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The Caduceus

© Christine Wyndham-Thomas

"Hermes came across two snakes fighting and when he threw his magic wand at them they became entwined and stopped fighting." Symbol of the Medical Profession, but perhaps more aptly representing the relationship between Orthodox Medicine and Homeopathy. And with Orthodox Medicine representing the masculine aspect of healing and Homeopathy the feminine (at least in my opinion), there are bound to be ups and downs.

During his very traumatic lifetime, Samuel Christian Hahnemann, 1755-1843, achieved his destiny in establishing Homeopathy but, considering his strongly outspoken views on the practise of medicine, it's a miracle it was ever established at all. The relationship between Orthodox Medicine and Homeopathy since the days of Hahnemann, although much improved, still remains tense.

It is generally believed that the strongly outspoken views of some Homeopathists against Orthodox Medicine led to the ensuing battle but, as Dana Ullman writes, ". . . the most important reason that conventional physicians disliked Homeopathy . . . was well expressed at an A.M.A. (American Medical Association) meeting by one of the more respected orthodox physicians who said: 'We must admit that we never fought the Homeopathist on matter of principles; we fought him because he came into the community and got the business.' Although most physicians, past and present, won't as easily admit it, economic issues play a major role in what is practised and what is allowed to be practised." To read more of Dana Ullman's excellent article: 'A Condensed History of Homeopathy' click http://www.Homeopathic.com/intro/his.htm a part of Internet Health Resources.

Interestingly and a more positive interaction between Orthodox Medicine and Homeopathy is illustrated in Dr Andrew Lockie's book 'The Family Guide to Homeopathy', which states: "There are many similarities between the concepts of Homeopathy and the new, expanding fields of immunology and allergy study. Indeed, the Homeopathic approach to preventative medicine is reflected by the immunization of Orthodox Medicine."

Homeopathy holds great potential in helping to take some of the burden off of an already overstretched and stressed National Health Service and its equivalent worldwide. In Britain there are five Homeopathic Hospitals, and a GP can refer his patient to a Homeopathic Consultant who operates under the National Health Service, upon request, if a health problem is not clearing up.

That's not to say that it would be practical for Homeopathic Consultants to take over the bulk of cases generated by the National Health Service, only enough to help relieve some of its burden. This is because a Homeopathic consultation differs from the usual GP consultation, in that the line of questioning goes much deeper and you are never in there for just five minutes! Your state of mind, your precise symptoms, what makes them worse, what makes them better are all taken into account in deciding the type of Remedy to be given.

The copyright of the article The Caduceus in Homeopathy is owned by Christine Wyndham-Thomas. Permission to republish The Caduceus in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.