The accompanying volume to the classic text The History of American Homeopathy: The Academic Years, 1820-1935 The classic text "The History of American Homeopathy: The Academic Years, 1820-1935 "explored the very roots of homeopathy in America. The History of American Homeopathy: Rise of the Laity is the second volume from respected historical expert on alternative medicines, Dr. John Haller. This new text provides the most up-to-date history on the subject, from the ascendancy of the laity within American homeopathy following the decline of its academically-trained physicians and the closing of its many colleges, hospitals, clinics, and societies to current times. The book explains American homeopathic practice within the American social, scientific, religious, and philosophic traditions, the historical disconnect between its highly subjective and unconventional therapeutic practices and the rigors of scientific medicine, and how it differed from its trans-Atlantic cousins. Unlike its European counterpart, American homeopathy advocated a more spiritual or metaphysical view of healing. The History of American Homeopathy: Rise of the Laity closely examines how this move away from reductionist science prevented it from being accepted within mainstream medicine. The book The book explains homeopathy's governing principles and its envisioning of the body's health as not only attuned to a higher reality but sustained through interaction between the material and spiritual dimensions of life. This book chronicles the expansion of homeopathy from the late 19th century into the present day, explaining how and why homeopathy moved from its academic foundations to that of a faith-based system controlled by lay healers. Topics discussed in The History of American Homeopathy: Rise of the Laity include: factors contributing to the rise of the laity American homeopathy's connection between physical healing and higher spiritual planes homeopathy's move away from reductionist science the concepts of "belief," "thought," "emotion," and "spiritual force," and their place in homeopathy how homeopathy is a radically different system of healing and holds a radically different view of the world homeopathy's holistic view of the individual and the recognition of the role of consciousness in mediating the individual's interaction with the environment "and much more " The History of American Homeopathy: Rise of the Laity is an informative, insightful historical exploration that is valuable for medical historians, history students, homeopaths, alternative medical organizations, holistic healing societies, homeopathic study groups, homeopathic seminars and courses, and anyone interested in history and homeopathy.