Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 04:46, 15 April 2008

Allopathy is a term coined in 1842 by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, as a synonym for mainstream medicine. It was used by homeopaths to highlight the difference they perceived between homeopathy and conventional medicine, and its use remains common among homeopaths. The term derives from the Greek ἄλλος, állos, other, different + πάϑος, páthos, suffering. The distinction comes from the use in homeopathy of substances that cause similar effects as the symptoms of a disease to treat patients (homeo - meaning similar). The term allopathy was meant to contrast the homeopathic approach with those conventional medical treatments that are different from or which directly counter a patient's symptoms; hence the terms allopathic and antipathic. Homeopaths saw such symptomatic treatments as "opposites treating opposites". However, many conventional medical treatments do not fit this definition of allopathy, as they seek to prevent illness, or remove the cause of an illness by acting on the etiology of disease.

The meaning implied by the label has never been accepted by conventional medicine, and may still be considered pejorative. The term allopathic was used through the 19th Century as a derogatory term for the practitioners of heroic medicine, a precursor to modern medicine that did not rely on evidence. The meaning and controversy surrounding the term can be traced to its original usage during a heated 19th-century debate between practitioners of homeopathy, and those they derisively referred to as "allopaths." In recent years, some American M.D.s who also practice alternative medicine have accepted the designation of "allopathic physician." "Allopathic medicine" has also been used in contradistinction to osteopathic medicine in the United States.

Origin

The term allopathy was coined by the founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann, to differentiate homeopathic practices from conventional medicine of the day, based on the types of treatments used. Hahnemann used allopathy 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 the effects produced by the disease to be treated.

History

As used by homeopaths, the term allopathy has always referred to a principle of curing disease by administering substances that produce other effects than the disease when given to a healthy human. For example, an allopathic treatment for fever is a drug which reduces the fever. A homeopathic treatment for fever, by contrast, is one that induces fever in a healthy person. Hahnemann used this term to distinguish medicine as practiced in his time from his use of infinitesimally small doses of substances to treat the spiritual causes of illness.

William T Jarvis, Ph.D., an expert on alternative medicine and public health, states that "although many modern therapies can be construed to conform to an allopathic rationale (eg, using a laxative to relieve constipation), standard medicine has never paid allegiance to an allopathic principle" and that the label "allopath" was "considered highly derisive by regular medicine."

James C. Whorton also discusses this historical pejorative usage:

One form of verbal warfare used in retaliation by irregulars was the word "allopathy." ....... "Allopathy" and "allopathic" were liberally employed as pejoratives by all irregular physicians of the nineteenth century, and the terms were considered highly offensive by those at whom they were directed. The generally uncomplaining acceptance of "allopathic medicine" by today's MDs is an indication of both a lack of awareness of the term's historical use and the recent thawing of relations between irregulars and allopaths.

— James C. Whorton

The Companion Encyclopedia of the History of Medicine states that "Hahnemann gave an all-embracing name to regular practice, calling it 'allopathy'. This term, however imprecise, was employed by his followers or other unorthodox movements to identify the prevailing methods as constituting nothing more than a competing 'school' of medicine, however dominant in terms of number of practitioner proponents and patients." In the nineteenth century, some pharmacies labeled their products with the terms allopathic or homeopathic.

Contrary to the present usage, Hahnemann reserved the term of "allopathic" medicine to the practice of treating diseases by means of drugs inducing symptoms unrelated (i.e. neither similar nor opposite) to those of the disease. He called instead "enantiopathic" or "antipathic" the practice of treating diseases by means of drugs producing symptoms opposite to those of the patient (e.g. see Organon, VI edition, paragraphs 54-56). After Hahnemann's death the term "enantiopathy" fell in disuse and the two concepts of allopathy and enantiopathy have been more or less unified. Both, however, indicate what Hahnemann thought about contemporary conventional medicine, rather than the current ideas of his colleagues. Conventional physicians had never assumed that the therapeutic effects of drugs were necessarily related to the symptoms they caused in the healthy: e.g. James Lind in 1747 systematically tested several common substances and foods for their effect on scurvy and discovered that lemon juice was specifically active; he clearly did not select lemon juice because it caused symptoms in the healthy man, either similar or opposite to those of scurvy.

Practitioners of alternative medicine have used the term "allopathic medicine" to refer to the practice of conventional medicine in both Europe and the United States since the 19th century. In the U.S., 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).

Current usage of term

This article may require cleanup to meet Misplaced Pages's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this article if you can. (March 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

There are several definitions given for allopathic medicine. Some dictionaries define the term allopathy or allopathic medicine as the treatment of disease using conventional evidence-based medical therapies, as opposed to the use of alternative medical or non-conventional therapies.

Modern, regular medicine

Some dictionaries define allopathic medicine as conventional medicine. Stedman's Illustrated Medical Dictionary defines it as "egular medicine, the traditional form of medical practice", contrasting it with "homeopathy". The Oxford English Dictionary presents a similar formulation: "the present prevailing system of medicine", as one of its definitions of the term.

