What Is Homeopathy and Does It Work?

You may have heard about homeopathy. But what is it exactly?

Homeopathy is a system of therapeutics that was developed at the end of the 17th century by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician. Homeopathy believes that using extremely minute diluted amounts of plants and minerals can help the body repair itself by promoting healing.

This alternative medicine remains popular worldwide. However, there’s no strong evidence for homeopathy’s effectiveness greater than a placebo.

So, how do you know if it’s safe? And if it works? Integrative medicine specialist Yufang Lin, MD, explains the theory behind homeopathy.

What is homeopathy?

Dr. Hahnemann believed in the natural law of healing — “similia similibus curantur” or “likes are cured by likes.” He thought that a disease could be treated by drugs that have shown to cause symptoms of the disease in a healthy person, but only if a very small dose was used.

“It’s based on this idea of similitude,” says Dr. Lin. “Dr. Hahnemann realized that something in its natural form can cause a specific symptom. He believed that if you take that substance and dilute it, the diluted medicine can treat these symptoms.”

Research has been limited on homeopathy, though. Although there have been some randomized controlled trials comparing homeopathy to placebo, many of these studies are of low scientific quality.

Critics of homeopathy suggest that any results or outcomes are due to the placebo effect, where symptoms may improve although no real medicine was taken. Another criticism of homeopathy is that the medical practice focuses on symptoms instead of treating their underlying causes.

“Intuitively, a lot of people find that homeopathic medicine doesn’t make sense,” says Dr. Lin. “The concept is so unusual that it’s very hard to logically make sense of it.”

How is homeopathy believed to work?

Homeopathic doctors, also known as homeopaths, dilute or weaken an ingredient by adding water or alcohol. The product then is shaken, or “potentiated,” to activate its properties. Then, one part of that mixture is diluted with more water or alcohol. This process is repeated until the desired potency is reached.

A common potency or strength of a homeopathic remedy is 200c. That means that one part of the tincture, the extract of the ingredient, is mixed with 99 parts water or alcohol. This process is repeated 200 times. This is a high level of dilution and none of the initial plant-based raw material or mineral may remain in the final tincture.

“Some homeopaths propose that homeopathic remedies work as nanomedicine,” says Dr. Lin. “They believe the original ingredient is broken down through potentization into nanoparticles, even if it’s below the level of detection.”

However, no scientific studies have demonstrated this theory to be true.

For example, poison ivy causes a red, itchy rash. A homeopath would take the poison ivy and dilute it down by going through the potentization process repeatedly. The homeopath would use that treatment to treat the rash.

Some other common ingredients used in homeopathy include:

• Onions.
• Chamomile.
• Arnica.
• Hypericum (St. John’s wort).
• Aloe.

Conditions homeopathy is commonly used for

Homeopaths use their therapies to treat a wide variety of conditions, such as:

• Allergies.
• Bruises.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Colds.
• Coughs.
• Depression.
• Headaches.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Migraines.
• Nausea.
• Premenstrual syndrome.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Scrapes.
• Toothaches.

To get a better understanding of your symptoms, a homeopathic doctor may ask questions like:

• What kind of symptoms are you experiencing?
• Where is it located?
• How long have you been experiencing your symptoms?
• What does it feel like?
• What time of the day do you notice your symptoms?
• Are there any other symptoms associated with it?

Is naturopathy the same as homeopathy?

You may also have heard of naturopathy as an alternative medicine system that’s akin to homeopathy. While homeopathy and naturopathy may appear similar, they are, in fact, different.

Naturopathy, also known as naturopathic medicine, combines many different types of treatments. Those methods may include lifestyle changes, herbal supplements, exercise therapy and psychotherapy.

“Naturopathic physicians are trained through a four-year graduate level program and a certified naturopathic medical school,” says Dr. Lin.

However, make sure you do your homework. People may claim to be a naturopath but may have no naturopathic training, as requirements vary from state to state.

Should you try homeopathy?

According to the National Institute of Health’s 2012 Health Interview Survey, about 6 million people in the United States had used homeopathy in the prior year. A large majority of this use was by individuals choosing and purchasing homeopathic products on their own.

Homeopathic medicine comes in different forms like tablets, gels, liquid drops, creams and sugar pellets. They’re sold in stores or online.

Although most homeopathic medicines are likely harmless, there’s no rigorous evidence that homeopathy is effective for any health conditions. Importantly, despite any marketing that advertises it as an alternative to vaccines, homeopathy should never be used as a replacement for standard immunizations.

If you’re considering taking any form of a supplement, you should speak with a physician first. Homeopathy shouldn’t replace conventional care — so don’t put off a visit to your doctor if you have a medical concern.