homeopathic resource

The word homeopathy comes from the Greek words for “suffering” and “similar.” Homeopathy is the practice of treating diseases and conditions with the substance or circumstance that caused them. The best example of the basic concept of homeopathy in regular use is allergy injections which use small amounts of the allergen to immunize the patient against later exposure to the allergen.

A homeopathic remedy is created by mixing minute amounts of substances with insoluble substances like oyster shell or quartz. The theory is that the medicine created by this process will trigger the body’s natural immune system to fight the condition being treated. Scientists note that the amounts are often so minute that the statistical likelihood of the compound containing any of the original substance is minute.

Homeopathy was one of the earliest techniques of modern medicine. Homeopathic remedies have been used to treat such diseases as cholera, smallpox, scarlet fever and syphilis. Early physicians, for example, noticed the similarity of the symptoms of mercury poisoning to those of syphilis and treated patients with tiny doses of mercury. Doctors in the early 1800s used a homeopathic remedy including tiny amounts of the plant sarracenia to successfully treat smallpox. Homeopathy reached its peak in the United States in the mid-1800s but fell out of favor due to advances in modern medicine.

Many people have the misconception that homeopathic remedies are only comprised of plant ingredients. However, homeopathic medicines can use many different types of ingredients including salts, animal products and substances of human origin like scrapings from skin or hair clippings.

In the United States, homeopathic remedies are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Companies producing homeopathic remedies are not required to provide proof that they work, nor do they have to provide information on their active ingredients since they are made up almost entirely out of inactive ingredients. Remedies for ordinary complaints such as headache, stomach problems or colds are sold over the counter, However, homeopathic remedies for serious diseases are sold only by prescription.

Homeopathy is more widely practiced than other forms of alternative medicine, but it is still controversial. Scientists say there is no scientific basis for the efficacy of homeopathic remedies. They ascribe any benefit received from homeopathy to the placebo effect. The main concern among scientists and doctors is that patients with serious conditions will rely on homeopathy instead of seeking more traditional treatments.

From all the educational organizations, homeopathic schools probably offer one of the more intricate healthcare programs today. Homeopathy is a system that treats disease on the foundation that “like cures like” (Similia Similbus Curantur). Baring that in mind, certain substances which cause particular symptoms in an otherwise healthy person, may help to cure like symptoms in a sick individual. With the goal to stimulate and enhance the body’s immune system, homeopathic medicines are customized to meet personal healthcare needs. Theses homeopathy medicines are derived from a diverse assortment of animal material, mineral and plant sources.

The uniqueness of homeopathic schools is that when students begin learning the multifaceted aspects of homeopathy, they are simply astonished by how it all makes such perfect sense. In particular, the differences between conventional medicine and homeopathy: for example, in conventional medicine, anti-viral and antibiotic medicines are prescribed for bacterial infections; which ultimately destroys the bacteria, but does not improve the apparent weakness of the body’s immunity. In homeopathic schools, candidates are taught to strengthen the immune system to better combat these bacterium, which enables the human body to fend off viruses and other serious health conditions. So not only is the philosophy of “like cures like” in place, but also the understanding that the human body is capable of self-healing, given the right dose of homeopathy.

Just like most traditional colleges, it is important to note that homeopathic schools do require educational prerequisites prior to enrollment; so be certain to examine the prospective institute before you apply. Also, take time to research the history and foundations of homeopathy; and don’t forget to schedule a visit to your local homeopathic practitioner so you can acquire a feel for the discipline.

While no two homeopathic schools are the same in size or exact curricula, core training involves education in acute prescribing, foundational skills in homeopathy, and medical science (includes philosophy, repertory, acute case-taking, analysis and management, homeopathic pharmacy, Materia Medica, and Therapeutics). Among the programs available at homeopathic schools, individuals who have successfully completed all required education and training can opt to take post-graduate studies, as well as continuing education in homeopathy.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding homeopathic medicine, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore homeopathic schools near you.

Homeopathic Schools offer a New School of Thought

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With alternative and complementary therapies making leeway in today’s modern medical society, it’s no wonder why some students may choose to enroll in any one of the unique courses in homeopathy available today. Whether individuals want to become a homeopathic practitioner, veterinary homeopathic practitioner, or a Doctor of Classical Homeopathy, there are a number of alternative medicine schools that now offer these, and other related alternative medicine studies as part of a comprehensive curriculum.

