The idea of homeopathy's main law originated millennia before in the work of Plato and Hippocrates. Following much experimentation and research Hahnemann was able to organize and construct a system with clear principles founded on the "Law of Similars." The Homeopathic Practitioners use the expression "Similia Similibus Curantur" from the Latin to describe the law, meaning let similar be cured by similar. What this means is that a similar substance can be used to effectively cure a similar disease.

A simple example of the way the law of similars works can be explained with a Homeopathic remedy example. Most people are pretty familiar with the idea that if one drinks coffee at night it may keep one awake and in fact many people use coffee as a substance to stay awake for long driving trips or to write exam papers. One of the remedies frequently used by homeopaths to cure a certain type of insomnia is actually made from a remedy Homeopathically potentized and prepared in micro dose form from the crude substance coffee. When given in a crude form coffee may cause insomnia. When given in Homepathic preparation in the right dosage coffee may cure insomnia.

I first experienced the law of similars when I was told to put my hand into hot water after receiving a severe heat burn. Normal lore has many people plunging their hands into ice cold water after a burn. Homeopathicly speaking: the heat from the water is similar to the heat from the burn therefore can assist solving the burn symptoms. Speak to a chef. They can tell you, that many a burn they worried about at the beginning of the night of work in a busy restaurant, has somehow calmed down completely after many plungings into hot dishwater during the process of speedily getting meals out to the clientele. Somehow the heat has diffused the heat injury.

The difficulty of working with the law of similars lies in two areas. First is finding the match. Something only partially similar will only be able to partially solve. Second is understanding the level of power needed to match the situation. Common sense will tell you that you don't need to jump in a volcano to solve a small burn. It can take some experience correctly match the potency, extremity and depth of a situation. As it can take some experience to access a most similar match. In simple or acute cases these two factors can be more easily discerned. In complex and chronic situations it can take a lot of study to realize the best solution with acuity.

An excellent book for the most accurate detail about these subjects is Hahneman's original book on Homeopathic principles, his "Organon of Medicine." The fifth edition was first published in 1833 after a lifetimes work on his system of medicine, when he was at the age of eighty-six. Currently there is an excellent 6th edition of the "Organon" in English translation that carries not only Hahnemann's subsequent corrections but also excellent commentaries on the use of historic German language as opposed to current usages of the language, providing a more accurate sense of his intent than earlier translations.

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