Holistic Health Homeopathic Remedies By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Meredith Bull, ND on March 18, 2020 facebook linkedin Meredith Bull, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a private practice in Los Angeles. She helped co-author the first integrative geriatrics textbook, "Integrative Geriatric Medicine." Learn about our Medical Review Board Meredith Bull, ND on March 18, 2020 Print Founded in the late 18th century by German physician Samuel Christian Hahnemann, homeopathy (or homeopathic medicine) is a form of alternative medicine based on the theory that "like cures like" (a principle also known as the "Law of Similars"). Hemme/Getty Images What Is the Law of Similars? According to homeopathic philosophy, an illness can be cured by a substance that produces symptoms characteristic of that very illness. By delivering incredibly small doses of the substance, homeopathic physicians aim to activate the body's inherent self-healing abilities. What Are Homeopathic Remedies? Homeopathic remedies are typically derived from plants, herbs, minerals, or animal products. After being crushed and dissolved in alcohol and/or water, the selected substance undergoes a long process of dilution and succussion (a process that involves vigorous shaking of the solution). The solution is then stored. For homeopathic products sold in pellet or tablet form, the remedy is based on lactose and/or sucrose and then combined with the homeopathic solution. By the time a homeopathic remedy has been formulated, there will be few molecules of the original substance remaining. (In homeopathy, the more diluted a substance, the more potent it's believed to be.) How Are Remedies Selected? Rather than prescribing certain remedies for certain illnesses, homeopathic physicians select remedies based on each patient's unique symptoms. Therefore, when choosing a remedy for a patient, a homeopathic physician will usually conduct a thorough interview to fully determine the patient's individual symptoms. Likewise, the labels on homeopathic products (often sold in health-food stores) typically indicate the specific symptoms that they're formulated to treat. What to Expect From a Visit According to homeopathic medicine, each illness has a mental and emotional element. When visiting a homeopathic physician, you'll likely be asked about your mental and emotional state (in addition to being questioned about your physical symptoms). The physician will also observe your personality traits and overall constitution, as well as to conduct a physical exam. Using Them Homeopathic remedies can be formulated for almost any condition. Here are a few common uses: Diarrhea Travel ailments Migraines Emotional trauma Motion sickness Caveats Since they're so diluted, homeopathic remedies don't usually cause adverse effects. In some cases, however, patients may briefly feel worse after first beginning their homeopathic treatment. Homeopathic products are included under the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which means companies producing these products must comply with FDA labeling and good manufacturing requirements. This includes being subject to FDA inspections. However, homeopathic products do not have to undergo the same safety and efficacy testing as prescription and over-the-counter drugs. This means the content of some products may differ from what is specified on the product label. Always be sure you buy from reputable brands and sources. You can also check the FDA's MedWatch website for recent recalls and safety warnings. Also keep in mind that the safety of homeopathy treatment in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. A Word From Verywell Due to a lack of supporting research, most medical experts do not recommend homeopathic remedies for any health condition. You can always get tips on using supplements, but if you're considering the use of homeopathy, talk with your primary care provider first. Self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Jonas WB, Kaptchuk TJ, Linde K. A critical overview of homeopathy. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138(5):393-9. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-138-5-200303040-00009 Additional Reading National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. "Questions and Answers about Homeopathy." NCCAM Publication No. D183 April 2005.