Some authors within the field of alternative medicine suggest the meaning of allopathic medicine is derived from a literal translation of its word parts, from the Greek allo meaning other and pathos meaning suffering. Homeopaths gave their opponents this pejorative label in reference to the "other suffering" or the adverse side effects caused by the drugs their contemporaries prescribed.

Homeopathy and heteropathy

Steadman's Medical Dictionary calls heteropathy a "therapeutic system in which a disease is treated by producing a second condition that is incompatible with or antagonistic to the first." Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary also defines it as a "term applied to that system of therapeutics in which diseases are treated by producing a condition incompatible with or antagonistic to the condition to be cured or alleviated. Called also heteropathy," e.g. treating a fever by immersion in cold water. This usage contrasts with the philosophy of homeopathy, which treats disease by prescribing agents that cause symptoms similar to the condition to be cured, e.g. treating a fever by wrapping in warm blankets. Hence the terms homeopathy, meaning a treatment "similar to the suffering" and heteropathy, meaning a treatment "opposing of the suffering."

Usage controversy, critiques of modern medicine

Tabor's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary presents the application of the term allopathy to conventional medicine as incorrect, saying it is "erroneously used for the regular practice of medicine to differentiate it from homeopathy". WA Newman Dorland's American Pocket Medical Dictionary also labeled allopath and allopathist as "incorrect title for a regular practitioner" and described allopathy as an "erroneous name for the regular system of medicine." Many have criticized the use of the pejorative term to describe modern, conventional medicine. Other terms that have been proposed to describe the conventional Western medical system of practice include: conventional medicine, Western medicine, evidence-based medicine, clinical medicine, scientific medicine, regular medicine, mainstream medicine, standard medicine, orthodox medicine, and authoritarian medicine. Nevertheless, the usage of allopathic medicine persists, by both critics and practitioners of modern, Western medicine.

Changing Definitions

This article or section possibly contains synthesis of material that does not verifiably mention or relate to the main topic. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. (March 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

HOBLYN’S DICTIONARY OF MEDICAL TERMS, 1892

Allopathy: Heteropathy The art of curing, founded on differences, by which one morbid state is removed by inducing a different one. The practitioner is termed an allopathist, or, more curtly, an allopath. See Homeopathy.

OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY, 1971

Allopathy: A term applied by homeopathists to the ordinary or traditional medical practice, and to a certain extent in common use to distinguish it from Homeopathy.

DORLAND’S ILLUSTRATED MEDICAL DICTIONARY, 1971

allopath: A term sometimes applied to a practitioner of allopathy.

allopathic: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, allopathy.

allopathy: A term frequently applied to the method of treatment practiced by recipients of the degree of doctor of medicine but specifically excluding homeopathy.

STEDMAN'S MEDICAL DICTIONARY, 2007

allopathic: Relating to allopathy.

allopathy: Regular medicine, the traditional form of medical practice.

MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S ONLINE DICTIONARY, 2007

allopathic: Relating to or being a system of medicine that aims to combat disease by using remedies (as drugs or surgery) which produce effects that are different from or incompatible with those of the disease being treated.

Regional usage of term

In the United States

In the United States, the term "allopathic" has recently come into common usage by the medical profession, as a means to distinguish M.D. physicians from D.O. (osteopathic) physicians, homeopaths, naturopaths and other practitioners of alternative medicine. According to the United States Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, "There are two types of physicians: M.D.—Doctor of Medicine—and D.O.—Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. M.D.s also are known as allopathic physicians." The National Resident Matching Program uses a similar definition, which labels as "allopathic" any "graduate of a Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited U.S. allopathic school of medicine." The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education is responsible for what are sometimes referred to as the 8,200 "allopathic" residency training programs in the United States. The American Osteopathic Association also uses this distinction. In some instances, other institutions are labeled as allopathic to distinguish them from parallel osteopathic organizations, such as in the "Osteopathic and Allopathic Healthcare Discrimination Act" of Illinois.

The increasing usage of the term by mainstream U.S. physicians has been criticized by some authors, who attribute its revival to an ignorance of the historically bitter opposition to the term by the conventional medical profession and note the inaccuracy of describing modern, evidence-based medicine as abiding by the "allopathic" principle of prescribing remedies with effects opposing an illness. Norman Gevitz, a medical historian, remarks on this usage:

Although policy makers, social scientists, and others often refer to the MD profession as allopathic, this term is actually an historical artifact that does not reflect any body of beliefs shared by the members of this profession. For more than 150 years, the American Medical Association has pointedly rejected the adoption of any philosophical belief system governing health and disease and has argued that the profession's approach to medicine is based solely on scientific evidence.

— Norman Gevitz, PhD.

In India

In India, the term allopathic is frequently used to distinguish modern, Western, research-based medicine from the many traditional forms of medicine practiced on the Indian subcontinent, especially ayurvedic medicine.

Professional advantages

Allopathic training is by far the most widely available and recognized type of medical training. It gives the option to practice in any of the medical specialties, and, unlike the D.O. (Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine), the M.D. is universally recognized as a medical degree. When practicing overseas, the M.D. is far easier to negotiate with than is the D.O. In the United States, allopathic residency training programs are generally considered more prestigious and offer higher reimbursement salaries. The most common reason students give for choosing an allopathic residency is that allopathic programs offer superior training.

