Homeopathic Medicine: What You Need to Know

Key takeaways:

Homeopathy is a type of alternative medicine that uses the principle of “like cures like.” This means a substance that causes certain symptoms can be used to treat them.
A special dilution process is used to achieve the desired potency (strength) of homeopathic products. It’s believed that the lower the dose, the greater the effect.
Talk to your healthcare provider before using a homeopathic product. Sometimes it can contain higher strengths than what’s labeled, leading to interactions and side effects.

Today, millions of people in the U.S. turn to homeopathic products to treat everything from the common cold to muscle aches. But what exactly are homeopathic medicines, and do they actually work?

In the U.S., homeopathic medicines are regulated by the FDA as drugs. But they’re quite a bit different from your typical blood pressure medication or allergy pill. They contain highly diluted substances that are thought to cause the body to heal itself. And some products don’t contain measurable amounts of these substances at all.

You might think there’s no harm in giving homeopathic products a try. But it’s important to understand the potential risks and what the research says before you do.

What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is an approach to alternative medicine that has been around for over 200 years. The word “homeopathy” comes from a combination of “homeo” (similar) and “pathos” (suffering). This refers to the principle of “like cures like.”

In other words, a substance that causes certain symptoms can be used in small amounts to treat those same symptoms. This type of treatment is believed to activate the body’s own healing process. Homeopathic medicines are typically chosen based on your specific symptoms.

What are homeopathic medicines?

Homeopathic medicines contain highly diluted substances that come from a variety of sources, including animals, plants, and minerals. There are also homeopathic vaccines called “nosodes.” Nosodes contain highly diluted elements of a disease (like diseased tissue).

Many homeopathic medicines are available over-the-counter (OTC). They’re also called “remedies.” You can find them most commonly as tablets, pellets, liquids, and topicals.

The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) Revision Service is the official guide of homeopathy. It contains information and manufacturing standards for over 1,300 official homeopathic substances.

If a homeopathic medicine has the letters "HPUS" on its label, then it includes an official homeopathic ingredient. This “HPUS” designation is usually found next to the active ingredient(s) in the label’s “Drug Facts” section.

What conditions do homeopathic medicines treat?

Homeopathic medicines are used to treat a wide variety of acute ailments. Examples include:

Cough
Sleeping problems
Muscle pain
Allergies
Ear pain
Acne
Diarrhea

Some healthcare providers who specialize in homeopathy may recommend homeopathic medicines for chronic medical conditions. Do not attempt to do this on your own without medical guidance from your provider.

How do homeopathic medicines work?

Traditional medicine typically treats symptoms with medications that have an opposite effect. For example, a sedative medication might be recommended if you’re having trouble sleeping. In this case, the sedating effects counteract overactive thoughts that may be keeping you awake.

With a homeopathic approach, you might treat your sleeping problems with a stimulating substance, like coffea cruda. Coffea cruda is a homeopathic remedy made from arabica coffee beans. So, instead of treating with “opposites,” homeopathy treats with “similars.”

Are homeopathic medicines effective?

The FDA hasn’t evaluated the safety and effectiveness of homeopathic products. And the experts say there’s little evidence to support using them to treat a particular medical condition. How they’re brought to market is also different from traditional medications.

When traditional medications are being researched for a particular use, they’re tested in people with the condition. Safety and effectiveness are validated before they can be marketed.

Homeopathic medicines are established through “provings.” This is when a substance is shown to cause symptoms in a healthy person. The substance is then used to treat those symptoms in a sick person.

Are homeopathic medicines safe?

Based on how they’re made, you might assume there’s little risk to giving homeopathic products a try. However, some products contain a greater amount of active substances than what’s on the label. For example, the FDA found higher levels of a toxic substance called belladonna in homeopathic teething tablets in 2017.

Homeopathic products shouldn’t replace your FDA-approved medications, especially for serious medical conditions. But if you’re looking to add a homeopathic medicine to your regimen, talk to your healthcare provider first.

Are any homeopathic products FDA approved?

No. Homeopathic products are regulated as drugs under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. As such, they need to be FDA approved to be on the market. However, no homeopathic products have been approved by the FDA.

But if that’s the case, how are they available for purchase? Short answer: They were allowed to be marketed until more recently.

Due to safety concerns, the FDA is changing its approach for how it enforces the regulation of homeopathic products. The FDA has published final guidance for how it intends to apply and prioritize enforcement. It will likely start with products that pose the greatest risk to people (such as in instances where there’s been reported safety concerns or quality issues).

What are some of the most common homeopathic medicines?

If you’ve ever browsed the OTC section at a pharmacy, you’ve likely seen homeopathic medicines on the shelves. Below are examples of a few common products.

Arnica

Arnica montana is a plant in the sunflower family. You can find it as tablets and topical preparations (like gel or cream). It’s commonly used in homeopathy to treat swelling, bruising, and muscle aches. But more research is needed to confirm potential benefits.

You shouldn't use arnica products if you’re allergic to sunflowers, ragweed, or other plants within the same family. Pregnant and nursing women also shouldn’t take arnica tablets. The topical products can also cause skin irritation and swelling.

Rhus toxicodendron

You’re probably familiar with the itchy, blistering rash that happens after coming into contact with the Toxicodendron plant family (e.g., poison ivy). Oil from these plants can cause an allergic reaction on your skin.

Rhus toxicodendron (or “Rhus tox”) is used in homeopathy to treat a number of ailments, including itching and irritation from poison ivy. Other uses include relieving muscle aches and stiff joints. You can find Rhus tox in oral and topical homeopathic products. More research is needed to confirm if it’s effective.

Homeopathic cough medicine

One common example of a homeopathic cough medicine is Chestal Honey cough syrup. It contains honey, as well as nine different homeopathic remedies. Each remedy is intended to treat a different kind of cough (like dry, hacking, wet). But it’s important to point out that honey has been shown to help alleviate coughing on its own.

OTC cough preparations are typically meant for short-term use. Contact your healthcare provider if your cough lasts more than a week, gets worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms.

Homeopathic flu medicine

You’ve probably seen Oscillococcinum on the shelf before. It’s a homeopathic flu medicine that contains Anas barbariae (cairina moschata heart/liver autolysate). It’s intended to help relieve flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, body ache, fatigue). But more research is needed to determine if it works.

Certain people are at a high risk for getting seriously sick from the flu. So, it’s important not to delay medical care if you catch it, especially if you’re pregnant, over age 65, or have a weakened immune system. Keep in mind that FDA-approved flu medications (Xofluza and Tamiflu) work best the sooner you start taking them.

The bottom line

Homeopathic medicines are available OTC to treat certain ailments. But the FDA hasn’t determined that they’re safe and effective for their intended use. And some products may contain higher levels of active ingredients than what’s on the label, too.

If you’re thinking about giving a homeopathic product a try, talk to your healthcare provider first. They’ll want to make sure it’s safe with your medical conditions and other treatments.

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Written by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Sheila Marie, PharmD

Sheila Marie, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Virginia, New York, and the District of Columbia. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for 12 years and currently works as a community pharmacist.

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