I’m excited, today, to talk to you guys a little bit about history. But before I dive into homeopathy history, I want to share a little bit about why I think learning about history in general is important. It’s been said that humans are historical creatures. Knowing about history—whether it’s our history, our family’s history, or about the world around us—helps us to understand ourselves better. Myths, stories, and histories all help us to discover who we are and allow us to lead a more fulfilling life.
I think family history in particular is really important. I have a very colorful ancestry. There are some less than reputable characters along with some really incredible people and I think it is all so fascinating. It’s really from the foundation of these ancestors that I’ve been able to get to where I am today.
It feels like what we are exposed to a lot today is revisionist history. Meaning it is a reinterpretation of historical events, often challenging established narratives with new evidence or perspectives. Sometimes revisionist histories can be really good, but sometimes they can water down or cool off some really inspiring stories.
In my curriculum, I have a pretty good revisionist history on the story of Louis Pasteur. Pasteur is traditionally lauded as this kind of amazing person—and yet, personally, I find him to be an awful person and I share that side of his history. Since history really shapes how we think, I think it is great to look at both sides of a situation while forming an opinion.
One of the things that has been largely lost is how amazing the history of homeopathy is. If we don’t know the history of where homeopathy came from, it is so easy to lose sight of where we want to go with our health and with homeopathy. All of the amazing figures in history—who we will get to in a moment—who are so inspirational, if it was important and valuable to them, then there must have been a reason. And that same reason can allow homeopathy to be just as important and valuable to us today.
My Homeopathic Crush
A major influencing factor behind why I created my Homeopathy Heroes card game, was to help keep the history of homeopathy alive. Between the homeopaths and the “patients” all of the characters in my game were either full-on lovers of homeopathy, or at least had notable interactions with homeopathy.
Along with the cards and instructions, I’ve also included a booklet called Homeopathy Heroes: A Hint of History. In this booklet I share rich life histories of my characters including how homeopathy was connected to their lives. Sometimes I share how they were influenced by homeopathy—and sometimes how the history of homeopathy was influenced by them! And it is full of footnotes and sources for all of the research I did!
For example, did you know that I have a massive crush on a homeopath? He’s been dead for 137 years, but I still adore him. Maybe to your surprise, but he isn’t the father of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann! (Although, my crush is considered the father of American homeopathy) His name was Constantine Hering, and, of course, I had to include him as a hero in my card game!
He was a medical student, and one of his teachers assigned him to write a research paper against homeopathy. Hering stopped by a pharmacy to get the tincture, Cinchona, and the pharmacist asked why he wanted it. Hering said, “For the purpose of proving it, in order to more thoroughly attack the new folly [Homeopathy],” to this, the druggist replied, “Let it alone, Hering; you are stepping on dangerous ground.” Hering’s answer was, “I fear not the truth”.
The more research he did, the more he began to doubt his anti-homeopathy position. Then, during one of his med-school classes, Hering injured his finger dissecting a cadaver, and it just got worse and nothing was helping, so the doctors suggested amputation. One of Hahnemann’s students and colleague of Hering suggested Arsenicum 30c, and it healed Hering’s finger. Hering awoke to homeopathy, and said, “To Hahnemann, who had saved my finger, I gave my whole hand and to the promulgation of his teachings not only my hand, but the entire man, body and soul.” Hering would later prove to be a colossus of homeopathic medicine.
Another super cool thing about Hering is that he was the first person to write a homeopathic book specifically for mothers. Prior to his influence, homeopathy was something that only doctors practiced as it was considered something that was only done in medical practice. Hering’s book, called The Domestic Prescriber, was an awesome kind of “how to” book and I think opening homeopathic access to mothers is what really triggered the “Golden Era” of homeopathy in the United States.
Other Characters
While not an exhaustive list, I wanted to share a brief intro to a few of the other characters you’ll meet in my card game to give you an idea of the incredible influence homeopathy has had across the world and among diverse populations!
Sarah Bernhardt: She was one of the 1st silent film era actresses. She not only used homeopathy, she had a giant kit! She would bring it to set and use it on the cast whenever there were injuries. Her kit was so extensive that it really led historians to believe that she truly understood homeopathy and knew what she was doing. She was a total Momeopath!
Gandhi: He was a big fan of homeopathy. He called it “nonviolent medicine.”
Florence Nightingale: She knew about homeopathy and used it on occasion in practice. However, she did not use it as her main system of medicine.
Abraham Lincoln: He opened several homeopathic hospitals during the civil war. He also gave homeopathic kits to all of the soldiers to carry around.
Louisa May Allcott: She was a big friend and lover of homeopathy. And what is interesting is that she was an abolitionist along with Henry David Thoreau and Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain who all also used homeopathy. Among the circles of abolitionists (including Abraham Lincoln) homeopathy was widely used and shared. They were anti-slavery and pro-health.
How to Play
In my game, there are two sets of characters. Some of them are homeopaths and some of them are children who are sick in bed. The children who are sick in bed were not homeopaths in real life, but they were people who loved homeopathy or interacted with it at different levels—I decided to include a little bit of everyone.
So in the game, the kids are sick in bed, so you place them all face down on the floor. Ultimately, the goal is to find one homeopath who has a remedy that matches at least one of the keynote symptoms. If you have a homeopath card in your hand with a remedy that matches one of the keynote symptoms then you get to “get the child out of bed.” The first person to collect 5 kids wins. Watch out, though, because there are a few “obstacle” cards that opponents can use to put your kids back in “bed” even after you’ve healed them!
Once your kids start to play, you’ll be amazed at how quickly they’ll start learning about the keynotes for remedies. And as an added bonus it is sooo much fun! Not only will you be the mom with the coolest and most unique stocking stuffer this year, but your kids will be learning useful life tips AND some history while having fun and they won’t even know it!
In the words of Stephanie S:
“I’m so glad this came before our trip this weekend! My son played several rounds with me while we were in the hotel. I like that you can win by luck—it really helps build confidence for the kids who just don’t know their remedies!! He learned Carbo Veg on the first round but won 5 rounds in a row because of his luck with B i g P h a r m a cards!! 🤣😂 These are so well made and so beautiful!!”
You know how some parents sneak veggies into their kids’ food to trick them into getting important nutrients? Well this is my version of that! This game delivers really important information in a way that is fun! Pretty soon, your kids will be telling you what remedies they need!
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Evie and the Secret of Small Things 1-12 Curriculum
