Note: This page has important information for the believers and skeptics of homeopathy. Many scientific references are given on this page. 

What is homeopathy?

Simply put, homeopathy is a German system of medicine, which is based on the principle that any substance having a capacity to produce disease state (in the humans or animals), also has a built-in capability to remove or reduce the similar disease if administered in a very small dose.

To simplify this further, if pollen or virus could produce colds or flu-like symptoms; it also means that, if pollen or virus are given to humans in a very small dose (called potentized dose), they could reduce or remove the symptoms of the disease caused by pollen or virus.

Is it a vaccine?

Homeopathy is like a vaccine but not a vaccine. Actually, it is different than a vaccine in many ways; however, the principle behind homeopathy and vaccine is very similar. Both are based on the Law of Similars, which is the fundamental principle of homeopathy.

Very interestingly, homeopathy and the first vaccine, both were born in the same year 1796. Dr Shah always says that homeopathy is an advanced version of vaccination; with a wider therapeutic application.

Simple logic based on Nature’s principle:

It has been observed in nature and proved in the laboratories by the scientists working on hormesis, that a low dose of toxic substances has anti-toxic effects. One of the examples if that of low dose radiation. Attenuated vaccines prepared from microorganisms are the best examples of the logic of the Law of Similars.

Different than vaccine:

Vaccines use ‘attenuated’ organisms; homeopathy uses potentized substances, including organisms. Vaccines are microbes, while homeopathic medicines are prepared from microbes, chemicals, minerals, toxins, animal products, and vegetable sources. Vaccines are used only for the specific infections that they are sourced from. For example, the Measles vaccine for Measles. Homeopathic medicines are used for a wider range of diseases. For example, homeopathic medicine prepared from Arsenic is proved efficacious not only for Arsenic toxicity but also for diseases such as common cold, gastritis, and Lichen Planus, since Arsenic has an inherent capacity to produce the above diseases.

What does homeopathic medicine contain?

For the time of its conception in 1796, it was believed that homeopathic medicines contain some energy; as it was not possible to detect it contains due to is micro-nature. However, the recent breakthrough research at IIT (B) (Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai) has proved that homeopathic medicines contain nanoparticles of the original drug substance. Now, we have started understanding homeopathy as nano-pharmacological medicine.

Is it proved that homeopathy works?

Besides the enormous clinical evidence created by thousands of homeopathic doctors in the last 200 years by treating millions of patients from across the world, the scientists in the fields of molecular biology, chemistry, pharmacology, and modern medicine, have proved a number of times the efficacy of homeopathy in cell line models, animal models, as well as human (in-vivo) models. Many authentic clinical trials have exhibited the therapeutic efficacy of homeopathy.

What about the controversy surrounding homeopathy?

Due to the very nature of ultra-dilute homeopathic medicine, it naturally received criticism for containing ‘nothing’ inside them! It is only recently that it is discovered that the medicines are in the form of nanoparticles, which was not comprehended until recently due to the lack of such technology.

Also, due to its immeasurability of substance, homeopathy could not be tested using the traditional research models. However, the recent research using the conventional methods of research5 has proved the efficacy as well as the possible mechanism of action of high dilution homeopathic medicines. More rigorous research is required.

Which diseases can homeopathy help?

Homeopathy is a system of medicine with its own strengths and limitations. It can help a wide range of disease conditions at different stages. On this website, Dr Shah has extensively explained the scope of homeopathy.

In brief, homeopathy can treat a large number of chronic diseases and some acute diseases.

Please click here to see the extensive list of diseases homeopathy can treat.

Please click here for some common and uncommon diseases that homeopathy can treat.

Homeopathic treatment does not go simply by the names of the diseases. Some of the factors which determine the curability of the disease are as follows.

• Nature of pathology or tissue changes
• The extent of the disease
• Chronicity of the disease
• The complexity of the disease
• Genetic factors
• Age, food habits, the lifestyle of the patient
• Previous and current medicines used
• Patients sensitivity, susceptibility, and overall health
• Proficiency of the homeopathic doctor to apprehend the case of the patient

Which diseases homeopathy cannot help?

Homeopathy cannot treat diseases where there are irreversible tissue changes. For example, Cataract, hernia, large tumors, mechanical obstructions, severely prolapsed intervertebral discs, etc. Also, homeopathy is not the first choice of therapy for very acute or critical diseases such as septicemia, severe infections, pneumonia, tuberculosis, cerebral malaria, myocardial infarction (heart attack), etc. Homeopathy is also not indicated for most of the truly surgical diseases such as the ruptured appendix, heart blocks, cancerous tumors, fractures, lipomas, prolapsed piles, large fibroids, etc.

Is it safe for children?

Homeopathy is safe for everyone, even for newborn babies and pregnant mothers. They are essentially free from side effects when prescribed professionally.

How do I know if my disease can be treated with homeopathy?

You may consult any qualified, experienced homeopathic expert in your area for guidance. If you face any difficulty, send a query to Dr Shah’s team of doctors by clicking here.

Homeopathy treatment can be taken with conventional (allopathic) medicines:

Chronic and complex diseases need the integration of homeopathic medicines and conventional medicines. Depending on the nature and the extent of the disease, both the medicines could be taken simultaneously, for better results. For example, acute attacks of the following diseases are better-taken care of by conventional medicines, while the disease can be treated from roots to reduce the frequency of episodes: Frequent colds, asthma, sinusitis, tonsillitis, Psoriasis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Ulcerative colitis, Nephrotic Syndrome, Trigeminal Neuralgia, etc.

