Questions and Answers
Q: Are homeopathic medicines regulated?
A: Homeopathic medicines are regulated as drugs under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has established a comprehensive national regulatory policy governing homeopathic product compliance concerning manufacturing, and labeling; the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has regulatory authority for all OTC drug advertising. The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) is recognized by the FDCA as the authority for the manufacture of homeopathic medicine. All homeopathic medicines must be manufactured in accordance with the guidelines of the HPUS, and manufacturers are regularly inspected by the FDA and must comply with all current Good Manufacturing Practices.
Q: How should I handle homeopathic pellets and tablets?
A: It is recommended that you avoid touching the homeopathic pellets and tablets with your fingers or hands. The easiest way is to gently shake the required pellets or tablets into the cap of the container and use that as a ‘cup’ to gently place the medicine in your mouth.
Since the homeopathic medicine is thinly adsorbed onto the surface of most pellets and tablets, any moisture on your fingers or hands may release the medicine at the point of contact rather than in your mouth. In addition, any oils on your skin may stick on the surface of the pellets or tablets and impede the proper absorption once the medicine is in your mouth.
Q How quickly can I expect homeopathic medicines to work?
A: This will depend on the specific condition and the severity of symptoms. Emotional and acute conditions often respond within minutes to the correctly chosen medicine, as do certain acute well-defined physical problems. Chronic conditions like arthritis may take longer or more frequent doses to return to the desired state of well being. During periods of acute stress, more frequent dosing may be necessary to support and re-balance your body on both a physical and emotional level. Diet, lifestyle and medical history may also play a role in how quickly a patient will respond.
Q: Can I take my homeopathic medicine along with my prescription drugs or other natural supplements?
A: Unless the product label provides any warnings to the contrary, it is safe to use your homeopathic medicine while taking other drugs, herbs or supplements, as there are generally are no known drug-to-drug interactions or contraindications. However, because homeopathy works to support the body’s natural healing process, and many conventional drugs work to suppress the body’s healing mechanisms (like fever or skin rashes), you need to inform your homeopath for an individualized treatment plan.
In general it is recommended that you should refrain from taking your homeopathic medicine at the same moment as your other medicines and supplements so the two do not interfere with each other. An easy to follow rule is to simply wait 15 minutes before or after taking the other products. Of course, if you are under the care of a health care practitioner, please follow the guidelines provided by them for your use of the homeopathic medicine.
Q Tell me more about the way homeopathic medicines are prepared.
A: Homeopathic medicines are made according to a precise and controlled process of successive homeopathic attenuation. This process is sometimes referred to as dynamization, dilution or potentization. They are commonly made by finely crushing a plant, animal, or mineral substance and extracting with grain alcohol and / or water. The extract is then diluted in a mixture of alcohol and water. (Solid products can be diluted using lactose.) The process is repeated many times to reach the desired therapeutic attenuation level. After each dilution phase, the mixture is vigorously agitated (shaken) enough to create a brief moment of chaos in the ‘structure’ of the medicine. This agitation phase is called succussion.
Q: My child just took several tablets, pellets or lozenges. What should I do?
A: The amount of active ingredients in homeopathic products is very small and should not cause harm when ingested even in large amounts. For further reassurance, you can contact poison control (1-800-222-1222). Tablets, pellets and lozenges do contain sugar. If your child were diabetic or sensitive to sugar, the concern would be the consumption of the sugar, but not the active ingredient.
Q: If I use a homeopathic medicine every day, does it become less effective?
A: A properly chosen homeopathic remedy will not lose its effectiveness with frequent usage. You also need not worry because they are safe and non-habit forming. For chronic conditions that require daily administration, the same remedy can be taken for as long as the condition warrants; these are situations that are best dealt with under the care of a competent homeopath.
Q: Will drinking coffee or alcohol, or eating food interfere with the effectiveness of my homeopathic medicine?
A: In general it is recommended that you should refrain from consuming foods or drinks that contain strong aromatics or stimulants such as coffee and peppermint at the same moment as you are taking your homeopathic medicine so the two do not interfere with each other. An easy to follow rule is to simply wait 15 minutes before or after eating, drinking or brushing your teeth. Homeopathic medicines may also be mixed with a small amount of clean (preferably filtered) water.
Q: Is homeopathic medicine safe for my children? If so, how do I calculate the dosage?
A: Homeopathic medicines are ideal for use with children, especially due to their inherent safety. The correct dosing for children will be on the labeling; if it isn’t you can safely use the normal recommended amount because the dose is not dependent on the body weight. If a child has trouble holding a tablet or lozenge in their mouth, your may crush the medicine in some water, especially if there is concern that the child might choke on a whole dose.
Q: Is homeopathy safe to use with my pet?
A: Homeopathy is very safe to use with animals, and can be a very safe and effective way of helping your pet to heal.
Q: Will homeopathic medicines cause dependence or a “rebound effect” if I use them for my allergies?
A: Some conventional OTC medicines (for example, eye drops and nasal decongestants) clear up, suppress or "mask," symptoms temporarily, but those symptoms return with shorter periods of relief in between doses. That’s why many people develop a dependency on OTC eye drops and nasal decongestants. Homeopathic medicines stimulate the body's natural ability to provide relief for symptoms of common ailments, rather than suppressing the symptoms.
Q: I thought these were herbal products. Isn’t that true?
A: No, homeopathic medicines are not herbal products, which use a larger quantity of plant material per dose. Homeopathic medicines use a much smaller dose of plant or mineral substance to address symptoms. And, unlike herbal products, which are regulated as dietary supplements or foods, the law requires homeopathic products to be produced, tested and labeled as drugs. In other words, homeopathic products must be manufactured in compliance with the FDA’s pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) regulations for cleanliness, quality and testing.
Q: Are homeopathic medicines safe?
A: Homeopathic medicines have been used for more than 200 years and have established a remarkable safety record over that time. Homeopathic medicines offer some of the safest choices for self-treatment.
Q: How popular is homeopathy in the United States?
A: Sales of homeopathic medications in the United States were estimated to exceed $890 million per year (at retail), costs that are un-reimbursed (Mintel, 2007). More recent data suggest the total is close to $1 billion.
Q: How are homeopathic medicines provided to consumers?
A: Like other medicines, homeopathic medicines are available in a variety of common and well-established dosage forms: tablets, pellets, liquids, gels, ointments, creams, syrups, eye drops, suppositories and injectables.
