Etat des lieux de l'homéopathie en Belgique - KCE

KCE Reports 154 Homeopathy 9
1.3.4 19th century: the critique of heroic medicine
Homeopathy was founded mainly in reaction to the regular medicine of that time called
“heroic medicine”. “Both homeopathy and mesmerism presented themselves initially as
radical innovations within established medicine” (Bivins, p 101) 7 . Modest as its origin,
the critique became so intense, emanating from within the boundaries of medicine, that
it drove “regular” practitioners to organize and identify as one profession. Two
conceptions of medicine openly challenged each other when homeopaths were
squeezed out by orthodox hostility 7 .
Two 19 th century conceptions of medicine 7
19 th century Homeopathy 19 th century Heroic medicine
Homeo-pathy as treatment with similars Allo-pathy (a term forged by homeopaths) as
treatment with opposites
Reinforcing the role of the patient as partner Struggling to declare independence from the
patient
Giving importance to the subjective experience Giving importance to objective evidence of
of illness
Every patient’s disease experience is unique and
particular
disease
Disease exists as specific and knowable entities
separate from the bodies in which they were
expressed
Tailored treatments Standardized ways of healing
Painless treatments Painful treatments
1.3.5 Migrations
From its origins as a critique from within the boundaries of elite German medicine,
homeopathy spread rapidly to the rest of the wold. Quick translations of Hahnemann’s
books, wars and subsequent migrations, alleged success of homeopathy in helping to
contain cholera epidemics, contributed to the spread of homeopathy into Europe and
beyond. Pioneers played also an important role in this process, such as Comte Des
Guidi in France (1830) who dedicated his life to homeopathy after his wife was
“miraculously” healed by homeopathy.
“During the second half of the 19th century, homeopathy accompanied the waves of
German immigrants to the United States. Homeopathy also expanded through the
British Empire, the later Commonwealth countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Ghana etc. Particularly in India and Pakistan
homeopathy found an important breeding ground because of homeopathy’s similarity
with traditional Ayurvedic medicine” 6 .
1.3.6 From master to masters 9
The first Belgian homeopath was Dr. Pierre Joseph de Moor (1787-1845) who began to
practice at Alost in 1829. In 1832, Dr. Varlez and Dr. Carlier brought homeopathy to
Brussels. Dr Varlez opened the first homeopathic dispensary in Brussels. Dr. Jahr, one
of Hahnemann’s first followers, was practising homeopathy in Paris. But he had to flee
Paris in 1870 during the Franco-German war and settled in Brussels to work in the
Hahnemann dispensary. More than 50 Belgian doctors were educated in homeopathy by
Jahr himself. In 1894, 70 doctors officially used homeopathy for their patients and 50
pharmacists were delivering medications to patients.
1.3.7 Self-organization
“The competition offered by the homeopathic system drove “regular” practitioners –
previously absorbed by the internecine warfare between elite and general practitioners-
to organize and identify as one profession”. (Bivins, p99) 7 As in conventional medicine,
homeopaths organize themselves with similar institutional devices: dispensaries or
hospitals; schools; journals, libraries and conferences; associations for scientific, legal or
political purpose; financial support (e.g. legacies); support from personalities (e.g. royal
families); development of laboratories and specific pharmaceutical industry.