Samuel Hahnemann

Samuel Hahnemann (10 April 1755 – 2 July 1843) was a German physician, best known for creating the system of alternative medicine called homeopathy.

Early life and education

Hahnemann was born in Meissen, Saxony, near Dresden. His father, Christian Gottfried Hahnemann, was a painter and designer of porcelain, for which the town of Meissen is famous. As a young man, Hahnemann became proficient in a number of languages, including English, French, Italian, Greek and Latin. He eventually made a living as a translator and teacher of languages.

Career

Hahnemann studied medicine for two years at Leipzig. Citing the damaging effects of suppressive treatment, he quit his practice, beginning ten years of research into a gentle way of healing. He began to develop the science of homeopathy and to espouse the concept of miasm, a theory claiming diseases are the product of external causes. Hahnemann argued that diseases are phenomena of vital force, and he treated them with highly diluted substances, which, in healthy persons, produce symptoms similar to those of the diseases.

Legacy

Hahnemann's work was continued by a number of his students and followers, who further developed the field of homeopathy. In the 19th century, there were only a few homeopathic hospitals and institutes. Today, homeopathy is practiced in many countries, and is considered a major alternative to traditional medicine.

See also

• Homeopathy
• Miasm
• Alternative medicine

External links

• National Center for Homeopathy

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Samuel Hahnemann

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  Samuel Hahnemann Daguerreotype 1840s

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  David d'Angers - Samuel Hahnemann bust

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  Hahnemann Memorial at Scott Circle