World Homoeopathy Day on April 10

• World Homoeopathy Day is observed annually on April 10.

• It commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy.

• This year’s theme is “Homoeopathy for Sustainable Health”.

• Homoeopathy, derived from the Greek words Homois (similar) and Pathos (suffering), is a system of medicine that treats diseases using remedies which produce effects similar to the symptoms experienced by the patient.

• This approach was formalised in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy.

• Hahnemann (1755-1843) was a German physician. 

• His seminal work, Organon of Medicine, continues to guide Homoeopathy practice worldwide.

• He established its foundational theories, first one being “like cures like”, which holds that substances capable of producing symptoms in a healthy individual can, in carefully prepared forms, treat similar symptoms in a sick individual. 

• The second theory, known as the “law of minimum dose”, emphasises the use of highly diluted remedies to stimulate the body’s self-healing mechanisms while minimising side effects.

• Homoeopathic medicines are prepared from natural sources such as plants, minerals, and animal substances through dilution and succussion, and are administered in forms like tablets, globules, and liquids. 

• A key feature is its individualised approach, where treatment is based on a patient’s overall physical and mental condition rather than just the disease.

Homeopathy in India

• Homoeopathy was introduced in India in the early 19th century, marking the beginning of its gradual expansion. 

• Around 1810, John Martin Honigberger, a disciple of Samuel Hahnemann, began practising in India. 

• His successful treatment of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839 significantly boosted its acceptance among both elites and the general population.

• In the post-independence period, the government of India took steps to institutionalise homoeopathy.

• 1973: Establishment of the Central Council of Homoeopathy.

• 1978: Establishment of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy.

• These initiatives strengthened regulation, education, and research in the field.

• With nearly a quarter of a million registered homoeopathy practitioners, India accounts for one of the largest homoeopathic workforces in the world. 

• Over the past century, the system has not only endured but has harmoniously integrated with the country’s rich traditions of natural and preventive healthcare.

• The establishment of the Ministry of AYUSH in 2014 marked a pivotal shift, bringing renewed policy focus to homoeopathy through structured interventions in research, standardisation, and global outreach. 

• These efforts have helped transform homoeopathy from a traditionally practised therapy into a well-recognised, policy-driven component of India’s healthcare system.

• India is home to around 34 dedicated homoeopathic research centres, forming a strong foundation for systematic research. 

• Leading these efforts, institutions such as the National Commission for Homoeopathy and Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy play key roles in advancing clinical research, drug standardisation, and interdisciplinary studies.

• The National Commission for Homoeopathy was established under the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020, which came into effect on July 5, 2021. 

• With this, the Board of Governors and the Central Council of Homoeopathy, constituted under the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, were dissolved.

• Based in New Delhi, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) promotes scientific and ethical research to strengthen clinical practice and support the global acceptance of homoeopathy. 

• Scientific research in Homoeopathy is conducted through a network of 33 institutes/units all over India.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)