Homeopathy: what it is and what is known
Homeopathy uses highly diluted remedies, often for colds and aches. Here is what it involves, how it is regulated and why reviews find no reliable benefit.
What the evidence says
Insufficient evidence
Little or no good-quality research, or the research does not support the claims made. The legend
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) finds little evidence that homeopathy is effective for any specific condition. Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) concluded in 2015 that there is no reliable evidence it is effective for any health condition, and a 2010 review in the Medical Journal of Australia found no effects beyond placebo.
What practitioners say it does
- Said to relieve symptoms with a highly diluted substance that causes similar symptoms in a healthy person
- Described as following a "law of minimum dose", in which a remedy grows stronger the more it is diluted
- Said to be individualized, so people with the same condition may receive different remedies
- Said to sometimes bring a temporary worsening of symptoms, known as "homeopathic aggravation"
Origin
A medical system developed in Germany more than 200 years ago
Homeopathy is a system of medicine built on very dilute preparations. People most often try it for colds and for muscle or joint pain. Major reviews have found no reliable evidence that it helps any health condition beyond a placebo effect, which is why it sits in our lowest evidence tier.
What it is
Homeopathy is a medical system that was developed in Germany more than 200 years ago. Its central idea is a principle often summed up as “like with like.” Practitioners say a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can relieve similar symptoms in someone who is ill, as long as it is given in a tiny, highly diluted dose.
A second idea, which practitioners call the “law of minimum dose,” holds that the more a remedy is diluted, the stronger it becomes. Many products are diluted so far that no molecules of the original substance remain. Remedies are made from plants such as arnica or red onion, or from minerals or animal sources. Practitioners also describe a temporary worsening of symptoms after a remedy, which they call “homeopathic aggravation.”
Several of these key ideas conflict with fundamental scientific understanding. In the US, most adults who use homeopathic remedies choose products for themselves, often for colds and muscle or joint pain.
What a session is like
Many people never see a practitioner. They buy homeopathic products over the counter at a pharmacy or health store. If you do see a homeopath, they assess your symptoms using homeopathy’s own methods and choose a remedy for you as an individual. Two people with the same condition may leave with different remedies.
Remedies usually come as small sugar pellets that dissolve under the tongue. They are also sold as drops, tablets, creams, gels and ointments.
Before you book or buy, it is worth asking:
- What medical qualifications does the practitioner have?
- Is this product highly diluted, or does it contain measurable amounts of an active ingredient?
- How will it fit with the medicines and care you already have?
What research says
The research on homeopathy points in one direction. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says there is little evidence that homeopathy is effective for any specific health condition. In 2015, Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) assessed 57 systematic reviews covering 176 studies. It concluded there is no reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective for any health condition. NCCIH notes that this assessment used strict rules about which studies to include.
A 2010 review in the Medical Journal of Australia looked at the six Cochrane reviews then available. These covered cancer, ADHD, asthma, dementia, influenza and induction of labor. The review concluded that they do not show homeopathic medicines have effects beyond placebo. Clinical studies have also found little evidence for homeopathic aggravation. Extreme dilution can leave nothing measurable to study.
The NHS in England does not list homeopathy among the complementary therapies it may offer. People do often report feeling better after taking a remedy. Expectation and placebo effects may explain this.
Who should be careful
The greatest risk is not the remedy itself. It is using homeopathy instead of effective treatment, or delaying a visit to a provider. Serious harm has come from replacing conventional care. Homeopathic products should never stand in for vaccines.
Not every product labeled homeopathic is highly diluted. Some contain substantial active ingredients that can cause side effects or interact with medicines, and harms have been reported, including from products containing heavy metals. Liquid products may contain alcohol. The FDA has warned about some homeopathic teething tablets and about relying on over-the-counter homeopathic asthma products.
If you are pregnant or nursing, or are thinking of using homeopathy for a child, talk to a health care provider first and bring the product so they can check it. If you have symptoms that are new, severe or not improving, see a doctor or other licensed clinician rather than relying on homeopathy alone.
How it fits with the pillars
Homeopathy belongs to the body pillar, because people take remedies for physical symptoms such as colds or sore joints. Where it may touch the link between body and mind is through expectation. Feeling cared for and expecting relief can change how symptoms feel, which is the placebo effect at work. If that connection interests you, our guide to how the mind and body influence each other explores it further.
Safety
- Do not use homeopathy in place of effective treatment or to delay seeing a provider; serious harm has come from replacing conventional care.
- Some products labeled homeopathic are not highly diluted and can cause side effects or drug interactions; harms from heavy metals have been reported.
- Do not use homeopathic products in place of vaccines; follow standard immunization schedules.
- If you are pregnant or nursing, or considering it for a child, talk to a health care provider and bring the product with you.
- Liquid products may contain alcohol; the FDA has warned about some teething tablets and about relying on over-the-counter homeopathic asthma products.
What a session involves
Many people buy homeopathic products over the counter without seeing anyone. If you see a homeopath, they choose a remedy for you using homeopathy's own way of assessing symptoms, so two people with the same condition may get different remedies. Remedies usually come as small sugar pellets placed under the tongue, or as drops, tablets, creams, gels or ointments.
Training and regulation
In the US, homeopathic products are regulated as drugs but none are FDA-approved, and laws on practicing homeopathy vary by state. Rules differ elsewhere; in England homeopaths do not have to be registered by law.
Questions people ask
Are homeopathic remedies safe to take?
Many are so diluted that little or none of the original substance remains. Some products labeled homeopathic, however, contain substantial amounts of active ingredients, which can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Harms have been reported, including from products containing heavy metals. Liquid products may also contain alcohol. The biggest risk is using homeopathy instead of effective treatment or putting off seeing a provider.
Can homeopathy replace vaccines or regular medical care?
No. NCCIH advises against using homeopathic products in place of vaccines and recommends following standard immunization schedules. The US CDC says there is no credible scientific evidence that homeopathic "vaccines", called nosodes, can replace vaccines. Serious harm has come from replacing conventional care with homeopathy, so keep seeing your doctor and tell them about any products you use.
How do I check a homeopath's training and qualifications?
In the US, laws vary by state. Licensed health professionals can usually practice homeopathy, and in some states non-licensed people can too. Only Arizona, Connecticut and Nevada have homeopathic licensing boards for MDs and DOs. In England homeopaths do not have to be registered by law, and the NHS suggests checking for a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. Ask any practitioner directly about their medical qualifications.
Do homeopathic products need FDA approval?
In the US, homeopathic products are regulated as drugs, but none are approved by the FDA. The FTC requires health claims made for homeopathic products to meet the same evidence standard as health claims for any other product. So a label that says a homeopathic product helps with a condition is held to the same rule as other health products, even though the product itself has not been approved.
Sources
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