The term allopathic medicine is used generally to refer to the system of medicine practiced by conventionally trained physicians. Despite this common practice, some groups have taken issue with the term and/or use it in a disparaging manner.
Other terms that have been proposed to describe the conventional Western medical system of practice include: conventional medicine, Western biomedicine, evidence-based medicine, scientific medicine, regular medicine, authoritarian medicine, and mainstream medicine.
History of Allopathy
The term allopathy was coined by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, who used it to refer to what he saw as a system of medicine that combats disease by using remedies that produce effects in a healthy subject that are different (hence Greek root allo- "different") from those of the disease to be treated. He claimed his theory of homeopathy, which tries to mimic the symptoms (hence homeo-, "the same") was a more effective and humane alternative.
Practitioners of alternative medicine have used the term "allopathic medicine" to refer to the practice of "conventional" medicine in both Europe and America since 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' (because of the 'heroic' measures such as bleeding and purging).
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Last updated: 10-19-2005 05:24:29