To earn your certificate as a homeopathic medical assistant or practitioner, you can enroll in courses in homeopathy that are geared primarily toward this career goal. Though curricula vary, these homeopathic medicine courses may be comprised of up to 1,000 training hours. Typical studies in these educational programs involve Materia Medica; homeopathic pharmacy, philosophy and history; case taking, analysis, and repertory, clinical training, among other coursework.

You can become a Doctor of Classical Homeopathy when you complete courses in homeopathy that are roughly four years in length. In addition to learning basic sciences like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and chemistry — students enrolled in this academic program gain an overall comprehension on homeopathic philosophies, Materia Medica, Repertory, pathophysiology, immunology, pharmacology, microbiology, homeopathic botany, case taking and analysis, pathology, supplemental alternative medicine studies, and much more.

If you like working with animals, there are courses in homeopathy with concentrated studies in veterinary health care. Again, curricula may vary in relation to the individual healing arts school, but common studies entail about 500 training hours. Subject matter in these veterinary courses in homeopathy includes philosophy and history of homeopathic medicine, Materia Medica, homeopathy pharmacy, and clinical training.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about these or other alternative medicine programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore courses in homeopathy near you.

Courses in Homeopathy

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Definitely you have heard of Holistic Medicine. For certainty, a friend of yours has experienced an alternative treatment. Probably, you have tried to benefit from a complementary therapy too. Perhaps, you know few holistic treatments. But, I am convinced that you do not know all the branches of Holistic Medicine. According to web references there are over of 30 main types of Holistic Medicine. In this article we will introduce you to 5 main Holistic therapies.

Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that is been practiced for thousands of years. Needles are inserted into human body (usually wrists, ankles, feet, back and abdomen) at more than 350 points. The procedure lasts for approximately 20 minutes while the patient rests and then the needles are removed. Practitioners manipulate and twirl the needles with special techniques, stimulating the energy flows and promoting healing and pain relief.

Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use primarily of essential oils and secondary of other aromatic natural substances such as vegetable (base) oils and scented products such as candles and soaps, in order to complementarily heal various diseases and vitalize body, spirit and mind. Aromatherapy is an ancient therapeutic method. There is historical evidence that in all major cultures of antiquity (Egypt, Greece, Persia, Roman), physicians deal with herbs, aromatic plants and floral water in purpose to invigorate, cure, stimulate and relax contributing to a better health and well being.

Homeopathy. Homeopathy is a relatively new Holistic Medicine based on the idea, that a natural substance that can produce sick symptoms in a healthy person, can have therapeutic effect in a sick person who suffers from the same symptoms. The term Homeopathy derives from a Greek compound word which means similar-suffering and was introduced by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Nevertheless, the homeopathetic approach to health was first described by Hippocrates 2,500 years ago. Homeopathy treatment is safe for patients as long as the next 2 rules are followed: 1. Remedies should be given in infinitesimal doses, so that unwanted side-effects could not be dangerous. 2. Remedies should be specific to each patient, because illness is specific to the individual.

Meditation. There are many different, even opposing definition of Meditation. The most usual description says that “Meditation is a state of just being without any interference from the body or mind”. Free of thoughts, feelings and actions, the meditator has the ability to concentrate on the present moment of quiescence, to understand human mind’s nature and to help the awareness of every single aspect of life. Free from any distraction to the mind, the meditator, emphasizes mental activity and achieves personal development. There are many types of Meditation according to their focus and many of them are related to Eastern Religions.

Reflexology. Reflexology is a therapeutic method of healing and pain relieving by pressuring particular reflex areas in hands and feet. Thousands of nerves end in these areas and link to glands, parts and organs of human body. Therefore, reflexologists by pressing on the reflex areas, induced human body to self-correct, to prevent illness, and generally to reinforce itself reaching holistic health.

You may have heard of “homeopathy” but you’re not sure what it is. Simply put, “homeopathy” is a system of medicine that treats a condition with highly diluted natural substances that mimic the symptoms of the condition being treated. This concept seems paradoxical to most.

Homeopathy is a difficult concept to grasp. How do you cure someone of an illness by giving them an infinitesimally small concentration of something that can cause the illness? One would think that by giving someone who is sick something that causes what they’re already suffering from would only make the person sicker. But, according to proponents of the science, homeopathy not only works, but is better than conventional medicine, espousing their belief that homeopathy is the way medicine should be, but somewhere along the line the pharmaceutical industry got involved, and natural medicine was abruptly dismissed in favor of chemical laden formulations.

