Homeopathy
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) . This means that homeopathy is different in important ways from treatments that are part of conventional Western medicine.
It is based on a series of ideas developed in the 1790s by a German doctor called Samuel Hahnemann.
A central principle of the "treatment" is that "like cures like" that a substance that causes certain symptoms can also help to remove those symptoms. A second central principle is based around aprocess of dilution and shaking, called succussion.
Practitioners believe that the more a substance is diluted in this way, the greater its power to treat symptoms. Many homeopathic remedies consist of substances that have been diluted many times in water until there is none or almost none of the original substance left.
Homeopathy is used to "treat" an extremely wide range of conditions, including physical conditions such as asthma and psychological conditions such as depression (see When is it used? ).
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Homeopathy is a 'treatment' based on the use of highly diluted substances, which practitioners claim can cause the body to heal itself.
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) . This means that homeopathy is different in important ways from treatments that are part of conventional Western medicine. It is based on a
Does it work?
There has been extensive investigation of the effectiveness of homeopathy. There is no good-quality evidence that homeopathy is effective as a treatment for any health condition (see What can we concl
Where is it available?
Homeopathy is usually practised privately and homeopathic remedies are available from pharmacies. The price for an initial consultation with a homeopath can vary from around 20 to 80. Homeopathic tabl
What should I expect if I try it?
When you first see a homeopath they will usually ask you about any specific health conditions, but also about your general wellbeing, emotional state, lifestyle and diet. Based on this, the homeopath
When is it used?
Homeopathy is used for an extremely wide range of health conditions. Many practitioners believe that homeopathy can help with any condition. Among the most common conditions that people seek homeopath
What are the regulation issues?
There is no legal regulation of homeopathic practitioners. This means that anyone can practise as a homeopath, even if they have no qualifications or experience. Voluntary regulation aims to protect p
Is it safe?
Homeopathic remedies are generally safe and the risk of a serious adverse side effect arising from taking these remedies is thought to be small. Some homeopathic remedies may contain substances that a
What can we conclude from the evidence?
There have been several reviews of the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy. TheHouse of Commons Science and Technology Committee said there is no evidence that homeopathy is effecti
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