The German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755 – 1843) created and developed Classical Homeopathy over 200 years ago.

Although Samuel Hahnemann came from a humble background, his high talent was recognized early and he received a scholarship to a Saxon high school for gifted children. After graduation, Hahnemann studied medicine in Leipzig and then practiced as a doctor. However, after less than 2 years he turned away from the practice of medicine. Hahnemann rejected the usual medical therapies at that time, such as bloodletting, emetics and mercury administration, because he sometimes observed horrendous side effects in his patients. Although he had a well-functioning practice, he was so frustrated with these methods that at times he completely turned away from medicine. Since he was fluent in five languages, he earned the daily bread for himself and his numerous family with translations of medical writings.

In one of these translations, he came across inconsistencies regarding the then widespread anti-malaria agent cinchona bark. In order to verify the author’s unsubstantiated claim that the effectiveness of the cinchona bark against malaria was due to a stomach-strengthening effect, Hahnemann undertook the famous cinchona bark trial, which is today widely regarded as the birth of homeopathy:

In a completely healthy state, Samuel Hahnemann took regularly Quince China bark for several days, after which he developed the typical symptoms of a malaria patient. And after he stopped taking Quince China bark those symptoms receded and eventually disappear.
Because of this simple self-experiment, he formulated the first of his fundamental principles of homeopathy, the law of similars: «similia similibus curentur»«similar things will be cured by something similar».

His research urge was aroused, and he and his students tested many different remedies throughout his long life and meticulously noted down the symptoms observed. To date, homeopaths around the world are conducting such “provings”.

Hahnemann, a very precise observer and most careful man, constantly developed and refined his new method. He diluted and shook, or gradually rubbed away his remedies, and their effect did not become weaker, but stronger and finer. This process he called potentizing or dynamizing. So he was able to use highly toxic substances such as arsenic and the belladonna (Belladonna) without harmful side effects for healing.

The doctor’s highest and only purpose is to make sick people healthy

Samuel Hahnemann