Homeopathic Medicine – Homeopathy is a medical system that has been used around the world for over 200 years. It is controversial and clouded by different beliefs and opinions. Pharmacists, pharmacy associates and other healthcare professionals may be asked to advise patients and other healthcare professionals on this branch of integrative or complementary and alternative medicine. Homeopathy is used as a self-care for a variety of conditions, as well as for the treatment of acute and chronic conditions by healthcare professionals.
Homeopathy, or homeopathic medicine, is the practice of medicine that takes a holistic and natural approach to treating the sick. Homeopathy is holistic because it treats the person as a whole, rather than focusing on a sick part or a labeled disease. Homeopathy is natural because the remedies are produced according to the United States Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia recognized by the United States FDA from natural sources, whether they are plant, mineral or animal in nature.
Homeopathic Medicine Production – Homeopathic medicines take a long time to work. The effect of a homeopathic medicine can be rapid (minutes to hours) or it can take 1 or more days to take full effect. The time it takes to relieve symptoms is not uniform because the drugs do not create the response; the drugs stimulate the body’s secondary healing response. When properly prescribed for a self-limiting acute condition, homeopathic medicines can act very quickly, but effective treatment of long-term chronic conditions can take days to several weeks. If symptom relief does not occur within 1 to 2 weeks (for chronic conditions), another remedy should be recommended or the patient should be referred to a specialist.
