Advocates of homeopathy and other forms of alternative medicine often use the term allopathy or allopathic medicine to refer to mainstream, Western medicine.
The term allopathy was coined by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, who used it to refer to what he saw was a system of medication which combats disease by using remedies which produce effects that are different (hence Greek root allo- "different") from those of the disease being treated. He claimed his theory of homeopathy, which tries to mimic the symptoms (hence homeo-, "the same") was a more effective and humane alternative.
The term allopathy today is used most frequently (and incorrectly) in criticisms of modern medicine made by practitioners of alternative healing. However, standard medicine has never paid allegiance to an allopathic principle.
History of Allopathy
Practitioners of alternative medicine have used the term "allopathic medicine" to refer to the practice of "conventional" medicine in both Europe and America during and before the 19th century. In America, this was also referred to as regular medicine: that is, medicine that was practiced by the regulars. The practice of "conventional" medicine in both Europe and America during the 19th century is sometimes referred to as the age of heroic medicine.
Allopathy is a term used by American homeopaths, naturopaths, chiropractors and other advocates of alternative health practices to refer to conventional medicine.
My Random House Dictionary of the English Language (unabridged edition) defines allopathy as "the method of treating disease by the use of agents that produce effects different from those of the disease treated (opposed to homeopathy)." The word was invented by homeopath Samuel Hahnemann as a term for those who are other than homeopaths.
In America, the term has not caught on and is used mainly by "alternative" practitioners and some osteopaths.
Allopathy is a term used by homeopaths, naturopaths, chiropractors and other advocates of alternative health practices to refer to traditional medicine.
Allopathy, as it turns out, was another invention of homeopath Samuel Hahnemann, being his term for all medical theories and practices which didn't fit into his like cures like superstition.
The "dirty tricks" of the allopathic medical societies in the early years of this century, plus the lure of the "magic bullet" of the new antibiotic drugs, led to a decline in homeopathy in the middle of this century, to the point that 20 years ago very few medical doctors were practicing it.
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