Homoeopaths

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Practitioners of a holistic medical system that utilizes highly diluted substances to treat ailments and promote healing
2. Individuals who adhere to the principles of treating diseases by mimicking symptoms through natural remedies in minimal doses
3. Professionals who focus on individualized therapies based on the concept that "like cures like" using non-conventional medicines

Etymology: The English spelling is a transliteration of the German "Homöopath", with the umlaut written as "oe". The German word is built from two Greek elements: "homoios", meaning "similar", and "pathos", meaning "suffering" or "disease". The name therefore points to the idea of treating like with like. The ending is the same element found in "osteopath", where "-path" marks a practitioner who treats a condition. Attaching it to "homoeo-" gives a name for those who practise this particular system of medicine.

Synonyms: alternative medicine practitioners, natural healers