What You Need to Know About Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathic medicine is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses very small amounts of natural substances that, at higher amounts, may cause a disease or symptom.

Homeopathy is used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including colds, upset stomachs, pain, and menopausal hot flashes. However, there is limited evidence proving the effectiveness of homeopathic treatments.

This article explores the principles behind homeopathy, what scientific studies say about homeopathic remedies, how they compare with conventional medicine, and the possible side effects and risks.

What Is Homeopathy?

Developed in Germany more than 200 years ago, homeopathic medicine is based on the belief that the body can heal itself. Its unconventional approach aims to treat the whole patient using medicines made from highly diluted plants and other natural elements.

Homeopathic treatment is customized for each patient. Its underlying principles are the law of similars, the single remedy, and the minimal dose.

Like Cures Like

The first theory of homeopathy is the law of similars or the idea that like cures like. The concept is that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people.

The belief is that if something causes symptoms in a healthy person, it may cure those same symptoms in a person with an illness. For example, if you have insomnia, a homeopathic remedy may be a very weak solution containing coffee.

Homeopathy practitioners say it works because a small amount of the disease-causing substance stimulates your body to heal itself. However, it’s important to note that homeopathy is largely unproven.

Single Remedy

Homeopathy also uses the principle of the single remedy. That is, one remedy should cover all the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms of an illness.

Homeopathic medicine is designed to stimulate internal healing mechanisms. Treatments are individualized, and only one medicine is given at a time. Practitioners watch and wait to see if the therapy is working before trying something else.

The reasons for this are the potential for interactions is unknown, one medicine may cancel the other, and if taking more than one remedy at a time, it’s difficult to tell which one is working.

However, sometimes, a homeopathic treatment will initially aggravate symptoms before showing an improvement. Proponents of homeopathy say a slight worsening of the condition is normal at the beginning and a sign the medicine is prompting the body to heal itself.

Minimum Dose 

The principle of the minimum dose means only a small amount of substance is used at first, followed by minuscule increases over time.

Homeopathic remedies are dosed based on the theory of potentization: The starting material is diluted over and over again and forcefully shaken. Practitioners believe that these actions eliminate chemical toxicity and allow a therapeutic effect.

The thought is that diluting and agitating (vigorously shaking) an ingredient activates its curative powers and enhances its effect. Potency in homeopathic solutions can be indicated by:

• X or D (the decimal dilution scale): An ingredient is mixed with alcohol or distilled water at a ratio of 1:10. For example, one part coffee (or other curative ingredient) to 10 parts water.
• C (the centesimal dilution scale): 1:100 ratio, or one part curative ingredient to 100 parts water/alcohol.
  

These dilutions may happen several times before a homeopathic remedy is given. For example, a 3C solution is diluted on the C scale (1:100) one time, then shaken up. Then it’s diluted (1:100) a second time and shaken, then a third time. The resulting solution has only a few molecules of the original ingredient left.

Skeptics have described this as the equivalent of dissolving one Advil (ibuprofen) in the ocean and then drinking a few drops.

Samuel Hahnemann, the inventor of homeopathy, had his own explanation for skeptics: The vigorous shaking causes the substance to leave behind a “spirit-like” essence that, although “no longer perceptible to the senses,” is nevertheless “remembered” by the water, which allows it to retain healing properties.

How Homeopathic Medicine Is Used

Homeopathic medicines commonly consist of sugar pellets containing diluted remedies. Some remedies also may take other forms, such as tablets, ointments, or gels.

While strong scientific evidence is lacking, preliminary studies suggest that homeopathy may help treat:

• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Asthma
  
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Colds
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Flu
• Fibromyalgia
• Menopause symptoms like hot flashes
• Muscle aches
• Otitis media (ear infection)
• Pain
• Stress
• Teething

The prescribed treatment will depend on your specific symptoms. A compound that causes those symptoms when taken at high doses is administered at a low dose to cure similar symptoms.

For example, homeopathic treatments for allergies vary based on a person’s specific symptoms. The following homeopathic treatments are used for different types of allergic reactions:

• Allium cepa: A runny nose that irritates the nostrils and upper lip, along with watery eyes that do not burn, itch, or sting
• Arsenicum album: Sneezing, a watery runny nose, and a burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and or throat
• Euphrasia officinalis: Burning tears with a non-irritating runny nose and a cough
• Natrum muriaticum: Headaches, dark circles under the eyes, chapped and cracked lips, sneezing, and nasal discharge with an egg-white consistency
• Sabadilla: Itchy nose, violent sneezing, runny eyes 
• Wyethia helenioides: Itchy throat, mouth, and ears or a sore throat with a hoarse voice
  

Research on Homeopathy

Results on the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies have been inconsistent, primarily due to the lack of widespread regulations of the practice. This makes the dosage of homeopathic medicines variable.

