what homeopathy is — and isn’t

When I tell people that I practice homeopathy, a lot of people have a lot of assumptions about what I do, or what homeopathy is.

Frequently, people’s ideas of what homeopathy is aren’t quite accurate. I wanted to write this just to clarify some very common and understandable mis-assumptions.

1. Homeopathy is not a blanket term for anything holistic or natural.

Homeopathy is actually a very specific system of healing. It does not necessarily encompass the use of supplements or herbal medicine.

While sometimes those kinds of things can be used as part of homeopathic treatment, the main engine of homeopathy are homeopathic remedies. Maybe you’ve seen them in the supplement section of a grocery store.

Homeopathic remedies are distinct from other types of supplements. They have been prepared in a particular way, that is vastly different from how supplements and herbal preparations. While there are many homeopathic remedies that are made from plants, remedies can also be made from other substances (which I’ll get into more below).

<aside>

Homeopathy is its own unique system, and homeopathic remedies work differently from supplements or herbs. It is particular and distinct from other types of holistic or natural healing systems.

</aside>

All that said, a homeopath MAY suggest other complementary tools from the world of natural health. But the backbone of homeopathy is homeopathy itself!

2. Homeopathy is different from naturopathy (though the two are related, and there can be some overlap).

Naturopaths have different training and a different scope of practice from homeopaths. Many homeopaths use naturopathic techniques, and some naturopaths use homeopathic remedies, but there are many naturopaths who don’t use homeopathy at all.

Naturopaths typically work more within a medical model, which can have its benefits if you are looking for a practitioner who can order medical tests.

Most naturopaths tend to work more with supplements and herbal medicine than homeopathic remedies. Homeopaths don’t necessarily have training in herbal medicine or how to work with supplements unless they have pursued that training in addition to their homeopathic training (and many have!).

3. Homeopathy is not the same as herbal medicine.

Yes, this is kind of a re-hash of #1, but I want to explicitly state it a bit louder for the people in the back!

Homeopathic remedies are prepared very differently than herbal medicines. They work differently in the system, too. Homeopathic remedies stimulate your body’s own healing mechanisms, whereas supplements and herbal preparations force a biochemical reaction.

Homeopathic remedies are not limited to the plant world. Remedies can also be made from minerals, metals, animal substances, and even imponderables such as x-ray, gases, etc.

In fact, I’m of the opinion that homeopathy has more in common with Jungian psychology and ancient systems of healing that work with the primordial forces of nature, than herbal medicine and naturopathy that rely on biochemical reactions.

In many ways, homeopathy is in a category of its own!