Homeopathy Fact Sheet

Homeopathy is a safe and effective method of treating acute and chronic health problems. Despite its relative obscurity in the U.S., homeopathy is very popular throughout the world, especially Europe and Asia...and for good reasons.

"The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle, and permanent restoration of health.'
–Samuel Hahnemann, Founder of Homeopathy

What is Homeopathic Medicine?
The Royal Connection
The European Connection
The American Connection
The Sports Connection
The Children Connection
The Hollywood Connection


What is Homeopathic Medicine?

Homeopathic medicine is a natural medical science that uses extremely small and safe doses of substances from the plant, mineral, or animal kingdoms to stimulate a persons's immune system. A homeopathic medicine is not simply prescribed according to the disease a person has but to the individual way each person experiences this disease. The most effective homeopathic remedy is called the simillimum. The simillimum is a homeopathic remedy that creates certain symptoms in a healthy individual and can cure those symptoms when a person is ill. Because symptoms are considered to be expressions of the body's defense mechanism, a homeopath gives a remedy that mimics the sick persons' symptoms and thus strengthens's the body's ability to respond. This demonstrates the homeopathic principle, "Like cures like" or "The law of similars."

In conventional medicine we can see this principle applied in the use of vaccinations and allergy treatments. However, homeopaths consider the individual symptoms of each person and use much smaller and safer doses.

The Royal Connection

The British royal family has sought homeopaths care from the 1830's to the present. They are the patrons to a homeopathic hospital in London, now called "The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital." George VI was so impressed with the healing powers of homeopathic medicines that he named one of his prize racehorses "Hypericum," after the name of a common homeopathic medicine for injuries to nerves.

Today, Prince Charles is an outspoken proponent of homeopathic and natural medicine, and he has popularized the term "complimentary medicine" because he sees the great value homeopathy and natural medicines have in helping to create a comprehensive health care system.

The European Connection

Homeopathic medicine is so popular in Europe and is such an integral part of everyday health care that it is now inappropriate to consider it "alternative health care." It is mainstream medicine in Europe. In France, 32% of family physicians prescribe homeopathic medicines and 68% of physicians consider them effective. In Germany, 20% of physicians prescribe homeopathic medicines. In England, 42% of physicians refer patients to homeopathic physicians. In the Netherlands, 45% of physicians's consider homeopathic medicines effective.

According to a market research survey, the field of natural medicine was second only to computers as being the large growth industry in Europe during the 1980's.

The American Connection

In 1900 there were 22 homeopathic medical schools in the U.S., including Boston University, University of Michigan, New York Medical College, and Hahnemann University. There were also over 100 homeopathic hospitals and approximately 15% of physicians considered themselves homeopaths. As the result of harsh attacks and political pressures from the American Medical Association (AMA) and from drug companies, most homeopathic colleges closed by 1920.

Due to the concern about the side effects of contemporary medicines and to the real interest in natural healing, homeopathic medici nee is presently experiencing a renaissance in the U.S. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) estimated that sales of homeopathic medicines grew 1000% from the late 1970's to the early 1980's. Most recently, statistics show that sales of homeopathic medicines grew by 50% from 1988 to 1990.

The Sports Connection

There is good reason that numerous leading sports figures, including New York Knick coach Pat Riley, tennis star Boris Becker, Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton, and pro golfer Sally Little use homeopathic medicines...they work so well in treating injuries.

The Children Connection

The short-term and long-term side effects of conventional drugs on infants or children are virtually unknown. Because of the inherent dangers in conventional drugs on the fragile and the vulnerable bodies of children, it is understandable why more patients are trying homeopathic remedies.

Infants and children respond extremely well to homeopathic medicines. Not only are these medicines safer than conventional drugs, there are numerous homeopathic remedies for conditions for which no conventional medicine is known to be effective, such as teething and colic.

The Hollywood Connection

Major Hollywood stars commonly recognize that beauty starts from within, and growing numbers of Hollywood stars use homeopathic medicines to help them maintain inner health so that they can exude that outer beauty. Lindsay Wagner, Tina Turner, Jane Fonda, Angelica Houston, Cindy Crawford, Sissy Spacek, Paul McCartney, Pricilla Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, and Cher are a handful of stars that use or have used homeopathic medicines.