There are actually quite a few homeopathic medicines in your neighborhood pharmacy and health food store. You may not be aware that they’re there, but they are. The FDA requires that homeopathic products put the word “homeopathic” somewhere on the packaging, though sometimes the word can be difficult to find. The easiest way to ascertain whether the product you’re looking at is homeopathic is to read the label on the back and take a look at the ingredients. In homeopathy, all of the ingredients are diluted, so each ingredient in a homeopathic product has the letter “X” after it. So, if one of the ingredients is “Zinc 20X”, that means the product contains Zinc that has been diluted 20 times. One of the most popular cold medicines on the market, “Zicam,” is actually a homeopathic remedy that consists of homeopathic zinc in the form of a nasal gel. Most people that use Zicam don’t even realize that it’s homeopathic.

There are homeopathic remedies available for almost any condition you can think of. Cold, flu, allergy, even bedwetting; there is a homeopathic remedy available for almost every condition (yes, there really is a homeopathic medicine to treat bedwetting, made by Liddell Laboratories in Moraga, CA). Homeopathy is universally recognized as being safe, as the ingredients used are natural substances diluted so many times that there’s almost nothing in the product. Because there is such a small concentration of the ingredients in a homeopathic remedy, many cynics, including the drug companies that make conventional medicine and are afraid of the growing popularity of homeopathy, claim that any improvement in an ill person’s condition experienced after using a homeopathic medicine is purely the result of the placebo effect. And because the FDA does not require that homeopathic products undergo clinical testing before being sold to the public, the detractors feel that homeopathy is a bunch of bologna and that it doesn’t really work. So, who’s telling the truth? Does homeopathy work or not?

In my opinion, the answer is a resounding yes. There have been several clinical trials done over the years to test the efficacy of homeopathic products. Liddell Laboratories makes a product called “Vital HGH” which contains homeopathic HGH. Vital HGH is designed to treat the symptoms of aging and/or a rundown condition. In a small clinical trial performed years ago, a group of test subjects who were deficient in human growth hormone, ranging in age from 45 years and up, were given the Vital HGH formulation. The results speak for themselves. During the five month clinical trial, the levels of HGH in the blood increased in every test subject, and more than doubled the average level of HGH.

Homeopathy does work. I speak from personal experience. I used Liddell’s homeopathic remedy to deal with the allergy attacks I was having, and the medicine not only stopped the attacks faster than the Claritin I had been taking, but I began using the Liddell allergy product once a day as a means for preventing the allergies from recurring, and I haven’t had another attack since.

So, why is there a controversy? Well, there’s a public perception that homeopathy is the same thing as holistic healing, where a weird looking guy puts a triangle around your head and tells you to drink mashed tree bark, like George did on Seinfeld to treat his tonsillitis before he turned purple. This is not homeopathy. Homeopathic medicines are carefully formulated and contain tiny amounts of specific natural substances designed to provoke a response in your body that helps your body to fight the condition that the medicine is designed to treat. So, a homeopathic cold medicine would perhaps contain something that stimulates your immune system to more effectively fight a cold virus. It’s a really a very simple concept.

Another reason why homeopathy is taken for granted is because it makes big drug manufacturers nervous that such products might be more effective for treating common illnesses as opposed to the more expensive prescription versions that make the pharmaceutical companies rich. Most homeopathic products are incredibly cheap. A prescribed conventional medicine costs a lot more. If the public began demanding natural, homeopathic remedies for their ailments, drug companies would have to make these kinds of products to stay in business, and then they’re revenues and profits would shrink. Imagine if Pfizer had to stop manufacturing Viagra, which they sell at $20-$30 per pill, and instead make a homeopathic product that would retail for only $20 for a one month supply. This is the pharmaceutical industry’s worst nightmare, and this is why drug companies often spend significant money to debunk claims that homeopathy works, using a wide variety of misinformation tactics to instill a belief in the public that homeopathy is hocus pocus. This simply isn’t true. Homeopathy works, and at a cost that people can afford.

You should continue to use the conventional medicines. They are needed and necessary and sometimes homeopathy doesn’t work for each and every individual. But, next time you go to the pharmacy, take a look at some of the homeopathic brands on the shelf and give them a try. For common ailments that aren’t life threatening, homeopathy is probably a cheaper and effective alternative.

