World Homeopathy Day (WHD) is annually observed across the globe on 10 April to raise awareness about homeopathy, a therapeutic system of Medicine, its principles, and its contributions to global healthcare.
- WHD also commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician and chemist, who is regarded as the founder of homeopathy.
10th April 2024 marks the 269th birth anniversary of Dr Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann.
- The theme for World Homeopathy Day 2024 is “Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family.”
About Dr Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann:
i.Born on 10 April 1755 in Meissen, Germany, Dr Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann was an acclaimed scientist, great scholar, and linguist.
ii.In 1790, he translated William Cullen’s A Treatise on the Materia Medica from English to German.
iii.This led him to propose the theory of “Similia similibus curentur” Latin phrase – “law of similarities” which is the central pillar of homeopathy.
iv.He lectured on homeopathic principles at the University of Leipzig in Germany from 1812-1821.
v.In 1835, he relocated to Paris (France), where he practiced homeopathy until his death in 1843.
About Homeopathy:
i.Homeopathy, also known as homeopathic medicine, is derived from the Greek words homeo, which means similar, and pathos, which means suffering.
ii.It does not use drugs or surgery. It is based on the principle of “Similia Similibus Curentur” or ‘let likes be treated by likes.’
- The idea is that a substance that causes certain symptoms in a healthy person can help treat similar symptoms in someone who is sick.
iii.Homeopathy treatment uses highly diluted substances to stimulate the body’s natural healing process.
In India:
i.Homoeopathy came to India as early as 1810 when Dr. Samuel Hahnemann visited India and treated patients.
ii.The Ayush systems of medicine include Indian systems of medicines like Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy.
iii.The Ministry of Ayush was formed on 9 November 2014 with a vision of revitalizing ancient medicinal wisdom and fostering the growth and dissemination of Ayush systems of healthcare.
Note: The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers Homeopathy as one of the most commonly used forms of Traditional & Complementary Medicine (T&CM).
2024 Events in India:
i.On 10 April 2024, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a 2-day scientific convention (10 and 11 April 2024) at Yashobhoomi Conventional Centre Dwarka, New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.It is organised by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), an autonomous apex research organization under the Ministry of Ayush.
iii.The theme of the convention is “Empowering Research, Enhancing Proficiency: A Homoeopathic Symposium”.
Note: During the event, the president felicitated 8 Padma awardees. Further, 17 Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) publications were released.
Objective:
The convention aims to:
- Promote evidence-based scientific treatment in clinical practice and health programs;
- Capacitate the homeopathic community in research-based therapeutics;
- Become a healthcare powerhouse meeting the population’s needs for personalized, safe, and credible healthcare; and
- Enrich homeopathic medicine with quality diagnostics, therapeutics, and scientific tools for better patient outcomes.
About Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH):
Union Minister– Sarbananda Sonowal (Rajya Sabha Assam)
Minister of State– Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai (Constituency: Surendranagar, Gujarat)
