The Stigma of Alchemy
In Hahnemann's time alchemy was considered a black art and anyone studying it had to do so secretly. Hahnemann was no exception and to acknowledge it would have meant scientific suicide.
Hahnemann may have studied the works of Paracelsus but to admit it would be anathema to his own standing. Peter Morell's assertion that paracelsus was inconsistent in his application of the similia priciple goes against what one could understand, especially after his stint as a doctor with the Crusades. At that time, he learned a great deal from the Arab physicians regarding the similia law and since that time at least he was a staunch follower who did conduct many experiments - on his students and servants, often without informing them.
Paracelsus was the first to rail against the use of drugs in massive doses. He said that whether something is poison or medicine all depends on the dose.
‘Poison is in everything. Whether something is a medicine or a poison is dependent on the amount. The dose determines whether something is a medicine or a poison.’ (Paracelsus. De Natura Rerum)
This quote from one of his more coherent books shows he was well aware of the dangers of the common practise of his day. If paracelsus seems to be contradictory in his writings, it is not to be forgotten he was hounded and prosecuted several times - just like Hahnemann - and used obscurantism in his writings to hide his true convictions.
One has to learn to read between the lines and to connect the dots, so to speak and then one discovers this was a tactic he employed for two reasons. The first is that doctors in his time used this obscurantism to hide the formulas of their medicines and the second was in his case to avoid prosecution.
In Hahnemann's time, several new discoveries were made - one has to only remember the name of Jenner, who in 1796 discovered the vaccine principle, which he took from Hahnemann's law od similars. Thus in his time the presentation of new ideas was much more acceptable than in the time of Paracelsus..
Peter Morell opined as regards to the connection between Hahnemann and Alchemy:
''The question has often been asked did Hahnemann copy Paracelsus? The answer is 'yes' in the sense that he used the law of similars and knew that others in medicine before him had also used it. The answer is 'no' in the sense that what Paracelsus used was not homoeopathy in the Hahnemannian sense, because Paracelsus did not conduct provings and nor did he as far as we know, attenuate the dose. These latter two techniques were developed exclusively by Hahnemann and therefore form unique components of the homoeopathic system that he created.
However, Paracelsus is still widely regarded as Hahnemann's most 'homoeopathic' predecessor. He was very interested in the poisonous effects of drugs and he seemed to perceive the same crucial link which Hahnemann made, between the toxicity and the therapeutic action of a drug. Paracelsus did, however, do something unusual with remedy preparation and he did use small doses compared with his medical peers. Perhaps he glimpsed but dimly the underlying principle that Hahnemann was later to clarify in much greater detail. Yet Paracelsus, in spite of his critique of Galenic methods, probably still used contraries and he is neither reliable nor consistent in his approach.
Hahnemann undoubtedly knew of and built upon the work of Paracelsus. This is not generally disputed, but it is the size and extent of his debt that is in question. Some (eg Danciger, 1987 and Gutman) have suggested that Hahnemann's debt to Paracelsus was much greater, that he was a member of Western Esoteric traditions (or drew heavily upon them), that he was very familiar with the metaphysical ideas of his near contemporary, Goethe (1749-1832), traditions like the Freemasons, Knight's Templar and the Rosicrucians. All this requires much further research, and may at this stage be stretching the point somewhat. Hahnemann himself goes no further than mentioning Hippocrates as using the law of similars, though it is peculiar that he never mentions the doyen of similars, Paracelsus. He several times denied any link with Paracelsus.
It is well-known that Hahnemann was under the influence of Paracelsus and other Esotericists on his new system of therapy. Hahnemann possibly discovered similar ideas to Paracelsus but from a different route - through his own experimentation and research. In Haehl (1922) he specifically rejects any link with Paracelsus yet this now seems rather unconvincing.
Dr Michael Neagu, in his history of homoeopathy in Rumania (Geschichte der Homöopathie in Rumänien) returns to this fascinating problem and discusses the significance of the position Hahnemann took in Transylvania at the beginning of his career (1777-79), as a cataloguist to the medical library of a patron, Baron Samuel von Brukenthal at Sibiu (north-west of Bucharest). Apparently, the library which he spent two years classifying, contained a large collection of original works by mediaeval alchemists and physicians including a large collection of works by Paracelsus.
