The Recovery of Homeopathy in North America

Since the early 1960s, “back to the nature” became a fashion in the United States. Homeopathy was gradually recovered. In the 1980s, a number of European homeopathic pharmacies started up their business in the United States. They promoted Homeopathy to the physicians and public education. This eased and speeded up the development of Homeopathy. According to the statistics of U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the sales volume of the homeopathic remedies surged up 1000% in the whole country from late 1970 to early 1980. In the 90s the average growth rate of the annual sales volume of the remedies was 20% to 25%. From the statistics of 1994, homeopathic remedies were sold in over 75% of the pharmacies. The number of homeopaths had increased from a hundred in the 50s to nearly ten thousand, including 2,000 physicians, 1000 Naturopathic physicians, 500 dentists, 500 veterinarians and thousands of chiropractic physicians. There were more than a total of 10 homeopathic societies and groups learn and 3 Naturopathic colleges, 1 medical school of Stomatology, and 1 veterinary college. Based on the statistics of 1994: 27 western medical schools, including Harvard University, the University of California, Columbia University, etc, provided the courses of alternative medicine, which included Homeopathy. For the societies of Homeopathy and research groups, there were 3 international organizations, 6 national organizations, and 25 state organizations.

In Canada, a few enthusiastic naturopathic physicians and Chiropractic physicians had established the Canadian Society of Homeopathy since the early 1980s, making efforts to promote Homeopathy. And now there have been 70 percent of pharmacies selling the homeopathic remedies in the country. For the education of Homeopathy, there were four homeopathic colleges in addition to the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and its associated society of Homeopathy. There are also a number of homeopathic schools among different provinces of the country.

1. Ullman, Dana, The Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy, p.34, 1995.
2. “Riding the Coastails of Homeopathy,” FDA Consumer, March, 1985. p.31.
3. Ullman, Dana, Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy, p. 34, 1995.
4. Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po, July 10, 1994, Sunday.
5. Market Report, p.226.

The Recovery of Homeopathy in Europe

In France, there were only around 400 homeopathic physicians left in the early 1960s. In 1990s , 39% of the physicians turned to be homeopaths. Until nowadays in the 21st century, over 70% of the physicians make use of homeopathic remedies to treat patients. There are currently seven Allopathic Medical School teaching Homeopathy. In addition, teaching courses of Homeopathy are provided by 21 colleges of pharmacology, 2 medical schools of stomatology, 2 medical schools of veterinary and 3 medical schools of midwives. Around 98% of 45,000 pharmacies are now selling homeopathic remedies in the country. According to the statistics, as the national health insurance has accepted Homeopathy, the percentage of homeopathy users in France has been increasing from only 16 percent to 29% in 1987, and then reaching 36% in 1992. The highest sales volume and the most popular cold medicine in the country is the homeopathic remedy, accounting for 50% of sales of cold medicine.

In 1991, there were more than 25 percent of physicians using Homeopathy in Germany. Among these physicians, 10 percent of them were homeopathic specialists, the other 10 percent of them might sometimes use homeopathic remedies, and the remaining 3000 out 11,000 naturopathic physicians were the homeopathic specialists. In the year of 1991, the sales of the homeopathic remedies were 428 million dollars, of which 85% of the sold remedies were referred to the prescription offered by the homeopaths. Around 98% of the pharmacies in the country are now selling homeopathic remedies.

Due to the support of British royal family, Homeopathy has a better development in UK. According to the report in London Times magazine dated November 1989, the number of Scottish people receiving homeopathic treatment increased from 5% in 1985 to 11% in 1989, while there were 11% of the national citizens accepted Homeopathic treatment in the whole country. Among which 80% of the patients expressed their great satisfaction with Homeopathy. At present, there are five British homeopathic hospitals, which are cooperating with the National Health Service (NHS). Because of high number of patients, it takes about two years for the admission of the chronic patients to the hospitals after making the general application. Hence it indicates that Homeopathy is a very popular treatment method in the United Kingdom. In the investigation report published in the British Medical Journal (February 1991), 42% of physicians are willing to refer patients to homeopath for treatment. In the statistical report published in the British Medical Journal, Doctor, dated 16th July, 1992, more than 80% of physicians believed the effectiveness of Homeopathy. The spokesman of Department of Health of UK pointed out that 80% of physicians tended to learn alternative medicine, while Homeopathy is one of the most popular master's and doctoral disciplines. In 1994, British Medical Journal reports indicated that more than 37% of physicians deploy Homeopathy.

The development of Homeopathy varies in different degrees in other European countries. Based on different statistical reports, in Switzerland about 11% to 27% of the physicians make use of homeopathic remedies; in Italy about 10% of the physicians make use of homeopathic remedies; in the Netherlands 20% of the people accept the alternative medical treatment while Homeopathy is the most popular one. In medical community, over 45% of physicians believe that Homeopathy works definitely, 47% of the physicians make use of alternative medicine, and Homeopathy is most popular treatment methods chosen by physicians. There were more than 2,000 physicians using Homeopathy.

In Russia, since the former Republics of the Soviet Union recognized the status of Homeopathy, the pharmacies sold up to 200 million bottles of homeopathic remedies in Moscow in 1981. Although homeopathic treatment was not covered in the scope of treatment at public expense, many Russians prefer to see the homeopath to get the homeopathic treatment at their own expense rather than the free treatment of Western medicine. Most people receiving homeopathic treatment were highly educated or in a high-income class.

