What is homeopathy?

From the news of BBC in 2015, the NHS of United Kingdom was going to move homeopathy to the blacklist, meaning NHS will no longer pay for it.

However, it was the first time I've heard of homeopathy. What is it?

According to Wikipedia, Homeopathy is a system of alternative medicine created in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann, based on his doctrine of like cures like (similia similibus curentur), a claim that a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people would cure similar symptoms in sick people.

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. Source: Wikipedia

The explanation sounds kind of hard to comprehend. For example, if you are allergic to pollens, most of the doctors will prescribe antihistamine. However, the doctors who practice homeopathy, they will give you some solutions which is consisted of diluted pollen. The factor of dilution is usually 10¹², some will even dilute to 10⁶⁰!

Although homeopathy was created by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the concept -- like cure like -- was originated created by Hippocrates in 400 B.C. For treating mania, Hippocrates will prescribe a small dose of mandrake root. However, mandrake root will produce mania in much larger doses.

According to modern search, doctors found that the effect of homeopathy is not significant comparing to placebo. Because NHS of Great Britain had paid 4 million pounds to homeopathy, so the test results brought serious consideration for not including homeopathy anymore.

The word "homeopathy" clearly explained the concept of this treatment. When we take this word apart, it becomes homeo- and -pathy.

The prefix homeo- is the same as home-. It is originated from Greek homoios, meaning like, resembling. In addition to homeo-, there is another prefix hom(o)-, which we learned in Lesson 16-2. It is originated from Greek word homos, meaning common, same.

The suffix -pathy is also having a Greek origin. It is written as pathos in Greek, meaning feeling, suffering, emotion, disorder or disease. We will learn that in Lesson 23-1.

When we put together these two words, then it become like cures like. Isn't it interesting?

References:

Wikipedia. Homeopathy，Samuel Hahnemann
Oneline Etymology Dictionary. Homeopathy
Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary.
2015/11/13. James Gallagher. Homeopathy 'could be blacklisted'. BBC.
中文課程：順勢療法（Homeopathy）