Homeopathy

Unlike botanical and nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies are regulated by the FDA. Only homeopathic remedies that are approved by the FDA can be manufactured. Because so little active ingredient is left after dilution, active ingredients are tested before dilution.

The FDA exempts homeopathic remedies from several requirements that exist for other drugs:

However, the label is required to list the following:

The two primary principles of homeopathy are "like cures like" and diluting makes preparations stronger. A preparation diluted so much that it has no active ingredient to have physiologic effects (other than those of a placebo) is biologically and chemically implausible. However, some proclaimed homeopathic preparations do contain active ingredients in concentration sufficient to have physiologic effects (eg, Zicam, which contains a measurable amount of zinc).

Efficacy of homeopathic remedies for various disorders has been extensively studied. A 2010 analysis of systematic reviews found that homeopathy is no more efficacious than placebo for any indication, as did the United Kingdom's House of Commons Science and Technology Committee after an exhaustive review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of homeopathy (2010) (1 References Developed in Germany in the late 1700s, homeopathy is a medical system based on the principle that like cures like (the law of similars). A substance that, when given in large doses, causes... read more , 2 References Developed in Germany in the late 1700s, homeopathy is a medical system based on the principle that like cures like (the law of similars). A substance that, when given in large doses, causes... read more ). The Australian government's exhaustive review of the clinical evidence for homeopathy (2013) found that for 61 indications, there was evidence of lack of efficacy for homeopathy, and for another 7 indications, there was no good-quality evidence (3 References Developed in Germany in the late 1700s, homeopathy is a medical system based on the principle that like cures like (the law of similars). A substance that, when given in large doses, causes... read more ). Subsequent reviews have reached similar conclusions regarding lack of demonstrated efficacy and low-quality data (4 References Developed in Germany in the late 1700s, homeopathy is a medical system based on the principle that like cures like (the law of similars). A substance that, when given in large doses, causes... read more ).

Homeopathy continues to be explored given its gentle effect and low likelihood of toxicity. In some clinical conditions lacking clearly beneficial conventional medicine strategies, including fibromyalgia, homeopathy might be considered given data of potential symptom relief and lack of harm (5 References Developed in Germany in the late 1700s, homeopathy is a medical system based on the principle that like cures like (the law of similars). A substance that, when given in large doses, causes... read more ).

Homeopathy is commonly used in Europe and India, largely because of a long history of use; as a result, the practice has become part of the culture.

Homeopathy has been used to treat various disorders, such as allergies, rhinitis and respiratory symptoms, digestive problems, musculoskeletal pain, and vertigo.

Homeopathy is well-tolerated and has few risks; rarely, an allergic or toxic reaction occurs.

A 2012 review of reported cases of adverse effects identified 38 reports involving 1159 patients (6 References Developed in Germany in the late 1700s, homeopathy is a medical system based on the principle that like cures like (the law of similars). A substance that, when given in large doses, causes... read more ). Adverse effects included

Conventional clinicians should not assume that a homeopathic remedy taken by a patient is biologically inactive and thus could not have adverse effects. Also, some homeopathic remedies contain other active ingredients that can have physiologic effects. Whether patients are taking homeopathic remedies may be unclear because patients often use the term homeopathic erroneously in reference to a dietary supplement they are taking. Also, the FDA allows many medicinal botanicals to be registered and labeled as homeopathic if they undergo a particular pharmaceutical process.