Homeopathy or homoeopathy is a pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine. It was conceived in 1796 by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Its practitioners, called homeopaths or homeopathic physicians, believe that a substance that causes symptoms of a disease in healthy people can cure similar symptoms in sick people; this doctrine is called similia similibus curentur, or "like cures like". Homeopathic preparations are termed remedies and are made using homeopathic dilution. In this process, the selected substance is repeatedly diluted until the final product is chemically indistinguishable from the diluent. Often not even a single molecule of the original substance can be expected to remain in the product. Between each dilution homeopaths may hit and/or shake the product, claiming this makes the diluent "remember" the original substance after its removal. Practitioners claim that such preparations, upon oral intake, can treat or cure disease.
James Tyler Kent (1849–1916) was an American physician best remembered as a forefather of modern homeopathy. In 1897 Kent published a massive guidebook on human physical and mental disease symptoms and their associated homeopathic preparations entitled Repertory of the Homeopathic Materia Medica, which has been translated into a number of languages. It has been the blueprint to many modern repertories used throughout the world and even remains in use by some homeopathic practitioners today.
Elizabeth Wright Hubbard was an American physician and homeopath best known for leadership and editorial work in the field of homeopathy.
Clemens Maria Franz (Friedrich) Freiherr (Baron) von Bönninghausen was a lawyer, Dutch and Prussian civil servant, agriculturalist, botanist, physician and pioneer in the field of homeopathy.
George Vithoulkas is a Greek teacher and practitioner of homeopathy.
Homeopathy is fairly common in some countries while being uncommon in others. In some countries, there are no specific legal regulations concerning the use of homeopathy, while in others, licenses or degrees in conventional medicine from accredited universities are required.
The National Commission for Homoeopathy is a statutory body under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. Central Council of Homoeopathy was set up by the Government of India in 1973. The National Commission for Homoeopathy was constituted on 5 July 2021 and on the same date, the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 was repealed and the Central Council of Homoeopathy was superseded. It is one of the Professional Councils of University Grants Commission (UGC), formed to monitor higher education in India. Any institution desiring to grant a qualification in homeopathy is required to apply to the Council, which prescribes course curriculum and maintains central registers of homeopaths.
The 10:23 Campaign (stylized as 1023) is an awareness and protest campaign against homoeopathy organised by the Merseyside Skeptics Society, a non-profit organisation, to oppose the sale of homoeopathic products in the United Kingdom. The campaign has staged public "overdoses" of homoeopathic preparations.
The National Council for Homeopathy (NCH) is an autonomous body constituted to regulate the education and registration of homeopathic medical practitioners in Pakistan.
Jugal Kishore (1915–2012) was an Indian homoeopathic physician and the founder Director of Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi, a Government of Delhi undertaking. He was honored by the Government of India, in 2012, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.
Shri Kamaxidevi Homoeopathic Medical College is the first and only homoeopathic medical college in Shiroda, Goa affiliated to Goa University and is recognized by Government of Goa. It is also recognized by the Central Council of Homoeopathy, New Delhi & Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dept. of AYUSH, Government of India.
Midnapore Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital (MHMC&H) is a homeopathic medical college and hospital in Midnapore, West Bengal, India. This college was established on 3 December 1945. It is one of the oldest running homeopathic institutions in India. It offers the Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degree course. The college is recognized by the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH), Ministry of Ayush and affiliated with the West Bengal University of Health Sciences.
Kalyan Banerjee is an Indian homoeopath from New Delhi. An alumnus of the Mihijan Institute of Homeopathy, he founded the Dr. Kalyan Banerjee Clinic, a homoeopathic healthcare centre based in Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi, in 1977. He has been associated with several government agencies such as the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and was formerly a member of its Governing Council, and the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) of the Ministry of AYUSH, with a seat in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee and the Standing Finance Committee. In 2009, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour, for his work in the field of medicine.
Anil Kumari Malhotra is an Indian homoeopathic physician, the principal of Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College, and Hospital of Delhi University. She is an alumnus of the Shri Sai Nath Post Graduate Institute of Homeopathy from where secured MD in homoeopathy in 2006 and has been holding the position of the principal of Nehru Medical College since 1 August 2007. She is known to have published several medical papers, has conducted medical workshops, featuring her presentations and participated in many continuing medical education programs. The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2016, for her contributions to medicine.
D.N. De Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital is a government homoeopathic medical college and hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It was established in 1927 and one of the oldest homeopathic medical colleges in India. The college is affiliated with the West Bengal University of Health Sciences. It is also recognized by the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH). It offers B.H.M.S. and M.D. (Homoeopathy) courses. This college was established as Dunham College of Homoeopathy in 1927, and later renamed as D.N. De Homoeopathic Medical College in the name of its founder Dr. D. N. De. in the January’ 1951.
Netai Charan Chakravarty Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital is a homoeopathic medical college in Howrah, West Bengal, India. It offers the Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degree course. The college is recognized by the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH), Ministry of Ayush and affiliated with the West Bengal University of Health Sciences. This college was established in 1983.
Kharagpur Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, is a homeopathic medical college in Kharagpur, Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. The college is recognized by the Central Council of Homeopathy, New Delhi. This college is affiliated to the West Bengal University of Health Sciences. It offers the Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degree course.
Purulia Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital is a private homoeopathic medical college in Purulia, West Bengal, India. It was established in 1983. It offers the Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degree course. This institution is recognized by the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH), Ministry of Ayush and affiliated with the West Bengal University of Health Sciences.
PhD is the highest degree in homoeopathy. Awarded after a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 8 years in 6 streams as of now in India. Most Homoeopaths who are academicians are pursuing PhD. Regulated by the Ministry of AYUSH. Central Council of Homoeopathy was dissolved permanently and Ministry of AYUSH manages all streams of medicine in India except Allopathy.
Dr. B. D. Jatti Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital and Post Graduate Research Centre is an organization under the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, Government of India. It is affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka and conducts the graduate degree course in Homeopathy and post-graduate degree courses in Homoeopathy. The college is attached with 60 bedded hospital.
