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Since the 1970s, homeopathy has been steadily gaining in popularity as more and more Americans recognize its benefits. For those who do not have a homeopathic physician in their area, many worthwhile homeopathic remedies are available in over-the-counter formulations at health food stores.
Homeopathy arrived in the United States when Dr. Hans Burch Gram, the son of a Danish sea captain, set up practice in New York in 1828. This was at least 10 years before the practice of homeopathy crossed from Europe to Great Britain, according to Trevor M. Cook in his book, Homeopathic Medicine Today.
However, according to Cook, it was Dr. Constantine Hering who was the true architect of the development of homeopathy across the United States. Like Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, a native of Saxony, Hering was born in the town of Oschatz on January 1, 1800. He studied medicine at the University of Leipzig.
"In his final year at the university, Hering was instructed by his tutor to write a thesis refuting the principles of homeopathy, but his study of the subject only convinced him of its worth," Cook added. "He wrote to Hahnemann to explain his predicament. The master replied that he should keep his belief in homeopathy to himself until he gained his degree and then practice homeopathy as he wished. Hering's commitment to homeopathy was so strong, however, that he refused to complete his thesis and moved to the University of Wurzburg where, in 1826, he gained his Doctorate of Medicine," writes Cook.
Hering traveled throughout South America for five years, where he "proved" several new homeopathic medicines, including Lachesis mutus (bushmaster snake venom). He corresponded regularly with Hahnemann on homeopathic matters and they became close friends.
Hering emigrated to the United States in 1833, Cook continued, and within a year he had gathered a number of German immigrant physicians around him to establish a homeopathic infrastructure. His first step was to establish the North American Academy of Homeopathic Healing Art in Allentown, Pa., assisted by Drs. Detweiler, Bute, Ihm and Freitag, all German immigrants.
After that, Hering founded the American Institute of Homeopathy, and he was elected its first president. In 1836, he established a second teaching institution, the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania,...