homoeopathic

Homoeopathy is a system of alternative medicine created in the late 18th century by Samuel Hahnemann. The core principle of homoeopathy is "like cures like," meaning a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can be used in a highly diluted form to treat similar symptoms in a sick person. These remedies are typically derived from plants, minerals, and animal products.

Another key concept in homoeopathy is potentization, a process of serial dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking). Dilutions are often so extreme that no original molecules of the substance are likely to remain. Homoeopaths claim that the water or alcohol used for dilution retains a "memory" or "essence" of the original substance.

Homoeopathic treatments are available in various forms, most commonly as small pellets or liquids. Practitioners use detailed case-taking to understand a patient's complete symptom picture, including physical, mental, and emotional aspects, to select the most appropriate remedy.

Scientific consensus generally regards homoeopathy as pseudoscience, as its principles are not supported by empirical evidence and its remedies are considered inert due to extreme dilution. Numerous scientific reviews and meta-analyses have concluded that homoeopathic treatments are no more effective than placebo for any health condition. Regulatory bodies in many countries have policies regarding the marketing of homoeopathic products.