnemann devoted several years to medical practice. He was not satisfied, but rather disappointed with the possibilities of medicine. Later he started teaching at the Leipzig Academy. At the same time, Hahnemann was engaged in the translation of scientific literature, since knew almost all European languages ​​and several ancient ones. Chemistry and pharmacology became the sphere of his interests.

By the nature of his personality, Hahnemann was an outstanding person, distinguished by great activity in his work. Experimental sciences were not yet formed, and almost the only opportunity for researching drugs was experiments on ourselves. He tested on himself the medicines he had read about.

In 1784 S. Hahnemann, having married Henrietta Kühler, the stepdaughter of the Dessau pharmacist, moved to Dresden, where he practiced medicine in city hospitals. The first Leipzig period of S. Hahnemann's life began in 1789. By this time, he had already enjoyed a reputation as a scientist and experienced practitioner. S. Hahnemann's literary activity was not limited to translations. He became the author of the following works: "On arsenic poisoning", "Instruction to thoroughly heal old premature and rotten ulcers", "Guide for doctors to venereal diseases"; invented a method for making soluble mercury, described the chemical properties of bile and gallstones, etc.

Medical practice did not bring S. Hahnemann satisfaction. At that time, therapeutic methods were used that deplete patients: large doses of diaphoretic, emetic, diuretics and laxatives, frequent and abundant bloodletting was performed. All this disheartened, gave rise to a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness of medicine. S. Hahnemann is gradually moving away from medical practice, immersed in literary work, including translations.

In 1790, Hahnemann translated the medicine science of Edinburgh professor W. Cullen ("Materia Medica"). In the section on ojine, he was struck by the contradictions in the description of the curative effect, and Hahnemann took quinine at a therapeutic dose, observing its effect. To his surprise, the symptoms he noted coincided with those of malaria, which he himself had suffered from before. He developed a typical recurrent fever.

An innate sense of harmony and a philosophical mindset demanded a search for patterns. It became clear to him that china had taken an exceptional position in the treatment of malaria because it itself was capable of causing the same picture. This analogy became for Hahnemann the principle of choice of drugs for treatment.

The principle postulated by S. Hahnemann has received numerous private confirmations. For example, toxic doses of mercury drugs affect the body, affecting many organs and systems, and the large intestine is significantly damaged (severe ulcerative colitis). Meanwhile, these drugs in small doses are beneficial for dysentery-like colitis. Arsenic causes cholera-like diarrhea, and in homeopathic use, diarrhea of ​​various natures are cured with arsenic preparations. Iodine irritates the respiratory tract, and in small doses it has a beneficial effect on bronchitis. Sulfur with prolonged exposure leads to widespread dermatitis, and in homeopathy Sulfur iodatum cures various skin diseases. Cantharis vesicatoria (Spanish flies) in toxic doses causes inflammation of the bladder, and in homeopathic doses relieves the suffering of patients with cystitis and urethritis. Ergot in large doses causes severe damage to the body with vasospasm, complicated by the development of gangrene, and in small doses Secali cornutum is successfully used for obliterating atherosclerosis, etc. The concept gradually matured, which formed the basis of homeotherapy as a new system of treatment.

Hahnemann, who does not attribute to himself other people's discoveries, writes that the principle of similarity as a possible principle of choosing a medicine for treatment has been known for a long time. His merit lies in the fact that he came to the conclusion that in this way it is necessary to deal not with isolated cases, but always and with all drugs, and this is the general principle of the choice of drugs.

In 1979, in von Tufeland's journal, Hahnemann published his work "Experience of a new principle for finding the healing properties of medicinal substances", which can be considered the first work to proclaim the principles of homeopathy, and this date can be considered the year of birth of a new direction in medicine. Hahnemann then stopped teaching at the university and returned to medical practice. He had to test in practice the universality of the principle of similarity, further expressed by the formula "Simila similibus curantur" ("Like is treated by like").

