World Homoeopathy Day

The World Homoeopathy Day is observed every year on April 10 to commemorate the Birthday of Dr. Hahnemann, the Founder of Homoeopathy.

Dr Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann

Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann was a German physician, who was a great scholar, linguist and acclaimed scientist.

The Law of Similars forming the basis of Homoeopathy, though finds a mention in the teachings of Hippocrates and Paracelsus, the credit of deriving an entire system of therapeutics from this principle, goes to the German physician Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann.

While translating the Materia Medica [1789] of William Cullen, also called the Scottish Hippocrates, Hahnemann was intrigued by the explanation provided by Cullen about the reason why Cinchona bark was useful in intermittent fever. To understand the effects of Cinchona bark in intermittent fevers, Hahnemann experimented on his own self. Intake of Cinchona resulted in occurrence of condition simulating intermittent fevers. This effect that Cinchona bark produced on him gave birth to the novel idea of Human Provings, on which the subsequent therapeutics was based.

Hahnemann continued to experiment on himself and on others, close to him, noting that every substance he took produced definite distinct symptoms. He further noted that no two substances produced, exactly the same set of symptoms. Each substance provoked its own unique pattern of symptoms, both on physical and mental plane. At first, Hahnemann tested substances commonly used as medicines in his time (such as Antimony and Rhubarb) and also, poisons like Arsenic and Belladonna. The provings done by Hahnemann on himself and on others were recorded in his various writings from 1805 onwards. Eventually, Hahnemann began to treat the sick on the principles of Homoeopathy and achieved outstanding clinical success right from the outset.

Theme for 2024  - Empowering research, Enhancing proficiency

Homoeopathy offers gentle treatment in India through its strong infrastructure as shown below:

• 3,45,404 Qualified, registered Homoeopathic practitioners in India are working towards making India a healthier nation through their gentle healing touch
• 8,870 - 277 Total collegiate homoeopathy hospitals and IPDs in the country are serving as an aid to the patients who are not critically ill but still need continued care or monitoring of their medical conditions; 8593 homoeopathy dispensaries are offering primary health care to the people of India
• 8,697 Homoeopathy beds in Ayush wellness hospitals add further to the ease of access to this affordable and gentle system of medicine
• 7,092 Teaching faculty including Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors are dedicated to their job of training the future homoeopathy doctors
• 1, 117 Pharmacopoeial monographs on homoeopathy drugs have been published
• 384 Pharmaceutical industries produce homoeopathic medicines and products as per Ayush in India 2022 report
• 277 Homoeopathy colleges: 197 undergraduate, 03 standalone post-graduate (M.D. Hom.) and 77 UG/PG colleges are imparting quality education of BHMS (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine & Surgery) to students under the statutory guidance of National Commission for Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India.
• 35 Research centres/ research OPDs of CCRH
• 28 State Councils /Boards in India to regulate Homeopathy practitioners at state level

World Homoeopathy Day: What it means for India

Homoeopathy is one of the most popular medical systems in India, in fact, a close second among the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) services. There are growing numbers of users, practitioners, educational institutes, as well as public health clinics, compared to the AYUSH systems in India. Academic homeopathy institutes comprise 35.8% of AYUSH colleges, while homeopathy practitioners are 37% of the AYUSH in total. Our country has the biggest drug manufacture and traders’ sector in Homoeopathy.

World Homoeopathy Day (WHD) gives us an opportunity to review the path trodden so far, take stock of the challenges facing us, and formulate future strategies for development of Homoeopathy. There is a need to focus on the quality of education, enhancing the success rate of an average practitioner. There is also a need to ensure the production and availability of high quality homeopathic drugs in the market. This is not possible unless the homoeopathic community innovates, modernizes, reinvents, forges ahead jointly, with a variety of initiatives and research projects. 

Importance of linking research : The ‘Why’s and the ‘How’s

The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India is striving to promote research that eventually translates into improved public healthcare in the country and wider acceptability of Homoeopathy globally. The research work of Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) is multi-dimensional and the Council considers its duty to not only conduct quality research, but also to link it with education, clinical practice and standardization of drug manufacture for holistic development of the Homoeopathy sector. Facilitating national and international collaborations is also a part of this vision.

Link with education

As vital as this linking is, it is easier said than done. It would mean better research possibilities in academic institutes of Homoeopathy, which, in turn, means strengthening our medical colleges’ laboratories, developing the skillfulness of our faculty, increased dialogue between education and research institutes, and so on and so forth. Link with clinical practice Similarly, linking clinical practice with research would mean sensitization of clinicians to research requirements. This would mean systematic, methodological recording of cases, understanding of cases from a research point of view, and having a broad and finer understanding of clinical research.. It would also require the Council to translate its research work into simple, clinical language for use by practitioners.

Link with clinical practice

Similarly, linking clinical practice with research would mean sensitization of clinicians to research requirements. This would mean systematic, methodological recording of cases, understanding of cases from a research point of view, and having a broad and finer understanding of clinical research. It would also require to translate research work into simple, clinical language for use by practitioners.

Linking research with education & practice

With about three hundred thousand registered practitioners contributing in the fields of education and healthcare within public and private sectors, millions of patients are being treated with Homoeopathy every day. But these cases are largely unrecorded in a scientific manner. This lack means data is unavailable for publication in research journals, or other scientific platforms. This gap between practice and research requires capacity building of institutions and practitioners, both within the private and government sectors.

Distribution of Awards

With an aim to recognise exemplary work in Homoeopathy, AYUSH awards relating to Homoeopathy for Life Time Achievement, Best Teacher, Young Scientist and Best Research paper are being conferred on this occasion.

World Homoeopathy Day - Flag off event

A Flag-off event is scheduled on 10-11th April, 2024 at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi. For more details visit https://whdccrh.org/index.html

Source : Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy