Like Cure Like
The principle of “like cures like” (similia similibus curentur in Latin) is the cornerstone of homeopathic philosophy and practice. The principle is actually embedded in the term homeopathy – “homeo” meaning similar and “pathy” meaning illness. Homeopathy literally means “using similar illness to cure illness”. Hahnemann came upon this principle through a fateful combination of luck and systematic study.
First, through close observation of his patients, he began to see that when an individual with a mild illness became ill with a similar but stronger illness, the first illness would be cured. For example, he noticed that if a patient who had cowpox (a mild virus) developed smallpox, he/she would lose the symptoms of cowpox. Similarly, he noted that patients with whooping cough who developed measles became free of the symptoms of whooping cough.
About this same time, Hahnemann was doing experiments with different medicines of the day, one of which was cinchona bark or quinine. Hahnemann noticed that when he ingested cinchona bark, he actually developed the same type of fever that was being cured by use of the substance. Homeopathy recognizes that a substance that can create a certain set of symptoms in a healthy person has the capacity to cure those same symptoms when the substance is given in POTENTIZED or homeopathic form. “Like cures like” might sound a bit obtuse but think about this. In psychology, we recognize that if a person has a traumatic or upsetting event as a child, he or she will often create a similar situation as an adult as a way to try to resolve the initial trauma. Hasn’t that ever happened to you? This is the principle of “like cures like” in action.
We don’t always recognize this homeopathic principle in life but Hahnemann undertook a systematic course of study to observe whether this is the case. The systematic study became the foundation for how homeopaths learn about the potential healing action of our remedies. You can learn about this by reading about the homeopathic principle known as PROVINGS.
Like cures like. That which creates a certain set of symptoms can also resolve those symptoms. This is the key principle underlying homeopathy – not because Hahnemann or your homeopath told you so, but because it can be observed in nature over and over again. This is how homeopathic remedies stimulate the VITAL FORCE to bring about healing.
First, through close observation of his patients, he began to see that when an individual with a mild illness became ill with a similar but stronger illness, the first illness would be cured. For example, he noticed that if a patient who had cowpox (a mild virus) developed smallpox, he/she would lose the symptoms of cowpox. Similarly, he noted that patients with whooping cough who developed measles became free of the symptoms of whooping cough.
About this same time, Hahnemann was doing experiments with different medicines of the day, one of which was cinchona bark or quinine. Hahnemann noticed that when he ingested cinchona bark, he actually developed the same type of fever that was being cured by use of the substance. Homeopathy recognizes that a substance that can create a certain set of symptoms in a healthy person has the capacity to cure those same symptoms when the substance is given in POTENTIZED or homeopathic form. “Like cures like” might sound a bit obtuse but think about this. In psychology, we recognize that if a person has a traumatic or upsetting event as a child, he or she will often create a similar situation as an adult as a way to try to resolve the initial trauma. Hasn’t that ever happened to you? This is the principle of “like cures like” in action.
We don’t always recognize this homeopathic principle in life but Hahnemann undertook a systematic course of study to observe whether this is the case. The systematic study became the foundation for how homeopaths learn about the potential healing action of our remedies. You can learn about this by reading about the homeopathic principle known as PROVINGS.
Like cures like. That which creates a certain set of symptoms can also resolve those symptoms. This is the key principle underlying homeopathy – not because Hahnemann or your homeopath told you so, but because it can be observed in nature over and over again. This is how homeopathic remedies stimulate the VITAL FORCE to bring about healing.