Homeopathy and Miasmic Theory by Samuel Hahnemann - Article Example

Homeopathy Homeopathy and the accompanying miasmic theory as proposed by Samuel Hahnemann has been one of themost controversial issues in the field of health science for over two centuries and this is mainly because of the question of miasms. The miasmic theory has come to be considered by its opponents as not being necessary for the homeopathy and that the latter can still remain relevant without having the former as part of its practice. It is essential to determine whether that the miasmic theory is an important part of the understanding and management of chronic diseases in homeopathy. The miasmic theory is an important aspect of homeopathy mainly because it has can be used to explain the nature of various chronic conditions. While the opponents of this theory have come to believe that miasmas are nothing more than bacteria and viruses, its proponents have stated that miasmas have nothing to do with the physical aspects of diseases (Cook 1981, p.36). Instead, miasmas are the non-material nature of disease in such a way that they are caused by different aspects of the environment rather than by elements such as viruses. There are a diverse number of miasms in homeopathy and these are normally used for ensuring that there is a greater understanding of the various medical conditions. The ability of an individual’s medical condition being treated through homeopathy is based on an understanding of the miasms involved in the condition that he is suffering. Homeopathy has come a long way since the time of Hahnemann, but while this may be the case, the miasmic theory that he proposed has remained controversial because it involves a different understanding of chronic conditions as well as their treatment. It should be noted that the term miasm has its origins in the Greek word ‘miasma’ whose main definition is defilement or pollution of the atmosphere by infectious or toxic material. It is through this understanding that the miasmic theory was developed in such a way that it espoused the origins of various chronic diseases as having been as a result of the defilement of the atmosphere. Miasm was a term first used by Hippocrates and was in common use during the time of Hahnemann as a noxious unseen element in the air that made individuals ill. It was believed that these noxious particles would be breathed into the body and as a result of their putrefying nature would end up causing the individuals involved to be ill (Bradford 1999, p.515). Such was especially the case with illnesses such as malaria which, as a result of their difficulty in being treated lead to a situation where they were believed to have originated from the breathing and exhalation of noxious air in the atmosphere. Therefore, miasms as disease causing agents were believed to be the fine particles of any putrefying matter that were prevalent in the atmosphere and when individuals breathed these particles in, they had a likelihood of contracting diseases, which were hard to treat. In homeopathy, the miasmic theory is believed to be important in the understanding and treatment of chronic diseases and this is the reason why it has remained prominent in this form of treatment to this day. However, the miasmic theory has come to be overshadowed by the germ theory that was developed in the middle of the nineteenth century. The germ theory for the first time espoused that diseases were caused by elements in the atmosphere known as viruses and bacteria and that it was these, rather than the miasms in the miasmic theory, that were the real causes of disease (Whorton 2001, p.427). The latter has become the basis of conventional medicine and has led to an understanding of disease that is completely different from that espoused by the miasmic theory. Hahnemann, in his study of disease, found that chronic conditions came about as a result of noxious agents in the atmosphere and it is these agents which ensured that the diseases involved persisted. Hahnemann named these noxious agents miasms and he stated that chronic diseases had their origins in chronic parasitic miasms; essentially declaring that miasms are a contagion that form the basis of chronic diseases (Chapelle 2005, p.82). It should be noted that despite stating that miasms played a role in making diseases chronic, they were not diseases themselves and did not have a role in the causation of diseases. Instead, he stated that the influence of miasmas on disease tended to diminish over time as the bodies of the individuals affected attained a level of immunity. The miasmic theory considers diseases to be of an infectious nature and that miasms are infectious agents which bring about a situation where diseases become more severe. While this may be the case, this theory also shows that diseases are very dynamic and their non-physical origins tend to bring about a situation where diseases can be quite diverse in not only their development, but also in their manifestations on the individuals infected (Sterner 2007, p.747). From a study of the miasmic theory, one gathers that the origins of disease are twofold where on one hand, diseases are caused by living organisms which exist in the atmosphere. On the other hand, diseases are also caused by miasms which, as a result of their non-physical nature, lead to a situation where the life force of the individuals involved is negatively affected. The result of this double understanding