Homeopathy is a holistic form of medicine that treats illnesses through the use of extreme dilutions of herbs, animal substances and chemical compounds. The term homeopathy comes from the Greek homeo meaning "similar," and pathos meaning "suffering." Samuel Hahnemann, an 18th-century German physician, coined the term in 1796.

Hahnemann discovered that an illness could be cured by substances that bring about the same symptoms in healthy individuals. For example, a substance that is found in onions that causes runny eyes and noses can treat allergies. He called this the Law of Similarities, as it describes treating like with like. The first remedy he proved to be beneficial was cinchona, a South American tree bark. Cinchona causes anxiety, dehydration, aches and chills—the typical symptoms of malaria. Of course, cinchona became the first effective treatment for malaria.

Hahnemann tested hundreds of substances on himself, cataloguing their effects. Homeopaths view symptoms as the body's natural reaction to fighting an illness, whereas conventional medicine believes symptoms are part of the illness.

Homeopathy was controversial from its outset because of Hahnemann's other postulate, the Law of Potentization—that homeopathic medicines grow stronger as they become more dilute. Critics renounce the practice as quackery and some say that results from homeopathy are simply a placebo effect. Placebos have been shown to produce positive results in roughly one-third of patients suffering from any illness.

In 1991, Dutch epidemiologists analyzed 105 studies of homeopathic treatment from 1966 to 1990. Eighty-one studies found patients had benefited from homeopathy, prompting the conclusion that "the evidence is to a large extent positive. It would probably be sufficient for establishing homeopathy as treatment for certain conditions."

Common Types of Homeopathy

Classical Homeopathy
The classical homeopathic method involves an in-depth interview with the patient. This can take from 40 to 90 minutes. Likes and dislikes, fears and modifying influences that make the symptoms better or worse are discussed and documented. These modifying influences are known as modalities.

Modalities can include a wide range of factors. For example, patients may be asked if their symptoms are improved or worsened by warm, dry weather, sleeping on their right side, eating fatty foods, and so on. These modalities help create the "similarity" picture. The classical homeopath takes into account an individual's constitution or physical characteristics. The most appropriate remedy is then selected. The classical homeopath believes in giving one remedy at a time. The patient may also be asked to avoid substances that may counteract a remedy. These can include such things as coffee, peppermint or spicy foods.

Clinical Homeopathy

The clinical homeopathic method of prescribing is symptom-driven. The selection of a remedy is based on the predisposing factors or symptoms. Though uncommon, more than one remedy may be given at the same time. With this approach, a remedy is selected because the symptoms it would produce in a healthy person closely match the symptoms the patient is experiencing. Potencies may be selected from weaker to stronger. Remedies come in varying strengths, the greater the dilution the stronger its potency. Remedies are available as tablets, granules or powder. They are taken under the tongue and dissolved. Unlike classical homeopathy, clinical homeopathy may be combined with vitamins and herbal supplements.

Complex Homeopathy
In complex homeopathy, several components are combined into one formula to create a desired effect. In general, the components in a complex formulation tend to be less potent. With this approach, special diets, vitamins and herbs can be used as adjuncts to the homeopathic remedy. This is a convenient method because it takes less time to select the appropriate remedy and good results can be achieved due to the broad-spectrum approach.

Common Treatment Techniques
Homeopaths believe that illness is often the result of a disruption of the body's vital force—the energy necessary to maintain a healthy body and defend against disease. Treatment therefore addresses disruptions in one's vital force—disruptions that may have resulted from stress, poor diet, lack of exercise or environmental changes. Conventional medicine sometimes refers to this energy as the body's own healing power.

Homeopaths classify illnesses as chronic or acute, and the treatment is dependent on this distinction. In an acute illness, such as a cold, the condition will not continue indefinitely, it will ultimately heal on its own. Chronic illnesses, however, produce continual or recurrent symptoms. Although the condition may improve at times, it tends to return to plague the patient.

Homeopathic remedies speed up recovery by stimulating the vital force. The most effective remedies match the symptom profile as accurately as possible, while also taking into account diet, exercise habits, lifestyle and family medical history. A homeopath tries to identify a patient's constitutional type, which will help point to one of the hundreds of frequently used preventive and curative remedies. For example, someone with a Phosphorus constitution may be prone to anxiety, circulatory problems and digestive disorders, and they will respond well when given the Phosphorus remedy, regardless of his or her illness.

Credentials

Homeopath
Although homeopathy is considered part of the field of medicine, you do not need a medical doctorate to practice it. Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, naturopaths, chiropractors and acupuncturists have access to a variety of training programs in homeopathy. These training programs vary in their sophistication from weekend workshops to four-year training programs. Homeopathic certifications include RSHom NA, Registered by the North American Society of Homeopaths; CCH, Certified by the Council for Homeopathic Certification; DHANP, Diplomate of the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians; DHt, Diplomate in Homeotherapeutics by the American Board of Homeotherapeutics.

Last Reviewed: May 12, 2006
Last Reviewed By: Louise Dobson