It definitely is. Homeopathy is a science based on sound logic and vast experimental data. It is the only medicinal science where data has been collected by proving on healthy human beings and not on animals because human beings can communicate their actual feelings during the testing while animals cannot. The principles of Homeopathy have been derived and authenticated by vast clinical experiments and data. The homeopathic pharmacopoeia lists more than 3000 remedies, whose clinical efficiency has been proved in various clinical trials conducted all over the world.

Yes. There are more than 180 homeopathic medical colleges in India and about 1000 colleges all over the world recognized by their respective Governments. The degree course is an extensive study encompassing the detailed and thorough study of the human body, Homeopathic pharmacy, Medicine, Gynaecology, Materia Medica, Philosophy, Total patient management etc. In India the full course lasts for four and half years followed by internship for 1 year, which includes practical training in hospitals. There are now also postgraduate courses available in India. One must mandatorily register with the relevant Medical Council to practice legally.

No. The pills of Homeopathic medicines are made from sugar but they work only as vehicles. Actual liquid medicine prepared from various natural medicinal substances is poured over the pills and dispensed as medications. Homeopathic medicines are also available in liquid form or tinctures, which can be administered directly or by diluting them in water whenever required.

What seems so is not true. The white pills which are dispensed from a homeopath are only neutral vehicles or carriers of actual medicines that is sprinkled on them. When the actual drug is poured on these white pills they get coated with the curative power of the drug. Different drugs are usually used in various potencies as to best suit different patients. There are about 3000 medicines and 10 variable potencies (powers of medicines) of each medicine so a minimum 30,000 various permutation and combinations can be utilized.

The duration of treatment depends upon the nature of the disease and the fighting capacity of the patient's body. The treatment is required for a certain time period so as to improve the resistance of the body to fight diseases. Taking into consideration all these factors the treatment is continued for a specific time frame for the benefit of the patient. Once the patient starts improving we stop the medicines and the natural immunity of the body will take care of the rest of the problems.

It is a myth that homeopathic medicines act slowly. Their action is quick and the effect lasts much longer, often forever. The disease is treated from its roots.

The time taken for relief is proportionate to the chronicity of the ailment. In fact if a patient seeks homoeopathic treatment at the onset of an ailment, he stands great chances of a really quick recovery. Also in acute illnesses homoeopathic medicines act fast and effectively. For e.g. if "X" is suffering from bronchial asthma and he is suffering for the last 14 years and has been to various systems of medicine. Now if you give him homeopathy and say in 2 years time the patient is completely alright, would you say that Homeopathy is slow to act?

Detailed history is very essential as homeopathy believes in treating the individual and not the disease. So the physician needs to know everything he can about the individual. Also the chronic diseases are due to suppression of skin affections or emotions; hence thorough history will reveal whether any past suppressed ailments have lead to the present complaints.

There are many incidents that influence our life. Knowing them gives an idea about the patient as a person, his characteristics and helps the physician to prescribe the accurate remedy.

The homeopath needs to understand you, your nature, your complaints and your disturbed mental and emotional state in order to reach to the core of your case.

Any peculiar habit that you have, your past medical history, childhood details, anything and everything about you will help the physician to help you. If you give an honest and correct history to the physician, he can assess your case accurately. Anything that you confide in your physician will be strictly confidential and helpful.

All Homoeopathic medicines are prepared by using scientific predefined methods of extracting the medicinal properties from source substances. There is no scope or need to adulterate the derived medicines with any other substances, as this would completely obliterate the curative properties of the same. The prescription of homoeopathic medicines is based on the similarity of symptoms of the patient with those produced by the drug (in its purest form) when tested on healthy individuals. Additionally, steroids impart a bitter taste, and homeopathic medicines are sweet.

If the patient has any doubts he should check the medicines from a standard laboratory before consuming them.

The name of the medicine is not disclosed for the benefit of the patient. If the patient after knowing the name of the medicines starts taking it according to his or her whims and fancies, it will distort the disease picture and in future, treatment of the patient will be much more difficult. Also certain medicines have to be changed and given as per the state of the disease and recovery.

