The name “homeopathy” (also spelled homoeopathy or homœopathy) is taken from the Greek words homeo (similar) and pathos (suffering or disease) and is a form of alternative medicine.
The earliest fundamental concepts of homeopathy were formulated by Samuel Hahnemann in the late 1700′s. The practice of homeopathy is primarily based on the notion that illness signs and symptoms can be remedied by minute dosages of substances which produce similar symptoms in healthy individuals.
Centered upon an ipse dixit axiom developed by Hahnemann, which he in turn referred to as the law of similars, formulations which in turn induce certain symptoms in healthy people are provided as the treatment method for patients demonstrating comparable signs and symptoms. Homeopathic remedies are prepared by serial dilution with shaking by powerful striking, which homeopaths term succussion, after each dilution under the premise that this will increase the effect of the remedy. Homeopaths refer to this as process potentization. Dilution frequently carries on right up until none of the original substance remains.
Apart from the signs and symptoms of the illness, homeopaths use elements of the patient’s actual physical and psychological state in suggesting therapies.
Homeopathic reference publications acknowledged as repertories are then conferred with, and a remedy is determined primarily based on the totality of the signs and symptoms. Homeopathic remedies are, with rare exceptions, regarded as safe although homeopathy has been criticized for placing patients at risk due to suggestions in opposition to traditional medicine such as vaccinations, anti-malarial drugs, and prescription antibiotics.
Right until recently, homeopathic drug treatments have been publicized on a limited scale by a couple of manufacturers whom have been in business for several yrs and have primarily served the requirements of a limited amount of licensed professionals. Currently the homeopathic drug industry has grown to develop into a multimillion dollar industry in the United States of America, with a considerable increase shown in the importation and domestic marketing of homeopathic drug merchandise. Those products that are made available for treatment of really serious disease conditions should be dispensed under the care of a licensed physician.
Homeopathic medicine typically must fulfill the standards for strength, quality, and purity established in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia. Whenever a medication is acknowledged in both the United States Pharmacopeia and the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States it shall be subject to the specifications of the United States Pharmacopeia except if it is referred to as and made available for purchase as a homeopathy medicine, in which circumstance it shall be subject to the provisions of the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States and not to those of the United States Pharmacopeia.
- Homeopathy: The practice of treating the syndromes and conditions which constitute illness with remedies that have created comparable syndromes and conditions in healthy subjects.
- Homeopathic Drug: Any drug labeled as being homeopathic which is listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States (HPUS), an addendum to it, or its supplements. The potencies of homeopathic drugs are specified in terms of dilution, i.e., 1x (1/10 dilution), 2x (1/100 dilution), etc. Homeopathic drug products must contain diluents commonly used in homeopathic pharmaceutics. Drug products containing homeopathic ingredients in combination with non-homeopathic active ingredients are not homeopathic drug products.
- Homeotherapeutics: Entails therapy which makes use of drugs that are selected and administered in accordance with the tenets of homeopathy.
- Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States (HPUS): A compilation of standards for source, composition, and preparation of homeopathic drugs. HPUS contains monographs of drug ingredients used in homeopathic treatment. It is recognized as an official compendium under Section 201(j) of the Act.
- Compendium of Homeotherapeutics: An addendum to the HPUS which contains basic premises and concepts of homeopathy and homeotherapeutics; specifications and standards of preparation, content, and dosage of homeopathic drugs; a description of the proving* process used to determine the eligibility of drugs for inclusion in HPUS; the technique of prescribing the therapeutic application of homeopathic drugs; and a partial list of drugs which meet the criteria of the proving process and are eligible for inclusion in HPUS and other homeopathic texts.
- Extemporaneously Compounded OTC Products: Those homeopathic drug products and solutions which are often prepared by dilution to many variations of potency from stock preparations, and which: (1) have at least one OTC indication; (2) are prepared pursuant to consumers’ oral or written requests; and (3) are not generally sold from retail shelves. Those products which are prescription drugs only cannot be provided to consumers as extemporaneously compounded OTC products but, may only be prepared pursuant to a prescription order.
- Health Fraud: The deceptive promotion, advertisement, distribution or sale of articles, intended for human or animal use, that are represented as being effective to diagnose, prevent, cure, treat, or mitigate disease (or other conditions), or provide a beneficial effect on health, but which have not been scientifically proven safe and effective for such purposes. Such practices may be deliberate, or done without adequate knowledge or understanding of the article.