A 2016 review evaluated the body of research on homeopathic remedies. The authors concluded individualized homeopathy (based on the specific needs of the person) “may have small, specific, treatment effects.” 

By contrast, a 2017 meta-analysis found there was no single clinical medical condition for which there is reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective.

And a large 2018 review looked at the common claims that homeopathic medicines can prevent or treat respiratory tract infections in children. The authors said they found no evidence these treatments work. Due to a lack of detailed reporting in earlier studies, they couldn’t draw conclusions about their safety.

It’s likely that future studies will shine more light on the safety and effectiveness of homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy and Cancer

For certain types of cancer, animal studies suggest homeopathic remedies—when used along with conventional treatments—may inhibit cancer’s growth, reduce symptoms, and improve ​quality of life.

At the current time, however, experts can’t say whether the results from animal studies can be applied to humans, so more work is needed.

A 2018 study in an integrative cancer treatment program looked at homeopathy for symptom management. Of 124 patients, 73% said homeopathic remedies were beneficial. Those most likely to benefit were:

• People assigned female at birth
• People with breast cancer
• People coping with either chemotherapy-related peripheral neuropathy or hot flashes

Two important points to note:

• Homeopathy was used for symptom management, not for cancer treatment.
• This was a small study with only 124 participants.

Side Effects and Warnings

Homeopathic remedies are generally safe and without significant side effects since they use only a small amount of a highly diluted substance.

However, homeopathic products have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety or effectiveness in diagnosing, treating, curing, preventing, or mitigating any diseases or conditions.

In addition, since homeopathic treatments are not FDA-approved, they may not meet modern standards for safety, effectiveness, and quality. Some products have been found to contain higher doses or ingredients other than those listed on the label.

Homeopathic remedies should not replace conventional treatments for most medical conditions. There is little evidence to prove homeopathy works, and trying homeopathy first may delay treatments backed by well-designed studies.

Do not combine homeopathic treatments with traditional medications without first consulting your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or being treated for a serious medical condition should talk to their healthcare provider before using homeopathic remedies.

Consulting Homeopathic Providers

Before using over-the-counter homeopathic remedies to treat any condition, it is best to consult with a homeopath. In most states, homeopathic practitioners must be licensed healthcare providers.

However, there isn’t a standard medical license for practicing homeopathy. Instead, homeopathic providers are licensed through traditional medical licensing organizations.

For example, a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) can specialize in homeopathic medicine to become a doctor of homeopathy (DHt). Naturopaths, chiropractors, nurse practitioners, acupuncturists, and veterinarians can also become certified in classical homeopathy (CCH). 

You can find a certified provider through homeopathic schools, training programs, and organizations such as:

• American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
• Council for Homeopathic Certification
• Homeopathic Educational Services
• National Center for Homeopathy
• North American Society of Homeopaths

Some homeopathic doctors also specialize in treating specific conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, and mental illness.

What to Expect During a Homeopathic Appointment

The first appointment with a homeopath will involve a thorough physical examination and a lot of questions. Your provider may have you fill out an extensive questionnaire prior to your visit.

During the first visit, the homeopath will interview you at length to get to know you better. Since homeopathy treats the whole person and not just individual symptoms, providers take note of personality traits and any unusual behaviors.

The homeopath will also discuss your physical symptoms and will likely ask questions about seemingly unrelated symptoms. This will help provide a full picture of your health to help pinpoint the appropriate treatment.

The first visit can last between an hour and two and a half hours. Subsequent visits will be shorter. Homeopathic providers may also take more time to discuss healthy lifestyle practices, which can have a real benefit on health.

Homeopathic and Conventional Medicine

Homeopathic medicine and allopathic (mainstream or conventional) medicine are essentially opposites, with homeopaths using the like-cures-like approach and medical practitioners using treatments that produce a different effect than the disease.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t work together. A relatively new approach has been using a combination of conventional therapies along with alternative practices to help control symptoms. This is referred to as integrative medicine.

While homeopathic remedies haven’t conclusively been found helpful for any disease, practitioners do offer a service some people feel is currently lacking in conventional medical care: time and listening.

Summary

Homeopathy is a form of CAM that uses tiny amounts of substances that, in larger amounts, cause symptoms in order to treat those symptoms. The theory is called “like cures like.”

Homeopathic practitioners believe greatly diluting and shaking a substance can activate its curative abilities. They seek a single remedy for all aspects of an illness and use the smallest dose possible.

Homeopathy has been around for more than 200 years and involves some 2,000 remedies. While research has yet to prove they’re effective, they’re being used alongside mainstream medicine more and more, especially for symptom management.

While homeopathy isn’t generally harmful, it could cause you to delay proper diagnosis and treatment, allowing your condition to get worse. It’s best used to enhance, not replace, conventional medicine.