While you may not believe it, using natural remedies for panic attacks can be just as effective as a prescription medication. These natural remedies are often better for you as well, with fewer or no side effects. Contrast this with prescription anxiety medications, which can cause all sorts of unpleasant side effects; some of the side effects commonly experienced are: heart palpitations, racing heart, dry mouth, sexual problems, constipation, and drowsiness. These are just the more common side effects. Also, in some individuals, these prescriptions can have the opposite effect they are supposed to, increasing anxiety instead of decreasing it.

using natural remedies can avoid these unpleasant side effects. It is entirely possible to feel calmer and have fewer panic attacks using these natural remedies. Unlike prescription medications, however, natural remedies are usually not approved by the FDA for the treatment of any condition. Just be aware of your own reactions to a natural remedy and stop using it if you experience any side effects that bother you.

A few of the natural remedies available for panic attacks are lemon balm, lavender, and passiflora. These herbs are said to be highly effective in the treatment of panic attacks and for general stress and anxiety relief. Most often these are available in products with other ingredients that enhance their relaxing effect. There is a particular brand of herbal mixture called Pure Calm. This product contains all three of the above ingredients, and is very effective at relieving stress and anxiety, reducing the number of panic attacks you experience.

Another name brand herbal remedy is called Panicyl. This product contains ginseng, ashwaganda, Rhodiala Rosea, and a mixture of various amino acids that work together to relax and enhance your mood by balancing neurotransmitter levels in your brain. This acts to reduce your anxiety and help with depression, which reduces the frequency and severity of your panic attacks.

Another herbal remedy that is well known is St. John’s Wort. This herb is usually taken in capsule form to provide many of the same benefits as Panicyl, and has been proven to significantly reduce the frequency of panic attacks if taken regularly.

Some of these products should not be taken with certain prescription medications, as they may produce an adverse reaction or interfere with the effectiveness of the medication.. Always talk with your doctor before starting on any homeopathic treatment plans.

When taken regularly, natural remedies for panic attacks have been shown to be as effective in some cases as prescription medications, but with a far lower occurrence of side effects. They are all available over-the-counter, and are usually reasonably priced. You can start taking them immediately. But if you are on other medication, always talk to your doctor before taking any of these natural remedies for panic attacks.

Of all homeopathic products on the market, combination remedies are arguably the most popular. You can find them prominently displayed in the homeopathic sections of most health food stores and placed near the cash registers in Whole Foods during cold season. Bestsellers, these products offer us the hope of a simple and straightforward solution: one medication for one diagnosis of anything that ails us, conditions ranging from teething, to head colds, to premenstrual syndrome, to hemorrhoids. But do they work?

It’s not hard to grasp the concept involved in manufacturing combination remedies. Two or more remedies known to relieve a particular symptom are combined in the same tablet. The expectation is that either the chosen remedies will enhance each other’s actions, or that at least one of the remedies will be exactly what the patient needs.

These remedies exist right on the border between allopathic (conventional) medicine and homeopathic medicine. On one hand, these preparations are prescribed for a particular ailment in the same way as conventional drugs. On the other hand, the components of combination remedies are homeopathically prepared substances. Their proponents argue that the combination remedies are much better then conventional drugs, as they have no side effects.

PROS AND CONS OF COMBINATION REMEDIES

Combination remedies sold in stores are proprietary to their manufacturers. As they are proprietary medications, I feel uncomfortable rating their efficacy. Nonetheless, I don’t want to leave you guessing about them without reliable information. So let me just say that, in my experience, all the major homeopathic manufacturers produce equally good combination preparations. I never use them myself, however some of my patients report that various brands produce more or less similar results. It is also my understanding that at the beginning of the 20th century different companies sold and bought the recipes of efficacious combinations from each other.

This makes the process of selection easier. Major companies on the American market that offer combination remedies are Boiron, Hyland/Standard, Washington Homeopathic Products, and 1800HOMEOPATHY. There are quite a few smaller companies out there, too, and companies change hands from time to time, which is a great benefit to the consumer. Mergers or splits of these companies mean only one thing for you: a continuous exchange of experience leading to better products.

What are these remedies useful in treating? They can provide significant relief for self-limiting conditions in people with excellent or average health. There are impressive remedies for vertigo, acute sinus infections, teething, and hemorrhoids, for instance. The major homeopathic companies use combinations that have been tested for years and are shown effective, but to reiterate, only for the temporary relief of self-limiting conditions. Treating serious and or chronic conditions with combination remedies isn’t a good idea. In these situations you are much better off seeking help of a qualified homeopath.