In Hungary Homeopathy had once been banned by the government before 1990. This lasted for 40 years. Then Hungarian Homeopathic Medical Association started with 11 members in 1990. After 18 months, the number of members had increased to 75. In 1994, there were 302 members

Czech Medical Homeopathic Society was founded in November 1990. Shortly after its establishment, it was accepted as a subsidiary under the jurisdiction of Western Medicine. In the next year, Homeopathy was recognized as a specialized medical subject by Ministry of Health Service of Czech Republic.

Before the independence of Slovakia, the last homeopathic pharmacy was closed in 1964, and the last homeopathic physician also died in 1967. But then in 1993, the newly established Slovakian Homeopathy Association had more than 800 members.

1. 1.Alternative Medicine / Alternative Medical Market. Frost and Sullivan Ltd. Report E874, London, 1986.
2. Homeopathic Medicine Association of Canada Newsletter, Spring, 1992.
3. Ibid.
4. L’Homeopathie en, 1993. Lyon: Syndicate National de la Pharmacie Homeopathique, 1993 (Quoting COFREMCA and IFOP public opinion survey.)
5. Ullman, Dana, Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy, p.36, Tarcher/ Putman Book, 1995.
6. Marketing Herbal and Homeopathic Remedies in Germany. Essex, England: Nicholas Hall, July, 1992.
7. Fisher, P., Ward, A. : Complementary Medicine in Europe. British Medical Journal 309: 107, 1994.
8. Raymond J. Garrett & Taresa Stone: Catching Good Health with Homeopathic Medicine, Chapter 8, Homeopathy Around the World, p.117, CRS Publication.
9. Ullman, Danna, Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy, Tarcger/ Putman Book, p.38, 1995.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Sandra M. Chase, “The Status of Homeopathy in the World,” Presentation at the National Centre of Homeopathy Conference, April 7, 1995.

Development of Homeopathy in Other Countries

South America

The development of Homeopathy is more welcomed by people in Mexico than in the United States and Canada. In the capital, Mexico City, there are two homeopathic medical schools, one of them accepts 800 students.

In Brazil, the chief promoter of Homeopathy was the French doctor, Dr. Jules Benoit Mure. After Dr Mure arrived in Brazil in 1840, he established several homeopathic societies, homeopathic pharmacies and schools in Rio. Due to his promotion work, several Brazilian army and naval bases are equipped with the mobile homeopathic hospitals and clinics in the early 20th century. In 1957, The law federalized the Scool of Medicine and Surgery of Rio de Janeiro, whose origin is accounted to the Faculdade Hahnemanniana and also determined that it is obligatory to maintain the study of Homeopathy in this College. On 8th of July, 1952, the law renders obligatory the study of Homeopathic Pharmacotechnique Notions in the Pharmaceutics Colleges of Brazil. In 1976, the decree approves the General Part of the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia, whose publication was authorized by Ministry of Health. At the same time, the medical insurance of the state recognizes Homeopathy.

The early development of Homeopathy in Argentina was mainly contributed by the promotion of General San Martin, who is also well known as "Argentina's George Washington". In the 1960s, the chief promoter of Homeopathy was Dr. Eizayaga who had the international fame. In the mid-1970s, there were only 450 homeopathic physicians in Argentina. In the mid-1980s, more than 2,000 physicians used Homeopathy, are there were about 3 million people receiving this treatment. Until the 1990s, Dr. Eizayaga himself had trained up more than 12,000 homeopathic physicians domestically and abroad. Today about 10 percent of the Argentine people use homeopathic treatment for curing disease.

Australia

Since the Australian Government supports alternative medicine, the subjects for Naturopathy, such as acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Homeopathy, are the specialized subjects in the Universities. The homeopathic discipline is taught in the University of Sydney, Australian College of Natural Therapies, etc.

Asia

In 1965, Pakistan developed regulations of homeopathic practice, with the financial support of Central Ministry of Health.

For India, since Homeopathy was spread to India in 1839, there have been more than 120 homeopathic medical schools with 4 to 5 year professional training courses, 80 homeopathic hospitals and more than 100,000 physicians using Homeopathy. About 1 / 3 of citizens use homeopathic treatment each year.

In Nepal, Nepal Homeopathic Medical College has been established. It is located at the border between southeastern Nepal and India.

In Japan, the Japanese Homoeopathic Medical Association (JPHMA) was established in 1998. Besides, Japan Homeopathy Foundation was also founded in 2002

For Hong Kong, since 1987 there have been homeopaths practicing in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Association of Homeopathy was founded on 15th of September, 2005.

For Macau, Macau Association of Homeopathy was founded on 28th of September, 2006. 

Summary

Since Homeopathy has the rapid efficacy, no side effects and toxicity as compared to the Western medicine nowadays, and cheaper production cost as compared to the Western medicine, it was once stifled. Since the 1960s, there has been significant development within just over 40 years. Today the physicians and patients in 70 countries would like to use Homeopathy. Therefore, there will be a bigger breakthrough of the popularity of Homeopathy in the new wave of medical treatment in the 21st century.

1. 1.Ullman, Dana, Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy, Tarcher /PutmanBook, 1995, pp.35-36.
2. Ibid, p.39.
3. Eizayaga, X. Francisco, Treaties on Homeopathic Medicine, Ediciones Marecel, Buenos Aires, 1991, pp.21-22.
4. Raymond J. Garret & Taresa Stone: Catching Good Health with Homeopatihic Medicine, Chapter 8: Homeopathy Around the World, p.117, CRS Publications, 1987.
5. Ibid.
6. Ullman, Dana, Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy, p.374.