Homeopathy was founded by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in the 19th century. Homeopathy is based on the "law of similars", or "let likes be cured by likes." The American Medical Association was founded to oppose homeopathy's success. The AMA's members preferred the allopathic approach. Allopathy was coined by Hahnemann, and refers to the treatment of disease using high doses of toxic medication, ie agents with effects different from those of the disease.