See also

• Alternative medicine
• Naturopathic medicine
• Osteopathic medicine
• Samuel Hahnemann, founder of homeopathy
• Traditional medicine

References

1. Berkenwald, A.D. (1998). "In the Name of Medicine". Annals of Internal Medicine. 128 (3): 246. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
2. Federspil, G. (2003). "A Critical Overview of Homeopathy". Annals of Internal Medicine. 139 (8). Retrieved 2008-03-26. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
3. ^ William T. Jarvis, Ph. D Misuse of the Term "Allopathy"
4. Atwood KC (2004). "Naturopathy, pseudoscience, and medicine: myths and fallacies vs truth". MedGenMed. 6 (1): 33. PMID 15208545. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
5. Bates, Don G (2002). "Why Not Call Modern Medicine "Alternative"?". The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
6. ^ Cuellar, Norma G. (2006). Conversations in complementary and alternative medicine: insights and perspectives from leading practitioners. Boston: Jones and Bartlett. p. 4. ISBN 0-7637-3888-3. Retrieved 2007-10-31. Cite error: The named reference "isbn0-7637-3888-3" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
7. ^ Whorton, James C. (2002). Nature Cures: The History of Alternative Medicine in America. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195171624.
8. ^ Whorton, James. Counterculture Healing: A Brief History of Alternative Medicine in America. 4 Nov 2003. WGBH Educational Foundation. accessed 25 Dec 2007.
9. Page Not Found on www.aamc.org
10. "Closer to Truth Participants". Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Text "PBS" ignored (help)
11. Stedman's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 27th edition (2000).
12. The Oxford English Dictionary, online edition (2006).
13. Goldberg B, Anderson J, and Trivieri L. Allopathic Medicine. The Definitive Guide to Alternative Medicine, 2nd ed. Ten Speed Press. 2002.
14. Steadman's Medical Dictionary, 5th edition (2005).
15. Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 26th ed.(2003)
16. Tabor's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (2001).
17. American Pocket Medical Dictionary 18th ed. (1946)
18. John A P Price (ed), Richard D Hoblyn, A Dictionary of Terms used in Medicine and in the collateral sciences. 12th ed. London: Whittaker & Co. 1892.
19. New English Dictionary. Oxford University Press 1971 p. 237.
20. Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 24th edition. Philadelphia: W B Saunders 1965 ISBN 0-7216-3146-0
21. Allopathy. Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th Edition. accessed October 2007.
22. Allopathic. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary. accessed October 2007.
23. ^ Gundling, KE.When Did I Become an "Allopath"? Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:2185-2186
24. "Physicians and Surgeons". Occupational Outlook Handbook. United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
25. Registering with the NRMP. National Residency Matching Program. Accessed 15 March 2008.
26. Results and Data. p ii. February 2008. National Residency Matching Program.
27. "Guidebook for Graduate Medical Education Program Directors" (PDF). American Medical Association. 2007. p. 34. Retrieved 2008-03-22. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is a separately incorporated organization, responsible for the accreditation of approximately 8,200 allopathic GME programs. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
28. (225 ILCS 62/) Osteopathic and Allopathic Healthcare Discrimination Act. Illinois General Assembly.
29. Gevitz, Norman PhD. Center or Periphery? The Future of Osteopathic Principles and Practices J Am Osteopathic Assoc. Vol 106 No 3 March 2006. p 121
30. Gogtay NJ, Bhatt HA, Dalvi SS, Kshirsagar NA. The use and safety of non-allopathic Indian medicines. Drug Saf. 2002;25(14):1005-19. PMID 12408732.
31. Verma U, Sharma R, Gupta P, Gupta S, Kapoor B. Allopathic vs. ayurvedic practices in tertiary care institutes of urban North India. Indian J Pharmacol. 39:52-54. accessed 1 Oct 2007.
32. Ayurveda and Allopathy. Gosai.com. accessed 1 Oct 2007.
33. Allopathic medicine. Princeton Review
34. Terry RR (2003). "Dually accredited family practice residencies: wave of the future". J Am Osteopath Assoc. 103 (8): 367–70. PMID 12956249.
35. Table 16:Reasons given for planning an allopathic residency. Debts, Plans and Opinions of Osteopathic Medical Students in 2004. American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. p40

External links

• Alan D. Berkenwald, MD. "In the Name of Medicine". Annals of Internal Medicine.
• The Princeton Review - Allopathic Medicine - The Princeton Review is a college admissions testing preparation company unaffiliated with Princeton University.
• Gundling KE (1998). "A physician's editorial on the misuse of the term "allopath"". Arch Intern Med. 158 (20): 2185–2186. PMID 9818797.
• Use of the term in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Glossary
• Use of the term by the allopathic residency accreditation body
• Use of the term by the American Medical Association

• Articles needing cleanup from March 2008
• Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from March 2008
• Misplaced Pages pages needing cleanup from March 2008
• Allopathic medicine
• Alternative medicine
• Homeopathy