In the Organon of Medicine, particularly in Aphorisms 54 and 55, Samuel Hahnemann critically describes the allopathic system of medicine. Understanding this comparison is extremely important for BHMS students, especially for examinations in Organon and Homoeopathic Philosophy.
This article presents a clear, exam-oriented explanation of Allopathy as described in the Organon.
Definition of Allopathy
According to Hahnemann, Allopathy is a system of treatment that:
- Uses mixtures of medicinal substances whose effects are not clearly known.
- Is based on arbitrarily constructed disease classifications.
- Directs treatment toward some material cause.
- Is contrary to nature, experience, and true therapeutic law.
- Ultimately leads to harmful or unsatisfactory results.
In simple words, Hahnemann considered allopathy to be a method that treats disease on assumptions rather than on natural law and pure experience.
Founder of Allopathy
Unlike Homoeopathy, which was founded by Samuel Hahnemann, Allopathy has no single founder.
It developed gradually over centuries. Various physicians introduced their own theories, systems, and schools of thought. Each system differed in its understanding of disease and treatment.
Thus, it is not based on a fixed universal therapeutic principle.
Concept of Disease in Allopathy
According to Hahnemann’s critique, the allopathic concept of disease was largely theoretical and speculative.
1. Assumed Internal Causes
Physicians believed they could identify and remove the “inner cause” of disease. However, these ideas were based on:
- Hypotheses
- Assumptions
- Arbitrary suppositions
They were not grounded in true clinical experience.
2. Arbitrary Classification
Each medical system:
- Created its own disease names.
- Classified diseases differently.
- Formed imagined disease pictures.
There was no uniform scientific basis.
3. Theory of Materia Peccans
The old school believed disease was caused by some harmful material substance in the body. This was called “Materia Peccans” (sinful matter).
They considered:
- Abnormal discharges
- Congestions
- Altered body fluids
- Excretions
as either the cause or the maintainer of disease.
Therefore, treatment focused on removing this supposed harmful matter.
4. Improper Methods
Allopathy used various procedures against disease that were improper and often harmful, though they were followed for ages in different forms and systems.
Concept of Treatment in Allopathy
Hahnemann pointed out several fundamental flaws in allopathic treatment.
1. No Fixed Therapeutic Law
Unlike Homoeopathy, which is based on the law of similars, Allopathy had no definite therapeutic principle.
2. Heterogeneous Medicines
Medicines were prescribed that:
- Had no direct pathological relation to the disease.
- Were neither similar nor opposite to the symptoms.
- Were entirely unrelated (heterogeneous).
3. Dangerous and Violent Drugs
- Medicines with unknown actions were given.
- Large and frequent doses were prescribed.
- Strong drugs were administered based on conjecture.
This often endangered human life.
4. Polypharmacy
Multiple drugs were mixed together in one prescription.
These mixtures:
- Increased toxicity
- Confused drug action
- Weakened the patient
5. Artificial Draining Methods
To remove the so-called materia peccans, physicians used:
- Setons – foreign materials inserted under the skin to create a sinus or fistula.
- Venesection – bloodletting.
- Emetics – substances that induce vomiting.
- Purgatives – substances that cause excessive bowel evacuation.
- Plasters and Cauterization – burning or chemically destroying tissue.
These procedures were believed to remove disease by drawing out harmful substances.
Effects of Allopathic Treatment (According to Hahnemann)
Hahnemann described several harmful consequences.
1. Loss of Vital Strength
Painful procedures caused:
- Loss of blood
- Excessive sweating
- Salivation
- Weakness of the patient
The vital force was weakened instead of strengthened.
2. Metastasis
Suppression of symptoms often led to:
- Disease shifting to another organ.
- Appearance of new and more serious diseases.
This was wrongly considered a new illness, but it was actually a worse manifestation of the original disease.
3. Temporary Relief
Sometimes empirically discovered remedies gave quick relief.
This:
- Impressed the patient.
- Maintained the system’s reputation.
- Did not ensure true cure.
Comparison with Homoeopathy
| Aspect | Allopathy | Homoeopathy |
|---|---|---|
| Founder | No single founder | Samuel Hahnemann |
| Therapeutic Law | No fixed law | Law of Similars |
| Concept of Disease | Material cause (Materia Peccans) | Dynamic disturbance of vital force |
| Drug Use | Large doses, mixtures | Single remedy, minimum dose |
| Result | Suppression, metastasis | Gentle, permanent cure |