Happy Birthday Hahnemann!

On April 10, 2003, I was feeling the first pangs of labor. My daughter was due at any moment. I was deep in the study of homeopathy and very much wished she would be born that day. Alas, she chose to wait to make her appearance until April 11. She must have wanted her own day rather than to share it with someone. I don’t blame her, even though I admit to having visions of a future homeopath who shared Hahenemann’s birthday. How cool would that be?

Samuel Hahnemann was born on April 10, 1755. He was remarkably intelligent and was encouraged in his studies by his father. He became fluent in multiple languages and was interested in the studies of chemistry, botany, and the natural sciences, among others. In 1779, he became a medical doctor. Over time, he became disillusioned with the practice of medicine and ultimately gave it up. He was left with translation as the only income to support his family.

While translating a medical text written by William Cullen, he read that the reason cinchona bark (quinine) worked to heal Malaria was because of the astringent properties of the plant. This made no sense to Hahnemann, as other substances with astringent properties did not work in the same way. Being a scientist, he decided to run an experiment on himself. He took it twice a day for a few days to see what would happen. What he found changed the landscape of medicine forever.

While taking the cinchona bark, he developed the symptoms associated with Malaria. When he stopped, they gradually resolved. His theory was that because the bark could cause the symptoms, it could therefore cure them. Thus began a series of experiments using a variety of substances conducted by Hahnemann on any willing friends and family. The results of these experiments resulted in the beginnings of what we now know as homeopathy.

Much gratitude to Samuel Hahnamann and his work on World Homeopathy Day!