About homeopathy
70% of people with chronic illness reported clinical improvements after homeopathic treatment (according to research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine).
homeopathy - a long history
Homeopathy has been in existence for over 200 years, and is based on principles that date back to Ancient Greece.
Throughout its long history, homeopathy has helped patients suffering from diseases for which conventional medicine has little to offer. However, due to its divergence from conventional medical theory, homeopathy is continuously attacked by some parts of the medical establishment.
world-wide use
Nonetheless, homeopathy is practiced around the world, and is growing in popularity, with an estimated 500 million people worldwide receiving homeopathic treatment.
the World Health Organisation on homeopathy
The World Health Organisation has cited homeopathy as one of the systems of traditional medicine that should be integrated worldwide with conventional medicine in order to provide adequate healthcare.
the US
In the United States, an estimated 3,000 medical doctors and licensed health care providers practice homeopathy, and the number continues to rise. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recognises homeopathic remedies as official drugs, and regulates their manufacturing, labelling, and dispensing. Homeopathic remedies also have their own official compendium, the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States first published in 1897.
Europe
In Europe, the birthplace of homeopathy, there are approximately 6,000 practitioners in Germany, and 5,000 in France. French pharmacies are required to carry homeopathic remedies along with conventional drugs. In fact, the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum outsells conventional cold and flu medicines in France.
India and South America
Homeopathy is also widely practiced in India (where over 25,000 doctors practice homeopathy), and in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil.
UK Homeopathy and the NHS
Homeopathy has a long history in the UK which pre-dates the NHS, but there are now five NHS homeopathic hospitals in the UK. The approach of the doctor-homeopaths who work there can be different to our own in-depth holistic approach.
GP referrals
GPs are increasingly referring patients with hard-to-treat symptoms to homeopaths, and Phoenix Homeopathy looks forward to increasing integration in healthcare. Sarah Whittaker is a member of the UK's NHS Directory of Complementary and Alternative Practitioners (external link), and of the Brighton & Hove Integrated Health Forum (external link).
High-profile fans
Homeopathy also has plenty of high-profile fans, including four generations of the royal family, actors and other celebrities, and is even used by vets to treat pets, herds of farm animals and valuable racehorses.
It can work extremely well for babies and young children, where the improvements clearly are not due just to the placebo effect.