Samuel Hahnemann's major work, The Organon of Healing Art, is considered the founding classic on homeopathy throughout the world. First published in 1810, 20 years after S. Hahnemann discovered the homeopathic method of treatment, "Organon" contains the philosophical, theoretical and practical aspects of homeopathy in the author's view of the method of homeopathy.

The book has been reprinted many times and translated into many languages. The fifth edition of the Organon in Russian translation by V. Sorokin was published in 1884. Of particular interest is the sixth edition of the Organon, carefully revised by S. Hahnemann at the age of 86, during the last period of his medical practice in Paris. According to V. Bericke, an outstanding homeopath of the early twentieth century, who prepared the last edited text of the work for publication in 1922, it was a version of the fifth German edition, published back in 1833, “literally sandwiched with handwritten sheets”. The last version, which was published only 80 years after the author's work on it, was considered by S. Hahnemann “the closest to perfection”.

The preface to the Organon was written by S. Hahnemann as early as 1833 and was confirmed by him during the preparation of the 6th edition of the book. The preface compares the old medical school (allopathy) with its constantly weakening effects of the sick (at that time repeated bloodletting was performed, numerous leeches, blood-sucking cups, enemas, etc. were administered) with homeopathy, which “avoids everything, even to the slightest degree debilitating patient "and" is a saving and blessed work. " Without such a comparison, sharp and mutually concluding, at that time it would have been impossible to isolate, form and develop a homeopathic treatment system that coexists today with other directions of healing, enriched with major successes and achievements.

The first part of the "Organon" contains the main theoretical concepts of the author and his provisions on the mechanisms of homeopathic and therapeutic effect (like is treated like). The ideal of treatment, according to S. Hahnemann, is “a quick, gentle and final restoration of health ... the shortest, most reliable and safe way based on easily understood principles. But the doctor is also "the guardian of health, since he knows the factors that upset health and cause death, and knows how to protect healthy people from them." The physician should be a true practitioner of the healing art, and the true purpose of the physician "consists not in pseudo-scientific chatter, but in helping the suffering one." S. Hahnemann calls for healing without theorizing.

The second section of the Organon contains practical advice on the use of homeopathy. In order to treat correctly and effectively, the doctor must examine the patient, know the action of the drugs and apply them correctly. Among the "exciting" causes of acute diseases, there are negative environmental influences, mental influences, "acute miasms". Some of them "can affect each person no more than once in a lifetime, such as smallpox, measles, whooping cough, scarlet fever, mumps, etc." ... S. Hahnemann notes that acute illnesses "are most often temporary exacerbations of latent psora." This thesis is close and understandable to the modern reader. For example, acute nephritic syndrome in most cases turns out to be an exacerbation of chronic nephropathy, the nature of which is specified by nephrobiopsy. Among chronic diseases, S. Hahnemann distinguishes between true and false. The former are miasmatic diseases (syphilis, sycosis and psora), the latter are the result of drug abuse or the result of exposure to certain harmful substances (eating disorders, the use of stimulants, etc.). In acute illnesses, the vital force of the sick person is able to overcome them, or the miasms in a short time overcome the vital force. Consequently, according to S. Hahnemann, the outcomes of acute miasmatic diseases are recovery or death. It must be added: the transition of the disease to a protracted or chronic form is possible.

The final section of the Organon is devoted to activities supporting homeopathic treatment. S. Hahnemann confirms the effect on the “life principle” of the “dynamic force of mineral magnets, electricity and galvanism”. He has a positive attitude towards "animal magnetism", proposing to call it mesmerism out of respect for Mesmer. "A strong will of a person, acting from the best intentions on a patient through contact and even without it, and even at a certain distance, can dynamically transmit the vital energy of a healthy hypnotist", "the power of strong goodwill can work miracles at times." These considerations of S. Hahnemann today do not seem alien and unacceptable to us. The author gives many "manual procedures" a "calming and irritating" effect. Massage is especially effective when "performed by a strong, benevolent person", but this method "should not be overly applied to hypersensitive patients." It is useful to add baths to general treatment in the period of recovery and improvement of the patient's condition "with due attention to the condition of the convalescent, the temperature of the water, the duration and frequency of repetition of the procedures." Apparently, the creator of homeopathy does not deny the role of music therapy: "the gentlest sounds of a flute coming from afar ... can fill a tender heart with lofty feelings and dissolve it in religious ecstasy."

