The law of similars was known for many years but the fundamentals for application were not discovered until Hahnemann began his studies. A remedy can cure the disease by eliminating /curing the symptoms (mental, emotional, and physical). If the same remedy causes the same symptoms in a healthy person it produces an artificial disease that cancelles out the original disease. It was proved by Hahnemann and associates in experiments called “provings”. This proved successful because two similar diseases could not co-exist. This is the basis for the “art of cure” in homeopathy.

     In contrast, the law of opposites prescribes opposite actions to that of the actual disease’s actions in the body and generally works to suppress the symptoms. Examples of this are pharmaceuticals (anti-histamines, anti-biotics, anti-depressants, etc). The law of opposites is sometimes used in homeopathy for the application of regimen. If someone is lacking a vitamin or supplement, or exercise they will be prescribed the opposite (that vitamin/ supplement or exercise).

These two applications of nature for medicine can lead to three possible effects (suppress. paliate, cure).