Abstract:
Warfare has long driven medical innovation, often under extreme and resource-limited conditions. Among the therapeutic approaches tested in such settings, homoeopathy has made a unique yet under-recognized contribution. This review explores homoeopathy’s role during major military conflicts, including the Napoleonic Wars, American Civil War, World Wars I and II, and more recent guerrilla and humanitarian operations. It examines the use of homoeopathic remedies in treating battlefield injuries, infectious diseases, epidemics, and mental health conditions such as shell shock and PTSD.
Drawing on military records, hospital archives, and personal accounts, the article highlights how homoeopathy’s principles of individualized treatment, minimum dosing, and holistic care enabled its adaptability in chaotic wartime environments. It also reviews clinical studies and case reports to evaluate the method’s scientific and practical merits alongside conventional medicine.
Special attention is given to homoeopathic field hospitals and their documented effectiveness when conventional supplies were scarce. Finally, the article discusses homoeopathy’s relevance in contemporary integrative military medicine and its potential in disaster relief and conflict-zone healthcare. By revisiting its historical role, this review offers a subtle perspective on homoeopathy as a complementary approach to wartime and emergency care.
Keywords:
Homoeopathy, Wartime medicine, Epidemic diseases, Wound care, Psychological trauma, Individualized care, Minimal side effects
Introduction:
Homoeopathy – the science and art of healing, founded in the late 18th century by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. “Like cures like” is the guiding principle of this system of medicine. Homoeopathy believes that the body has a natural ability to heal itself and what is required is to support and stimulate this natural healing through the use of highly diluted substances. The aim of homoeopathy is to provide rapid, gentle and lasting cures.
From the perspective of war, homoeopathy emerged as a significant alternative. Especially in wartime during the 19th and early 20th centuries, homoeopathy arose as a safer alternative to the merciless aid of conventional medicine which involved harsh treatment. Homoeopathic remedies are highly effective in managing wounds, epidemics and psychological trauma, homoeopathy individualized care with minimal side effects, which was an important benefit when medical supplies were lacking.
Particularly for accessible use in war zones, homoeopathic remedies are ideal as they are easy to administer, affordable and stable. They aid both pre and post-operative surgeries for faster recovery and reduction of complications. Moreover, homoeopathy treats not just physical symptoms but also emotional trauma such as anxiety, fear and PTSD without leading to dependence or sedation making it a valuable aid in conflict and crisis settings. Homoeopathy may act both as a preventive and curative approach for psychological trauma, aiming to restore balance and resilience in the patient as a whole.
History:
In the historical manuscript of World War I (1914–18), many homoeopathic hospitals were established in France. These hospitals provided medical care to soldiers and civilians. Homoeopathic physicians served as hospital administrators and practitioners with the aim to prove the value of homoeopathic treatments in military medicine. Homoeopathy also played a vital role in managing epidemics such as the Spanish flu which got common during wars. The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918–1919 coincided with the end of World War I. Reports from American homoeopathic physicians indicated that the mortality rates among patients treated with homoeopathy were low as compared to those receiving conventional care. For instance, mortality rates get as low as 0.7% — 1.05% in homeopathically treated cases in comparison to much higher rates with conventional treatment.
Why Homoeopathy Was Used In World War 1:
There can be many reasons for the one system of medicine in getting acceptance during the war like a crucial time. Out of which the main reason for using the homoeopathy for the treatment of soldiers and civilians during the crucial times of World War 1 are as follows:
- Limited Conventional Treatments and High Demand
- Success in Treating Epidemic occurred after WW1
- Lowers the Mortality in Critical Cases
- Used in Wound and Burn Care
- Response to Chemical Warfare
- Public and Institutional Support
Types Of Injury Caused In Wartime:
During war injuries sustained by both soldiers and civilians which can be broadly categorized into two types:
- Physical Injuries – Physical injuries in war are more common, severe and multifaceted due to the weapons used in modern warfare involving explosives, firearms, and close combat weapons. The different types of physical injuries occurs in war are:
- Blast Injuries: caused by bombs, missiles, grenades, landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and unexploded ordnance.
- Gunshot Wounds: also known as penetrating trauma to various body parts.
- Blunt Trauma and Assault Injuries: caused by physical violence or accidents.
- Knife and Machete Injuries: includes lacerations, nerve and tendon transections, puncture wounds, open fractures, traumatic amputations.
- Burns: results from thermal, chemical, or radiation exposure.
- Extremity Injury: injuries to arms and legs.
- Psychological Injuries – Trauma caused during war extends beyond physical harm and significantly impacts mental health for soldiers, civilians, refugees, and displaced persons. Different types of psychological injuries and disorders are:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): it is one of the common consequences of war trauma. It affects both military personnel and civilians. It shows higher prevalence among women veterans and those exposed to military sexual trauma.
- Anxiety and Depression: it co-occur with PTSD or arise independently.
- Other Neuropsychiatric Conditions: includes suicidal ideation, grief, anger, sleep disturbances, and substance abuse disorders.
- Vulnerable Population of War: includes women, children, refugees, and asylum seekers. Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and PTSD is two to three times higher in these populations.
Homoeopathic Wartime Care Kit:
In war -like situations, a soldier and civilian may face different types of injuries. The injury may be psychological or physical. As homoeopathy believes in treating patients as a whole, so a number of medicines are there in homoeopathy which act on injury that occurs during and due to war. Out of all those medicines, 18 medicines that can be the most effective are discussed with their therapeutic indications as a homoeopathic wartime care kit. The below discussed medicines are useful in pre, during and post war situations.
Scope and Limitations:
Homoeopathy provides effective treatment for conditions such as sprains, strains, contusions, soft tissue sprains, and other mild to moderate injuries. Homoeopathy plays a key role in supporting pre and post treatment in surgical interventions. Furthermore, it helps in reducing complications, manage pain and anxiety, and aids in the aftermath of psychological trauma and depression.
Homoeopathic management gets limited in the case of severe emergencies such as significant fractures, severe burns, uncontrolled bleeding, poisoning, and any critical conditions that require immediate surgical intervention, intensive care, and other life-saving procedures. In such situations it is unable to substitute surgical procedures or the mitigation of complex tissue damage, it offers minimal assistance.
CONCLUSION:
Homoeopathy is crucially valuable in wartime and emergency situation due to its distinct effectiveness, safety and practicality. It treats both physical injuries and psychological trauma like PTSD, anxiety, and shock. Homoeopathy has a major advantage that it does not require bulk medications but a single, properly chosen homoeopathic medicine doses yield swift and gives astonishing outcomes. Homoeopathic remedies are inexpensive, stable and easy to carry, store and administer, which particularly makes it ideal and valuable for soldiers and civilians in the conflict zones. As homoeopathy is side effect-free in nature, so this allows it to be safely used along with other conventional treatments. Homoeopathy’s concept of individualization ensures that care is provided relative to the patient’s state, both physically and emotionally. Treating professionals and laypersons alike can utilize homoeopathy which makes it an effective and low-risk solution for healthcare during wartime. The ability to integrate homoeopathy into medical strategies can enhance crisis response systems and make effective care accessible in tough environments.
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Dr Preeti Jha¹, Shaikh Mohammed Hamza Jamaluddin², Rajai Jhanvi Vishnubhai³
¹Associate Professor & HOD Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Sumandeep Homoeopathic Medical College, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Vadodara, Gujarat
² ³Student, Parul Institute of Homoeopathy and Research, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat
