What is similia similibus curantur?

‘Similia similibus curantur’ is a phrase coined by Dr Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy. Nearly 180 years ago, he did an experiment with a drug decoction made from the bark of the chincona tree, known for its curative properties in the treatment of malaria. He drank the decoction, though he was healthy, and developed the symptoms of malaria. This made him believe that a drug which possesses the property of curing an ailment can create symptoms of the disease in a healthy person who takes the drug in large doses.