of miasms is that a significant number of those who deal with homeopathic treatment have come to be conflicted in the manner through which they treat their patients with differing prescriptions based on one origin or the other. The miasmic theory goes against conventional medicine because it fails to recognise that microorganisms principally cause all types of diseases and treatment should be conducted in such a way as to remove them from the body (Kaufman 1972, p.24). Instead, it should be noted that the miasmic theory proposes that there are instances where diseases are transferred from one generation to another through inheritance, the propensity of an individual towards acquiring diseases that might end up being chronic comes about as a result of the inheritance of the same features from their forbearers. The result of this inheritance is that there are some chronic diseases, which come about not only because of the encounter of individuals with putrefying vapours in the environment, but also inheritance. This understanding has led to a situation where there has developed a system of treatment in homeopathy where the individual affected by disease may be able to respond to corresponding nosodes prepared from either pathological tissue or suitable vaccine. The effect of miasma on the human constitution tends to be extremely negative because it leads to a situation where disease takes on an extreme form in such a way that it becomes chronic (Shemmer 1993, p.66). In order to remedy such a situation in homeopathic treatment, it is essential for there to be proper diagnosis of the condition involved and its treatment using the most essential anti-miasmatic medicine. Some homeopathic researchers make the argument that if the treatment of miasms is not undertaken correctly, there is a risk that the miasmic condition will be passed on to the next generation; creating a situation where individuals acquire these conditions from their parents. Such circumstances lead to the definition of miasms as invisible and dynamic principles that are absorbed into the human body and through this absorption ensure that they make diseases chronic. In order to counter these miasms, it is essential to learn of their nature as well as make sure that the correct treatment is administered because this is the only way through which patients can be truly helped. In homeopathy, it is essential to make a diagnosis of the symptoms of a disease using a study of the physical effects of the disease on an individual affected (Miles 1995, p.35). This allows the physician to understand the underlying causative agents of this condition as well as ensuring that it is brought under control. This is because of the fact that definitive tests for the determination of the causative agents or miasms are often difficult to make and they involve a situation where it is essential to find out the different effects of the environment on an individual. When a treatment plan for chronic forms of diseases is being formulated in homeopathy, it is essential for treatments other than the use of antibiotics to be considered. If there is no improvement in the condition of the patient as a result of its turning chronic, and the symptoms that the patient displays seem to worsen, then it will be necessary for such a person to be hospitalized so that he can receive specialized care. There are times when the only option left for specialists is to design a treatment plan which include the trial of new treatment methods for their patients. Such options tend to come about especially in situations where other treatments have failed to work to such an extent that there has developed a relapse. While these new treatments are designed to help the patients involved, they also help in the assessment of how different treatments work on them. This helps in the better understanding of miasms, which helps in the development of better treatments to combat the effects of putrefying humours in the atmosphere. It should be noted that in homeopathy, the miasmic theory is important in the treatment of chronic diseases because it gives room to the study of the manner through which these diseases develop as well as the possible reasons why patients tend to relapse (Valenčius 2002, p.115). It also helps in the development of treatment because it recognises that miasms can affect individuals of all ages and in such a way that it might create a situation where the individuals affected might end up not being able to recover; perhaps as a result of having received the condition from the parents. The recognition that some diseases, if not treated well can be passed down from one generation to another is essential because it allows for the development of an idea concerning the best way through which these diseases can be tackled. The miasmic theory is one that suggests that the environment in which an individual lives has a significant effect on their health. This is especially when one considers that the invisible putrefying elements that are in the atmosphere can be a major factor in making diseases have a negative effect on the body. Furthermore, it recognises that in almost every instance that one develops a disease, it comes to affect everyone who is close to them. In severe cases, it is quite possible that an infected person might transmit the condition to those around them, and this is something, which is highly undesirable (Santer 2009, p.566). There are times when treatment