If the patient wants, a copy of case record can be provided to the patient but at the end of the treatment, when patient has completely recovered.

Yes. It is very essential to diagnose a disease, but for the selection of the remedy we require to know the characteristic symptoms of the patient and not the disease symptoms. For e.g. A person is having an attack of asthma with wheezing and congestion of the chest, and he gets relief only if he throws his head backwards. Wheezing and congestion of chest are symptoms of the disease, but for the selection of the remedy the important symptom is 'relief by throwing head backwards'. Hence to differentiate the disease symptoms with the individual characteristic symptoms, good knowledge of disease is important. Pathological investigations are also important to know disease diagnosis and prognosis, and judge the improvement.

Yes the patient is only advised to avoid eating or drinking 15 minutes before or after taking homeopathic medication. One has to avoid coffee, raw onion and raw garlic. Also avoid eating mint, camphor and menthol as these can hinder the action of the homeopathic medicine or antidote the effects of the medicine.

Yes why not? As the daily dietary intake of sugar by a person would normally far exceed the minuscule quantity consumed in the form of homeopathic pills (Approximately the quantity of sugar consumed with 1 cup of tea is same as being consumed by entire week of Homeopathic medication). The patient also has an option of taking the medicines in liquid form, or by inhalation. Besides this, homeopathic pills are composed of lactose that is not harmful even for diabetes.

No. The patient should not stop the medicines which he has been taking. It should be tapered gradually once the patient is improving but this should be done in consultation with the treating physician. In some cases where the other medicine cannot be discontinued, both the medicines have to be continued for the benefit of the patient. The treatment should be planned and properly implemented.

In some cases there is an initial aggravation of the symptoms but it is a good sign that shows the medicine is right and has started acting. But this happens in a few cases and not all patients will have an aggravation; most of the patients have simple long lasting amelioration.

Yes. It is always better to take homeopathic medicines from a qualified homeopathic doctor. If the treatment is planned in a proper way it will have lots of benefits to the mother and the child. The child will be much healthier and the medicines will help to fight the hereditary diseases which are carried from generation to generation. In fact if homeopathy is given during pregnancy, the delivery would be normal and easier. The child will be relatively healthier and emotionally well balanced, intellectually sound and physically stronger.

There is no condition that Homeopathy cannot treat. Conditions from a simple cold to cancer can be treated with Homeopathy. It takes into account the individual symptoms of the patient suffering from any disease and not the diagnosis of the disease. By the virtue of this certain diseases that cannot be diagnosed clinically or even unknown diseases can also be treated. Also in incurable cases where even the modern line of treatment fails to help the patients, homeopathy will prove to be a very good palliative and will improve the last days of life and ease the death. This happens in advanced stages of cancer, we can relieve pain very easily and effectively.

Yes. Homeopathy has wonderful remedies that give prompt relief in acute cases like fever, cough, cold, diarrhea, headaches etc. when the person opts for homeopathy at the onset of the ailment.

Yes, it does. Surgery is a separate branch of medicine. It has to be resorted to in conditions that are beyond the domain of medicine. But one can avoid surgery in certain cases as homeopathy can effectively treat many so-called surgical conditions like tonsillitis, piles, warts, kidney stones, etc.

Yes, he should. There have been instances of apparent “miracle cures” by lay people practicing homeopathy, but it is always advisable to go to a homeopathic physician, as he is qualified to judge the severity and depth of your illness and thereby prevent undue complications later on, which could be overlooked by a hobby practitioner due to his ignorance of scientific medical knowledge. Only a qualified physician can guide you towards a complete mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and pathological recovery.

No, there are no side effects of homeopathic medicines. Sometimes you may get cold, skin rash or little discharge after taking homeopathic medicines. This means that the system is getting cleared. In the same way, your old symptoms like constipation, warts or any skin rash may reappear. Do not take any medicine to treat these reappearing old symptoms, as these old symptoms will go away in a short while and you will be healed for a long-lasting period of time.