Homeopathy was invented by Samuel Christian Hahnemann (1755–1843), a German physician who had become dissatisfied with the medicine of his day. Hahnemann lived in a time before the rudiments of modern medicine had been developed, before the germ theory of infectious disease, before the first antibiotic, before systematic testing of drugs for safety and efficacy, and before surgical procedures were performed with anesthesia or sterile technique. It is incredibly safe to use, even with very small children and pets, has none of the side effects of many traditional medications, is very affordable, is made from natural substances, and is FDA-regulated. It has been in practice all over Europe, the US, Australia, most parts of Asia, the Middle and Far East, and India. It is the most practiced Alternative System of Medicine in the world today.

Homeopathy stands out as distinct compared to other modes of treatment by its fundamental principles directed towards treating diseases at the root level by addressing the multiple causative factors such as genetic, immunological, metabolic, hormonal, emotional, and the like. As a result, the diseases are treated in totality rather than in parts or as entities separate from the ‘whole’ of the individual patient. In that sense, homeopathic science believes in the ‘holistic’ approach.

A homeopathic consultation aims to find the “totality of symptoms,” physical, mental, and spiritual. They accomplish this goal by taking a “homeopathic history,” which includes questions such as: do you feel sad when you hear piano music, are you excessively tidy, or do you have a chilly personality? This information is combined with the patient’s symptoms and physical “constitution,” which may depend on hair color. The homeopath then decides what remedy will treat the patient’s “totality.” The remedy is then prescribed and usually given in a single dose or only a few doses.

The principles of homeopathy run contrary to modern science and have never been empirically established.