for the condition over a certain period proves to be difficult, and the situation becomes so serious that the disease becomes chronic. It is, therefore, essential that during the process of treatment, the patient should be provided with all the treatment options available for them, so that the patient is aware of all the possible ways that their condition might be treated. Furthermore, the patient has to be notified that there is a risk that current medications might fail and that the disease, especially if it is a form of syphilis or similar diseases, might end up being chronic; meaning that a more radical approach might be needed to ensure effective treatment (The Homoeopath 1995, p.453). Such information is should be given to the patient because an understanding of the condition and what is at stake makes it immensely easy for the patient to adjust his lifestyle so that he can dedicate himself to his recovery. Mainstream (allopathic) medicine is quite different from homeopathic treatment because it recognises the existence of factors other than miasms that cause disease. The treatment methods that it adopts are based on the study of diverse microbial elements that cause disease as well as the drugs that can be used to help the body’s defence to fight them (Walker et al. 2006, p.1). In allopathic medicine, there are various types of vaccines available for the prevention of different medical conditions and these are complemented by the treatment measures available for those who suffer from these infection. The treatment of these conditions relies heavily on the agent that caused them, whether it is viral or bacterial. If bacteria cause the infection, then the condition is treated using antibiotics but if the condition is caused by a virus, on the other hand, the most common treatment used are neuraminidase inhibitors. When an infection is deemed severe, the most likely cause of action that medical practitioners tend to take is to have the patient admitted to hospital because if left untreated, such conditions are often fatal. While allotropic medicine has ensured that most medical conditions have been made treatable with the advancement of the development of antibiotic therapy as well as vaccines, a number of these diseases end up being fatal with millions of people dying on an annual basis. When homeopathy is compared to allopathy, one would conclude that these two forms of medicine can complement each other in the treatment of different forms of chronic conditions. The result of the combination of these forms of medicine would ensure that better treatments are developed for chronic conditions especially considering that the miasmic theory recognises elements which allopathic medicine does not. The discussion above seeks to show that it is essential to determine whether that the miasmic theory is an important part of the understanding and management of chronic diseases in homeopathy. It has shown that the miasmic theory is an important aspect of homeopathy mainly because it has can be used to explain the nature of various chronic conditions. The miasmic theory states that noxious particles can be breathed into the body and as a result of their putrefying nature can end up causing the individuals involved to be ill. Hahnemannin his research named these noxious agents miasms and he stated that chronic diseases had their origins in chronic parasitic miasms; essentially declaring that miasms are a contagion that form the basis of chronic diseases. The miasmic theory states that chronic diseases, if not well treated might end up remaining with the individual affected on a permanent basis. Furthermore, it notes that there are instances where diseases are transferred from one generation to another through inheritance. In addition, this theory states that the propensity of an individual towards acquiring diseases that might end up being chronic comes about because of the inheritance of the same features from their forbearers. This is because of the fact that definitive tests for the determination of the causative agents or miasms are often difficult to make and they involve a situation where it is essential to find out the different effects of the environment on an individual. The discussion has shown that severe cases might cause an infected person might transmit the condition to those around them, and this is something which is highly undesirable. Finally, it is suggested that allopathic medicine is quite different from homeopathic treatment because it recognises the existence of factors other than miasms that cause disease. References Bradford, T.L., 1999. The Life and Letters of Samuel Hahnemann. Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel. Chapelle, F., 2005, "Hidden Life, Hidden Death". Wellsprings. New Brunswick NJ, Rutgers University Press. Cook, T., 1981. Samuel Hahnemann Founder of Homeopathy. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, Thorsons. Kaufman, M., 1972. Homeopathy in America, the Rise and Fall of a Medical Heresy. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 24. Miles, M., 1995. “Homoeopathy In The 21st Century.” Prometheus Unbound, vol. 2, no.1, pp.35-37. Santer, M., 2009. “Richard Bradley: A Unified, Living Agent Theory of the Cause of Infectious Diseases of Plants, Animals, and Humans in the First Decades of the 18th Century”, in Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 566-578. 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