You should avoid combination remedies, or any other homeopathic preparations, while you are receiving professional homeopathic care, as these preparations might interfere with single remedies used by classical homeopaths. For many consumers, taking homeopathic combination remedies is a good place to start testing the homeopathic waters, so to speak. Real healing requires an understanding of individual traits. My new book Easy Homeopathy teaches you how to achieve complete cure, as opposed to the temporary suppression of symptoms. I hope you begin your homeopathic journey today with a little help from my book and a lot of support from your common sense.

The placebo effect is a mechanism where someone is taking a medicine that contains really nothing. They think the medicine that they are taking helps them to get rid of their ailment. The person automatically becomes better even though the medicine contained no real substance.

Many critics point out that homeopathy works because of the placebo effect. Many homeopathic medicines contain no active substance so any benefits realized with homeopathy must be due to a placebo effect. So much does the placebo effect actually help is brought into question?

Some research studies have shown that inactive substances made with sugar or water can help patients approximately 1/3 of the time. Patients psychologically believe that this type of medicial treatment is helping them. These are small research studies and they are certainly not conclusive.

The placebo effect can also be difficult to measure due to the fact that many people can cure their illness just on their own. The body’s own immune system helps to fight diesease and taking the placebo pills really would not speed up that process. However, the placebo pill may make the person feel better since they are inclined in thinking the medicine given has helped them.

Another interesting question is how do dogs, cats and babies respond to a placebo? These groups are not aware that they are taking medicine so the placebo effect does not really exist within these groups. However, the placebo effect may exist with the person giving the medication. The person giving the medication may feel an improvement in the condition within these groups because they had provided a remedy. How much a dog, cat or baby would get better on their own is not know if they had not taken a placebo.

The effects of placebo in allopathic or western medicine has not been studied extensively. A large percentage of allopathic medicine has never been properly research and tested. Most people are not sure how western medicine works. The exact way aspirin cures headaches is unknown today. However, many people take aspirin even though they have no idea how it works.

Homeopathic trials comparing homeopathy versus allopathic medicine usually have come out quite favorable to homeopathy. Most trials generally show that the homeopathic medicine works as well as the allopathic medicine. Examples of this would be a trial of 146 people that showed homeopathic nasal spray treated hayfever as well as the allopathic spray.

Homeopathic trials with placebos are much more of a mix bag of trials. Some of the research studies come out quite positive but others have not show too much difference than the placebo. Certainly many of these trials did not follow procedures as homeopaths would practice. It would interesting to see how some of the untested allopathic medicine compare to a placebo.

A placebo effect may exist in all forms of medicine just not homeopathy. How much a placebo effect can help a patient is unknown? Research does suggest that placebo can be help patients cure their ailments but this is far from conclusive.

Acne and Acne scars are the most common problems found among the people of almost all ages. Although teenagers face eruptions of acne more frequently and consistently, people in their middle and old ages too, are prone to allergies and skin eruptions of all kind. Thus, age of a person hardly matters when it comes to skin eruptions, acne and acne scars.

Acne is the commonest of all kind of skin allergies and it is quite recurring, which influences people to take up natural herbal remedy to cure them.

With the advancement of medical science, a large number of conventional medicines are available in the market these days, but they again have their own side effects. In some cases, these conventional medicines worsen the problem rather than curing it. As such, more and more people are turning to the safer and natural options of homeopathy for the purpose of treating themselves.

People’s inclination towards homeopathic acne solutions is gradually gaining popularity. Homeopathic treatment, as far as acne and acne scars are concerned, has variable success rate but what makes this holistic treatment all the more popular is, there are negligible or no side effects. But, it must however be noted that homeopathic treatment is a time consuming treatment and it does not reap instant results, unlike the typical conventional type of medicines. The advantage of homeopathy treatment is that, while addressing even a minute problem like acne, it takes into consideration all the aspects of that particular problem and tries to treat the problem from the very base so as to root out the problem from its very source.

It is for this very purpose that some people seem quite confused and feel irritated when they visit a homeopath for treating their acne problems, and find the practitioner asking quite irrelevant questions which are in no way connected to acnes. But it needs to be noted that the role of an experienced homeopath is to analyze the full case history of the patient, note down and understand the details of his symptoms and then select the remedy that is the fittest to treat the particular case. The common components of homeopathic medicines are calendula, hepar sulfur, graphite, silicea, and sulphur.

