Computer-generated portrait of Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), the founder of classical homeopathy. The basic principle of homeopathy is that the symptoms of a given illness may be cured by administering minute doses of the drug responsible for the symptoms. The dosage is made by a series of dilutions at 1/10th stength, final dilutions of one part in 10 to the 30th power are common. Although Hahnemann's original work is subject to a great deal of criticism, the practice of homeopathy is gaining some credence in conventional medical circles as it also requires the physician to treat the patient as a whole, rather than just the specific illness observed.