The Law of Similars · Law of Similars
Organon Aphorism §26
This depends on the following homoeopathic law of nature which was sometimes, indeed, vaguely surmised but not hitherto fully recognized, and to which is due every real cure that has ever taken place: A weaker dynamic affection is permanently extinguished in the living organism by a stronger one, if the latter (whilst differing in kind) is very similar to the former in its manifestations.
Samuel Hahnemann, Organon of Medicine, 6th edition (Boericke translation, public domain).
Explanation
Medicines first produce a primary action (the drug's direct effect on the vital force), followed by a secondary curative action (the vital force's counter-response). The secondary action is opposite in nature to the primary.
Clinical Interpretation
Understanding primary versus secondary action explains why suppressive treatments cause rebound phenomena. The vital force's secondary action always tries to restore balance.
Modern Context
Hormesis — the biphasic dose-response relationship — is a well-documented phenomenon in toxicology and pharmacology, supporting Hahnemann's primary/secondary action framework.
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