His authority as a skilled doctor grows every year, his practice expands. At the same time, S. Hahnemann constantly faces dissatisfaction, envy and opposition from doctors and pharmacists. In the period from 1793 to 1810 S. Hahnemann was forced to often move from one city to another, practicing in Molschkben, Göttingen, Pyrmont, Braunschweig, Wolfenbüttel, Keningslütter, Alpton , Hamburg, Melne, Maheme. In parallel with the practice, a voluminous "Pharmaceutical Lexicon" is compiled, which made S. Hahnemann the fame of an authoritative expert in pharmacy. The final form of the concept of homeopathy is presented in the first edition of the famous Organon.

The most important stage in the formation and spread of homeopathy was the second Leipzig period of S. Hahnemann's life (І8ІІ-І82І years), when he taught at the university. Despite the opposition of numerous enemies, he successfully defended his dissertation at the Faculty of Medicine, presenting a detailed historical and medical research "On the Helleboreism of the Ancients." Unusual depth of study of the subject, brilliant knowledge of a huge number of ancient sources, persuasiveness and consistency of presentation excluded all objections of even the most hostile opponents. Having received the right to teach at the largest European university, S. Hahnemann rallied around himself numerous students and followers. It was a period of rapid development of knowledge and practical experience in homeopathy, the accumulation of detailed descriptions of the pathogenesis of homeopathic medicines.

In 1811, his book "Pure Medicine" was published in 6 volumes, which describes 60 medicines. In 1828, the book "Chronic Diseases" was published in 5 volumes. In these books, besides the law of similarity, two other rules of homeopathy are described: the use of small doses and the need to test the effect of drugs on a healthy person.

In the summer of 1821 S. Hahnemann was forced to move to the small town of Keten under the patronage of Duke Ferdinand of Anhalt-Keten, an adherent of homeopathic treatment. S. Hahnemann, whose fame for his medical art had already spread throughout Germany, again received the freedom of medical practice with the right to independently prepare and dispense homeopathic remedies. Patients began to flock to Keten not only from all regions of Germany, but also from neighboring countries.

In the Ketenian years, S. Hahnemann published a major multivolume work "Chronic Diseases", which was based on the concept of miasms. The most important principles of homeopathy - potentiation or dynamization of drugs, proof and explanation of the effectiveness of small doses - were also thoroughly clarified and detailed. In 1831, when cholera spread in Europe, S. Hahnemann suggested using homeopathic remedies (camphor, veratrum, copper salts) for the treatment of this severe disease, which claimed thousands of lives. The positive effect of homeopathy was confirmed by many doctors of that time, in particular, in Austria, Hungary, England, Italy, Russia, etc.

In 1830 S. Hahnemann suffered a misfortune - the death of his wife, who was his faithful friend and companion in all life's hardships and numerous travels, who gave him 11 children. After the death of his wife, he continued his solitary life and practice in Keten. The number of patients who came to S. Hahnemann increased. In 1835, at the age of 80, he married 35-year-old Parisian Maria Melanie Harvili and moved to Paris.

The last, the Parisian period of S. Hahnemann's life was full of intensive medical practice. He became one of the most popular doctors in Paris, was surrounded by honor and respect.

