The Present Status of Homeopathy II
The History of Homeopathy entails the widespread use of it in Europe. Homeopathy is however more so popular in Asia, extraordinarily so in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In India homeopathy is so popular because of the fact that Mahatma Gandhi was a loyal supporter and it is very effective in treating the diseases and ailments occurring on the subcontinent. As noted in an article of World Health Forum:
“Homeopathic treatment seems well suited for use in rural areas where the infrastructure, equipment, and drugs needed for conventional medicine can not be provided.” (1) Another reason is also that homeopathy is much cheaper than orthodox medicine, and pretty much anyone can learn to use somme simple remedies for common health concerns.
In India there are about 120 four- or five- year homeopathic medical schools. 19 of them are maintained by the state and most of them are connected with universities. (2) There is are as many as 100,000 homeopathic practitioners in India.
Homeopathy is not as popular in South America but is still widely utilized. It is estimated by Dr. Francisco Eizayga, one of Argentina’s most respected homeopathic physicians, that there around 2,000 doctors in Argentina who practice homeopathy and that about 3 million people make use of homeopathic medicines. (3)
Homeopathy is equally popular in Brazil. Brazilian pharmacists are required to take a course in homeopathic pharmacology in order to graduate. Homeopathy is also popular in Mexico, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, and the Soviet Union.
Homeopathy is also re-experiencing growth in the United States. According to the Washington Post, the numbers of physicians specializing in homeopathy has doubled from 1980 to 1982. (4) With the trend continuing. The most likely person to make use of homeopathy, contrary to popular belief, is better educated then the average American. (5)
It is pretty obvious by now that homeopathy will be on the forefront in health care for the 21st Century. I shall leave you with a quote from Yehudi Menuhin, a very popular violinist and humanitarian: “Homeopathy is one of the few medical specialties which carries no penalties- only benefits.”
Here is a listing, in sequential order, to all posts for the series The History of Homeopathy.
1. History of Homeopathy I , 2. History of Homeopathy II,
3. Opposition of Homeopathy I, 4. Opposition of Homeopathy II,
5. Opposition of Homeopathy III, 6. The Rise of Homeopathy I,
7. The Rise of Homeopathy II, 8. The Rise of Homeopathy III,
9. The Fall of Homeopathy I, 10. The Fall of Homeopathy II,
11. The Fall of Homeopathy III, 12. The Present Status of Homeopathy I,
13. The Present Status of Homeopathy II (you are here)
Most of the information for this series was derived from the book:
Beste Gesundheit.
Werner
1. Kishore J. (1983) Homeopathy: The Indian Experience. World Health Forum. 3: p.107
2. Ibid. p.106
3. Eizayaga F. Homeopathy in American Spanish Speaking Countries. A Presentation at the Annual Conference of the National Center for Homeopathy. October 4-5 1985
4. Chase A. Options: Homeopathy. Washington Post. April 28, 1983 p.31
5. Avina R., Schneiderman L. Why Patients Chose Homeopathy. Western Journal of Medicine, 128 (April 1978):366-369