homeopathy: definition to include remedy format?

[John Harvey]

Hi, Margaret --

Nice to hear from you again.

It's true that potentisation is a peculiarity that would serve to
distinguish homoeopathy from, say, acupuncture or herbalism. Of
course, there are other practices that use potentised remedies, so it
isn't unique to it; but if it were, your question would raise an
interesting point: does a characteristic's uniqueness to homoeopathy
make it a good part of its definition?

The answer, though, is no, it doesn't necessarily.

The reason I say this is that not all homoeopathy is practised using
potencies. It may be perfectly valid homoeopathic practice to use a
non-toxic dose of a crude substance. To use potentisation as one of
the defining characteristics of homoeopathy would unfortunately
exclude all use of crude substances even when they are homoeopathic to
the patient.

The defining characteristics of homoeopathy are those that
collectively are both NECESSARY and SUFFICIENT to state that a method
is homoeopathic. (I'm not talking about good medical practice; I'm
not even talking about especially good homoeopathic practice; I'm
talking merely about the minimum needed in order for a practice to be
called homoeopathy.)

What is necessary for a method to be a method of homoeopathic practice?

It necessary that it be based on the attempt to find the greatest
possible similarity OF SYMPTOMS between the patient and the medicine's
pathogenesis.

What is sufficient for a method to be a method of homoeopathic practice?

It is sufficient that it be based on the attempt to find the greatest
possible similarity OF SYMPTOMS between the patient and the medicine's
pathogenesis.

Note again: I am not speaking of best homoeopathic practice; just
homoeopathic practice.

Inherent in the attempt described above are several further matters:

(1) access to the recorded provings of substances on the healthy;

(2) access to the patient's entire (relevant) case history; and

(3) predictability of the effects of the substances considered --
entailing the use of monopharmacy only.

When that is understood, a definition of homoeopathy that serves to
say exactly what it is and exactly what it is not might be:

prescription of a medicine based on the attempt to find the greatest
possible similarity OF SYMPTOMS between the patient and the medicine's
pathogenesis.

Such a definition serves both to include ALL homoeopathic practice and
to exclude ALL non-homoeopathic practice -- and you'll find similar
definitions in dictionaries for exactly that reason.

Kindest regards,

John
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