It also contained the 'Medicina Spagyrica Tripartita' (1648) of Jean Pharamond Rhumelius (c1600-c1660), which Neagu describes as 'a fundamental esoteric work, relying on the principle of similia similibus curentur' (p25 of his paper and p259 of the book). Yet important aspect of influences upon Hahnemann, is also discussed in depth in Haehl, 1922, (Vol 1, p11 & pp21-24, & Vol 2, p9-10).''There is much in there that shows the historical development from alchemy to homoeopathy, there is no doubt that Hahnemann had knowledge about Paracelsus' works, although many have postulated that since Hahnemann never mentions him, he must have not known.In the Lesser Writngs for instance, the theory of organ therapy was postuated by Hahnemann before he discovered homoeopathy, and which was also employed by Paracelsus. In the Organon we find several expressions which are purely alchemical such as in Par. 7. There are quite a few more instances to be found by those familiar with alchemical thinking. Alchemy is the mother of modern chemistry and in both Ayurveda and Homeopathy some alchemical methods are incorporated, like for making Rasasindura in Ayurveda and Hepar sulph in homeopathy, for example. Peter Morrell has also explained how homeopathy is evolved from Alchemy in his scholarly article “ Hahnemann’s debt to Alchemy” , some other researchers also opined that Homeopathy is actually came from Alchemy! Please check the book:Alchemy and Science by Lucia K. B. Hall ,July 1997) and the article: The Alchemy in Homoeopathy by Whitall N. Perry, Source: Studies in Comparative Religion, Vol. 16, No. 1 & 2 (Winter-Spring, 1984) . In another work, Homeopathy: From Alchemy To Medicine by Elizabeth Danciger, Publisher: Healing Arts Press(March,1989), author traces the development of homeopathy, showing that Hahnemann's discoveries can only be understood in the context of the ground-breaking work of Paracelsus. It must be remembered that already in his time Paracelsus was a disgraced man - evidenced from the fact that he railed so much against the prevalent medical practise, which Hahnemann also condemned. for Hahnemann to have mentioned him would have been scientific suicide.
Indeed scattered throughout his writings we find evidence. In the Lesser Writngs for instance, the theory of organ therapy was postuated by Hahnemann before he discovered homoeopathy, and which was also employed by Paracelsus. In the Organon we find several expressions which are purely alchemical such as in Par. 7. There are quite a few more instances to be found by those familiar with alchemical thinking.
Count Cesare Mattei certainly was very much aware of such stigma about Alchemy, so, he gave Homeopathic polydynamics a new dimension by making spagyric tinctures, but observed throughout secrecy, since in his time even in 20 th century Alchemy is not considered science. Mattei hence named his series of complex spagyric medicines as Electro Homeopathy, avoiding any reference to Alchemy which could have been resulted into blunt scientific suicide.
At present times Soluna, Pekana , Phylak and several Spagyric-Homeopathic pharmrcies are marketing their Spagyric Homeopathic series of complex spagyric medicines.
Research Article by: Dr.Debasish Kundu.
WEBSITE CONTENTS ARE COPYRIGHTED VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT STRICTLY PUNISHABLE DO NOT MAKE ILLEGAL COPIES
Hahnemann may have studied the works of Paracelsus but to admit it would be anathema to his own standing. Peter Morell's assertion that paracelsus was inconsistent in his application of the similia priciple goes against what one could understand, especially after his stint as a doctor with the Crusades. At that time, he learned a great deal from the Arab physicians regarding the similia law and since that time at least he was a staunch follower who did conduct many experiments - on his students and servants, often without informing them.
Paracelsus was the first to rail against the use of drugs in massive doses. He said that whether something is poison or medicine all depends on the dose.
‘Poison is in everything. Whether something is a medicine or a poison is dependent on the amount. The dose determines whether something is a medicine or a poison.’ (Paracelsus. De Natura Rerum)
This quote from one of his more coherent books shows he was well aware of the dangers of the common practise of his day. If paracelsus seems to be contradictory in his writings, it is not to be forgotten he was hounded and prosecuted several times - just like Hahnemann - and used obscurantism in his writings to hide his true convictions.
One has to learn to read between the lines and to connect the dots, so to speak and then one discovers this was a tactic he employed for two reasons. The first is that doctors in his time used this obscurantism to hide the formulas of their medicines and the second was in his case to avoid prosecution.
In Hahnemann's time, several new discoveries were made - one has to only remember the name of Jenner, who in 1796 discovered the vaccine principle, which he took from Hahnemann's law od similars. Thus in his time the presentation of new ideas was much more acceptable than in the time of Paracelsus..
Peter Morell opined as regards to the connection between Hahnemann and Alchemy:
''The question has often been asked did Hahnemann copy Paracelsus? The answer is 'yes' in the sense that he used the law of similars and knew that others in medicine before him had also used it. The answer is 'no' in the sense that what Paracelsus used was not homoeopathy in the Hahnemannian sense, because Paracelsus did not conduct provings and nor did he as far as we know, attenuate the dose. These latter two techniques were developed exclusively by Hahnemann and therefore form unique components of the homoeopathic system that he created.
However, Paracelsus is still widely regarded as Hahnemann's most 'homoeopathic' predecessor. He was very interested in the poisonous effects of drugs and he seemed to perceive the same crucial link which Hahnemann made, between the toxicity and the therapeutic action of a drug. Paracelsus did, however, do something unusual with remedy preparation and he did use small doses compared with his medical peers. Perhaps he glimpsed but dimly the underlying principle that Hahnemann was later to clarify in much greater detail. Yet Paracelsus, in spite of his critique of Galenic methods, probably still used contraries and he is neither reliable nor consistent in his approach.
