Hahnemann hypothesized from this experiment that the toxic signs and symptoms which substances produced in healthy individuals indicated the clinical uses of these substances in sick individuals. To test his theory, he gave malaria sufferers concoctions of cinchona bark and found that they improved dramatically. Each remedy was proved, i.e. taken by healthy volunteers who kept detailed records of their physical, mental, and emotional reactions. The provings of toxic substances were provided by reports of accidental poisonings. Eventually the most frequently reported symptoms were compiled in a Materia Medica to provide detailed information about the workings of the remedies.
Extreme dilution enhances a remedy's therapeutic properties while eliminating toxic side effects.
Homeopathic remedies are prescribed after study of the whole person. Since Hahnemann's day, new homeopathic remedies have been proved and additional materia medicas have been compiled. Like homeopathic physicians, homeopathic veterinarians rely on their powers of observation to provide important information about a patient's overall status. Unlike their physician counterparts, however, veterinarians' patients cannot speak for themselves so owners must provide the necessary information. Such questions provide information about the patient's mental and emotional status.