In the late 18th century, Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, chemist and linguist, proposed a new approach to treating illness and called it homeopathy. He described the homeopathy principle as 'Similia Similibus Curentur', which literally means 'let likes cure likes', or also famously known as: the Principle of Similars. This principle is similar to the basis of conventional allergy treatment, where the allergic substance is given in a small dose; and in vaccines, where an impotent form of the virus is given to bolster the immune system against that particular virus.
Homeopathy is concerned with treating the whole person rather than theillness alone. The homeopath will consider the patient as a whole, both physically and psychologically, taking into account the patient's physical appearance, their likes, dislikes and their temperament. It is therefore a highly personalised form of treatment, so patients who apparently suffer from the same illness may be given advice for different homeopathic remedies.
In short, Homeopathy is an alternative treatment of illness involving the consumption of very small doses of a natural substance that would, in a healthy person, produce symptoms similar to the disease being treated. These treatments are believed to stimulate the immune system.