History Of Homeopathy In The UK

During the age when all men wanted freedom from strict culture and are yet to find their way from the brim of the influences of medieval age, a German physician discovered something that many have disregarded for long- homeopathy. A simplistic approach to both old and modern diseases in his time.

During the age of Hippocrates, they have already recognized some basic principles that were later used by the new practitioners this area of medicine called the homeopaths. Yet, the knowledge base was only gathered formally when Dr. Samuel Hahnemann came into scene.

He was a well-regarded physician and have been in the general practice for most of his career. However, upon realizing that the conventional form of medicine in his age was killing more people than healing them. After which, he turned into translating medical books and documents. During these years he encountered the book by William Cullen called Materia Medica which opened him a new focal point in treating disease that is, like cures like. This then later became the central principle in the field of homeopathy.

He first observed this on the account of knowing that the cure for malaria is the quinine bark which produces a similar fever. To test this assumption, he took a sample of the bark after contracting the disease.

The remaining portion of his life was dedicated particularly to exploring the realms of this new-found knowledge. His creative writing and his early investigations were written in his book, the Organon which is, in fact, the basis for investigations of subsequent homeopaths and is still the point of reference when new investigations are being conducted. In all, he laid the foundation of the knowledge on homeopathy.

The founder himself influenced the person who brought homeopathy in Europe.

Dr. F.H. Quin is the son of the Duchess of Devonshire, Elizabeth Cavendish and the Earl of Dunraven, Sir Valentine Richard Quin. His aristocracy gave him the education which later provided the channel of meeting with Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. They then traveled both in Europe and Naples and practiced their medical profession focusing on using the principles Dr. Hahnemann proposed. After years of travel and practice with Dr. Samuel, he stayed in Paris and was recognized to be the greatest successor of the founder of homeopathy.

Before the death of Dr. Hahnemann, Quin was appointed as the Honorary President of the Gallic Homeopathic Society and remained so until his death in 1878.

He then later introduced homeopathy to the aristocratic members of the English society, the circle that he got accustomed with since birth. During his lifetime, he was well-regarded by the socialite society and it was said teat no royal or social party was ever complete without him in attendance. In the height of his career, he became one of the regular dining partners of Prince Edward, which then later became the King of England.

As a sign of close friendship and respect, the Prince of Wales sent four empty royal carriages as cortege during his funeral, perhaps the highest honor given to a commoner from a royalty.

This meeting of people sparked the popularity in the royal courts which then traveled through the commoners. It was even thought that the higher social classes were more than ready to try this new field. While Queen Victoria never patronized this field of medicine, the succeeding royalties did. This aristocratic sponsorship of homeopathy extended well enough towards the 1940's.

At the same time, the commoners have already accepted the knowledge and newer improvements were devised. No wonder that until these days, even with the presence of conventional medicine there is still a wide practice of homeopathy in UK.