It is true that homeopathy treatments do not have the benefit of the modern medical science studies; but it is also true that homeopathy medication have succeeded in treating and successfully reducing the typical symptoms of acne.

Common Homeopathy Remedies for Acne

One of the highly recommended homeopathic remedies for treating acne related problem is Silicea. It is believed to be a primary remedy for acnes and it works wonderfully on skin related disorders of all kind. If used appropriately, Silicea can be a powerful tool for assisting individuals and enabling them to root out the acne problems from the base.

Apart from Silicea, some of the other commonly used homeopathic remedies for treating acne and acne scars are Kali bromatum, Sileneum, Hepar Sulphur, Mizoreum and Staphysagria.

Are Homeopathy Medicines Safe

Homeopathy medicines have so far been claimed to be the safest; safer than the allopath or the synthetic medicines. It is true that these medicines hardly give rise to any side effects. Homeopaths claim that the medication is safe because the key ingredients are present in minimum quantities.

Very often we come across a rise in symptom or a particular disease with the intake of homeopathy medicine. But it must be remembered that this is the initial reaction of the medication and is a part of the remedial measures.

Precaution in Diet during the Treatment

In homeopathy, the medicine and its effects get absorbed directly by the tongue. As such, while under the homeopath’s treatment, people are generally advised to avoid the intake of raw onions, anything sour, coffee, camphor and others.

Homeopathy has had its fair share of critics over the past few years. an American illusionist, James Randi, offered money to anyone who could prove, under laboratory conditions, that homeopathic remedies cured ailments. No-one has risen to the challenge. However that does not make it irrelevant. The new controversy about the efficacy of alternative, or complementary, medicine proves this is a subject where strongly-held opinion is prevalent.

Homeopathy has been around for some 200 years, the founder was a German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) who had great success in treating epidemics of scarlet fever Villages treated with his prophylactics entirely escaped dreaded epidemics, including the plague.

What Homeopathy also seems to be weighed down with is the anomaly that Homeopathic remedies don’t contain any remedy at all. Many people seem to believe that Homeopathy was similar to Herbalism The fact is that Homeopaths take a substance and dilute it over and over again, until there isn’t a single molecule left.

The Journal of the American Institute for homeopathy in May 1921 reported the success of the homeopathic approach in the flu epidemic. A Dr McCann, from Dayton, Ohio reported that 24,000 cases of flu treated allopathically had a mortality rate of 28.2 per cent while 26,000 cases of flu treated homeopathically had a mortality rate of 1.05 per cent.

The eminent’s caught up in the furor amongst others are Michael Baum, a professor of surgery urging that NHS funds should be used for conventional treatments. Prince Charles arguing that alternative medicine should be given a bigger role and further adding fuel to the fire, Dr David Reilly, lead consultant at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital (GHH) dismissing the letter writers as elderly scientific gentleman damning what they do not understand.

The testing regime also is not as rigorous as for chemical based treatments because the side effects are, at worst, mild compared with the potential impact of new drugs. That is why these are significantly assessed for potential contra-indications. Homeopathic remedies are cheaper to produce and many of the ingredients are not patented. What should be good for patients and the National Health Service is not necessarily good for the big drug companies who depend on licensed drugs for their profits.

The cost is minimal in the context of the multi-billion-pound health budget. In relative terms, so cheap, that it is possibly an obstacle to wider availability. But homeopathy should not be an either-or option, on cost grounds or as an alternative to other courses of treatment. The GHH treats patients suffering from, among other illnesses, cancer and depression. If homeopathy works and benefits patients (as it clearly does), we should be sufficiently open-minded and content to support it as a complementary treatment in tandem with conventional medicine.

Furthermore when on the 8th December 2003 the worldwide vice president for Glaxo SmithKline said that the the vast majority of drugs - more than 90% - only work in 30% or 50% of the people they are prescribed for. Alarming perhaps, but surprising? A spokesman for the Association of The British Pharmaceutical Industry (trade association for companies in the UK producing prescription medicines) at the time was also quoted as saying that they often did not know why and conceded that the answer very likely lay ‘in a persons genetic make up’, so quite clearly conventional medicine does not have all the answers. Another key issue is also the active participation of the patient.