How Do You Spell ALLOEOPATHIC?

The term "allopathic" is derived from the Greek roots "allos" meaning opposite or different, and "pathos" meaning suffering or disease. The word was coined in the early 19th century by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann, who founded the system of alternative medicine known as homeopathy. Hahnemann used the term "allopathy" to describe the conventional medical practices of his time, which he believed were based on principles opposite to those of homeopathy. In Hahnemann's view, allopathy focused on treating diseases with substances that produce effects opposite to the symptoms, while homeopathy emphasized using highly diluted substances that would produce similar symptoms in healthy individuals. Today, the term "allopathic" is mostly used to refer to conventional or mainstream medicine, as opposed to alternative or complementary approaches.