References:

01 R. Jäggi, U.Würgler, F. Grandjean, M.Weiser; Dual inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase by a reconstituted homeopathic remedy; a possible explanation for clinical efficacy and favorable gastrointestinal tolerability, Inflamm. res. 53 (2004) 150–157, 1023-3830/04/040150-08, DOI 10.1007/s00011-003-1236-y

02 B. POITEVIN, E. DAVENAS & J. BENVENISTE In vitro immunological degranulation of human basophils is modulated by Lung histamine and Apismellifica, Br. J. clin. Pharmac. (1988), 25, 439-444

Human trials: Randomized, placebo-controlled human trials: 

01 Cavalcanti AM, Rocha LM, Carillo R Jr, Lima LU, Lugon JR. Effects of homeopathic treatment on pruritus of hemodialysis patients: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Homeopathy. 2003 Oct;92(4):177-81.

02 Clark J, Percivall AA. Preliminary Investigation into the Effectiveness of the Homoeopathic Remedy, Rutagraveolens, in the Treatment of Pain in Plantar Fasciitis. British Journal of Podiatry, 2000, 3, 3, 81- 85.

03 Brigo B, Serpelloni G, Homoeopathic Treatment of Migraine Berlin Journal on Research in Homoeopathy, 1, 2, March 1991, 98-106.

04Aabel S, Laerum E, Dølvik S, Djupesland P (2000). Is homeopathic 'immunotherapy' effective? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with the isopathic remedy Betula 30c for patients with birch pollen allergy. British Homeopathic Journal; 89:161–168. 

05Kim LS, Riedlinger JE, Baldwin CM, Hilli L, Khalsa SV, Messer SA, Waters RF (2005). Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis using the homeopathic preparation of common allergens in the southwest region of the US: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Annals of Pharmacotherapy; 39:617–624.

06Reilly DT, Taylor MA, McSharry C, Aitchison T (1986). Is homeopathy a placebo response? A controlled trial of homeopathic potency, with pollen in hayfever as model. Lancet; ii:881–885

07Aabel S (2000). No beneficial effect of isopathic prophylactic treatment for birch pollen allergy during a low-pollen season: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of homeopathic Betula 30c. British Homeopathic Journal; 89:169–173

08Reilly DT, Taylor MA, McSharry C, Aitchison T (1986). Is homeopathy a placebo response? A controlled trial of homeopathic potency, with pollen in hayfever as model. Lancet; ii:881–885

09Wiesenauer M, Gaus W, Häussler S (1990). Behandlung der Pollinoisis mit Galphimia glauca. Eine Doppelblindstudie unter Praxisbedingungen [Treatment of pollinosis with the homeopathic preparation Galphimia glauca. A double-blind trial in clinical practice]. Allergologie; 13:359–363.

10E. de Lange de Klerk, J. Blommers, D.J. Kuik, et al., "Effect of Homoeopathic Medicines on Daily Burden of Symptoms in Children with Recurrent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections," British Medical Journal, November 19, 1994, 309:1329-32

11R.G. Gibson, S. Gibson, A.D. MacNeill, et al., "Homoeopathic Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Evaluation by Double-blind Clinical Therapeutic Trial," British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 1980, 9:453-59

12Aabel S (2001). Prophylactic and acute treatment with the homeopathic medicine Betula 30c for birch pollen allergy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of consistency of VAS responses. British Homeopathic Journal; 90:73–78

13Wiesenauer M, Gaus W (1985). Double-blind trial comparing the effectiveness of the homoeopathic preparation Galphimia potentization D6, Galphimia dilution 10?6 and placebo on pollinosis. Arzneimittel Forschung; 35:1745–1747

14Friese K-H, Zabalotnyi DI (2007). Homöopathie bei akuter Rhinosinusitis. Eine doppelblinde, placebokontrollierte Studie belegt die Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit eines homöopathischen Kombinations-arzneimittels [Homeopathy in acute rhinosinusitis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study shows the efficiency and tolerability of a homeopathic combination remedy]. HNO; 55:271–277

15Wiesenauer M, Lüdtke R (1995). The treatment of pollinosis with Galphimia glauca D4 - a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. Phytomedicine; 2: 3-6

16Weiser M, Clasen B (1994). Randomisierte plazebokontrolierte Doppelblindstudie zur Untersuchung der klinische Wirksamkeit der homöopathischen Euphorbium compositum-Nasentropfen S bei chronischer Sinusitis [Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of the clinical efficacy of the homeopathic Euphorbium compositum-S nasal spray in cases of chronic sinusitis]. Forschende Komplementärmedizin; 1:251–259.

17Zabolotnyi DI, Kneis KC, Richardson A, Rettenberger R, Heger M, Kaszkin-Bettag M, Heger PW (2007). Efficacy of a complex homeopathic medication (Sinfrontal) in patients with acute maxillary sinusitis: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial. Explore (NY); 3:98–109

18Wiesenauer M, Gaus W, Bohnacker U, Häussler S (1989). Wirksamkeitsprüfung von homöopathische Kombinationspräparaten bei Sinusitis. Ergebnisse einer randomisierten Doppelblindstudie unter Praxisbedingungen [Efficiency of homeopathic preparation combinations in sinusitis. Results of a randomized double-blind study with general practitioners]. Arzneimittel Forschung; 39:620-625