However, attacks on the teachings of Hahnemann continued during this time as well. In 1845, the medical council asked the French minister François Guizot to take action against homeopathy, to prohibit its use, but Guizot replied very cleverly: “If homeopathy is a chimera or a method of no value, it will disappear. But if, on the contrary, it is progressive, then it will spread, no matter what they do. The Academy should desire this most of all, since its task is to stimulate scientific progress and scientific discoveries. "

Due to his age and unbearable workload, S. Hahnemann's health began to deteriorate. On July 2, 1843, at the age of 89, he died and was buried in Paris at the Pere Lachaise cemetery, where the Latin dictum “Non inutilis vixi” (“I did not live in vain”) was engraved on a monument with a bust of S. Hahnemann.

For two centuries, homeopaths all over the world have sacredly observed the basic life principle of this great man: to heal "correctly, safely, quickly and reliably." This was, without a doubt, an outstanding personality, violent in character, brilliant in the magnitude of his talent.

How a scientific experiment led to a two-hundred-year pseudoscientific tradition, what coffee was accused of and how the photograph of a scientist of the 18th century survived, tells our today's issue of the "History of Science" column.

Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (in modern literature the first two names are often omitted) was born on April 10, 1755 in the Saxon city of Meissen. The city is famous for the Gothic cathedral of the XIII-XIV centuries (“the best that Gothic has left for us,” according to Goethe), as well as for its pharmacist and alchemist, Johann Friedrich Böttger, who in 1709 invented the recipe for making porcelain. Since then, Meissen porcelain is just a little less cool than Chinese.

It was in the city's porcelain manufactory that Hahnemann's father worked. Young Samuel Hahnemann did not initially plan to be a physician: he was fluent in many languages: both the "classics" in the form of Latin and Ancient Greek, and some living European and ancient Eastern: Aramaic, Hebrew, Arabic and Syriac. A talented linguist was involved in translations. However, he still entered the medical school, because it was more prestigious.

At first, Hahnemann studied in Leipzig, but then decided that the level there was too low for his talent, and moved to Vienna, where he studied with the outstanding Austrian physician Josef von Quarin, and received his doctorate at the University of Erlangen, passing the exam with honors. His dissertation was on the causes and treatment of seizures.

Joseph von Quarin

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In Vienna, even before receiving his degree, Hahnemann began his medical practice, but there something went wrong. For a while, he even had to earn money with translations again. But in the end, in 1781, he received the position of a village doctor in the Saxon copper mines.

He spent the next 54 years moving from one Saxon city to another. For the first nine years, he simply practiced and expanded his knowledge. In 1790 an English treatise fell into his hands Materia medica William Cullen outlining the basics of pharmacology. Cullen's explanation of the effects of the substances did not suit Hahnemann, and he decided to try the experiment.

William Cullen

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Yes, oddly enough, pseudoscience also sometimes begins with a normal scientific experiment. Hahnemann tested the bark of the cinchona tree, the only more or less effective remedy for malaria that day. Like many natural scientists of that time, Hahnemann tried everything for himself. And he could not help but note that if a healthy person takes some amount of quinine, then symptoms similar to those of malaria will appear. This is how the principle “like cures like” and the name “homeopathy” (like treatment) appeared. Only further development of this principle led to superdilutions and the fact that many homeopathic preparations (not all) no longer contain a single molecule of the active substance.

Hahnemann's Homeopathic Kit

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It is curious that the "Organon of the Art of Medicine", which is still prayed for by adherents of homeopathy, and Avogadro's law, which ultimately refutes the method itself, are separated by only four years: the first was published in 1810, and Amedeo Avogadro's article "An Outline of the Relative Masses of Molecules simple bodies, or the supposed densities of their gas, and the constitution of some of their compounds ”- in 1814.

It is impossible not to say one more important thing: in many respects, the success of homeopathy at the beginning of the 19th century was predetermined by the methods of classical medicine. With bloodletting and mercury and arsenic treatments, not every patient could survive every disease. And Hahnemann's harmless solutions gave the patient a chance to recover on his own. Another thing is that even now, two hundred years later, Hahnemann's methods are used without changes and scientific justification, and "allopathic" medicine has made a huge step forward, and not just one.