Allopath is a term used in alternative and complementary medicine to describe a practitioner who utilizes conventional medical treatments, procedures, and medications to treat diseases and symptoms. The term was coined by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, in the 19th century to distinguish practitioners who followed the conventional medical approach from those who practiced homeopathy.
Allopathic medicine, also known as Western or mainstream medicine, is based on the principles of treating diseases with substances that produce effects opposite to those caused by the disease or its symptoms. Allopaths diagnose diseases using lab tests, imaging, and physical examinations, and then prescribe medications, surgeries, or other interventions aimed at treating the symptoms or underlying causes of the disease.
While homeopathy and other forms of alternative medicine seek to stimulate the body's natural healing response through the use of highly diluted substances, allopaths rely on stronger medications and procedures to directly attack the disease or ailment. Allopaths often work in hospitals, clinics, or private practices, and have completed medical school and received a license to practice medicine.
While the term allopath is primarily used by practitioners of homeopathy and other alternative medicine modalities to distinguish themselves from conventional medical practitioners, it can sometimes carry a negative connotation when used to imply that allopaths solely rely on medications and do not address the root cause of the illness.