Hahnemann undoubtedly knew of and built upon the work of Paracelsus. This is not generally disputed, but it is the size and extent of his debt that is in question. Some (eg Danciger, 1987 and Gutman) have suggested that Hahnemann's debt to Paracelsus was much greater, that he was a member of Western Esoteric traditions (or drew heavily upon them), that he was very familiar with the metaphysical ideas of his near contemporary, Goethe (1749-1832), traditions like the Freemasons, Knight's Templar and the Rosicrucians. All this requires much further research, and may at this stage be stretching the point somewhat. Hahnemann himself goes no further than mentioning Hippocrates as using the law of similars, though it is peculiar that he never mentions the doyen of similars, Paracelsus. He several times denied any link with Paracelsus.
It is well-known that Hahnemann was under the influence of Paracelsus and other Esotericists on his new system of therapy. Hahnemann possibly discovered similar ideas to Paracelsus but from a different route - through his own experimentation and research. In Haehl (1922) he specifically rejects any link with Paracelsus yet this now seems rather unconvincing.
Dr Michael Neagu, in his history of homoeopathy in Rumania (Geschichte der Homöopathie in Rumänien) returns to this fascinating problem and discusses the significance of the position Hahnemann took in Transylvania at the beginning of his career (1777-79), as a cataloguist to the medical library of a patron, Baron Samuel von Brukenthal at Sibiu (north-west of Bucharest). Apparently, the library which he spent two years classifying, contained a large collection of original works by mediaeval alchemists and physicians including a large collection of works by Paracelsus.
It also contained the 'Medicina Spagyrica Tripartita' (1648) of Jean Pharamond Rhumelius (c1600-c1660), which Neagu describes as 'a fundamental esoteric work, relying on the principle of similia similibus curentur' (p25 of his paper and p259 of the book). Yet important aspect of influences upon Hahnemann, is also discussed in depth in Haehl, 1922, (Vol 1, p11 & pp21-24, & Vol 2, p9-10).''There is much in there that shows the historical development from alchemy to homoeopathy, there is no doubt that Hahnemann had knowledge about Paracelsus' works, although many have postulated that since Hahnemann never mentions him, he must have not known.In the Lesser Writngs for instance, the theory of organ therapy was postuated by Hahnemann before he discovered homoeopathy, and which was also employed by Paracelsus. In the Organon we find several expressions which are purely alchemical such as in Par. 7. There are quite a few more instances to be found by those familiar with alchemical thinking. Alchemy is the mother of modern chemistry and in both Ayurveda and Homeopathy some alchemical methods are incorporated, like for making Rasasindura in Ayurveda and Hepar sulph in homeopathy, for example. Peter Morrell has also explained how homeopathy is evolved from Alchemy in his scholarly article “ Hahnemann’s debt to Alchemy” , some other researchers also opined that Homeopathy is actually came from Alchemy! Please check the book:Alchemy and Science by Lucia K. B. Hall ,July 1997) and the article: The Alchemy in Homoeopathy by Whitall N. Perry, Source: Studies in Comparative Religion, Vol. 16, No. 1 & 2 (Winter-Spring, 1984) . In another work, Homeopathy: From Alchemy To Medicine by Elizabeth Danciger, Publisher: Healing Arts Press(March,1989), author traces the development of homeopathy, showing that Hahnemann's discoveries can only be understood in the context of the ground-breaking work of Paracelsus. It must be remembered that already in his time Paracelsus was a disgraced man - evidenced from the fact that he railed so much against the prevalent medical practise, which Hahnemann also condemned. for Hahnemann to have mentioned him would have been scientific suicide.
Indeed scattered throughout his writings we find evidence. In the Lesser Writngs for instance, the theory of organ therapy was postuated by Hahnemann before he discovered homoeopathy, and which was also employed by Paracelsus. In the Organon we find several expressions which are purely alchemical such as in Par. 7. There are quite a few more instances to be found by those familiar with alchemical thinking.
Count Cesare Mattei certainly was very much aware of such stigma about Alchemy, so, he gave Homeopathic polydynamics a new dimension by making spagyric tinctures, but observed throughout secrecy, since in his time even in 20 th century Alchemy is not considered science. Mattei hence named his series of complex spagyric medicines as Electro Homeopathy, avoiding any reference to Alchemy which could have been resulted into blunt scientific suicide.
At present times Soluna, Pekana , Phylak and several Spagyric-Homeopathic pharmrcies are marketing their Spagyric Homeopathic series of complex spagyric medicines.
Research Article by: Dr.Debasish Kundu.
WEBSITE CONTENTS ARE COPYRIGHTED VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT STRICTLY PUNISHABLE DO NOT MAKE ILLEGAL COPIES