Benefits

Discover the Benefits of Homeopathy

What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a system of medicine used around the world and based on the principle of "let likes be cured by likes." Patients who exhibit symptoms of disease are treated with administration of minute doses of substances to stimulate the individual's natural healing process in order to restore and maintain health.

Homeopaths are trained health-care practitioners who observe and assess the totality of signs and symptoms that the patient exhibits. This totality refers to taking all the symptoms a patient exhibits on a physical, mental, emotional and general level, and prescribing a remedy that best matches this symptom profile. Treatment involves choosing the appropriate remedy, which is administered in minute doses with the aim of stimulating the individual’s healing response.

What is the homeopathic scope of practice?
Under the Homeopathy Act, 2007, the scope of practice is defined as "the assessment of body system disorders and treatment using homeopathic techniques to promote, maintain or restore health." The College of Homeopaths of Ontario has created a series of professional practice standards and guidelines to define the safe and effective practice and scope of practice for homeopathy.

Where do homeopaths work?
Homeopaths work in a variety of settings including private practice, multi-practitioner health-care centres, pharmacies, and other health-care settings.

Do patients need a referral from a family doctor?
Homeopathy may be used independently to treat acute or chronic illness or disorders or as an adjunct to other forms of health care. In many cases, homeopaths are part of the patient's multi-disciplinary health-care team. A referral is not required to see a homeopath.

Why do patients seek help from homeopaths?
In a survey of homeopaths, respondents were asked to describe the primary reason each of their most recent five patients came to see them. A broad array of issues was identified (see word cloud), including both mental and physical health concerns. Homeopaths treat acute and chronic conditions.

What should a patient expect upon visiting a homeopath?
At the first consultation the homeopath will spend at least one to two hours, sometimes longer, asking detailed questions about one's health, medical history, and lifestyle. The homeopath is seeking to understand how the patient experiences symptoms and how they affect daily life, so that s/he can assess and prescribe the most appropriate remedy to match the totality of symptoms. The homeopath will obtain informed consent prior to providing remedy options. Subsequent consultations are often shorter in duration and will involve discussing the changes that have occurred, so that the homeopath can understand how the patient has responded to the remedy and what the next treatment step will be.

How can a patient find a homeopath?
Since 2015, homeopathy has been a regulated health profession in Ontario. Regulation ensures all homeopaths meet the education and clinical experience criteria set out by the College of Homeopaths of Ontario. Homeopaths are required to undergo a competency-based assessment to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and judgement in the practice of the profession. Once an applicant has completed their assessment and satisfied the other necessary registration requirements, they may be considered for registration with the College. Check the CHO's Public Register to learn about a practitioner's registration status.

Homeopath: A Protected Health Profession Title
In Ontario, only members of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario are regulated and authorized to use the title "Homeopath" or "HOM." Individuals who are not members of the College are prohibited from using this professional designation or from holding themselves out as qualified to practice as a homeopath. You can verify that your practitioner is a qualified and registered member by consulting the Public Register.

How does the College protect the public?
In Ontario, the law sets out the responsibilities, powers and procedures for the College of Homeopaths of Ontario to regulate the profession of homeopathy in the interest of public protection. The College works for the public to ensure that homeopaths are qualified to offer safe, competent and ethical care consistent with its Standards and Guidelines.

Accountability
While anyone can legally provide homeopathy education and advice, what sets registered homeopaths apart is that, under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, they are accountable to the College of Homeopaths of Ontario to provide safe, competent and ethical practice. Each homeopath must participate in quality assurance and practice assessment programs to ensure continuing competency. Under certain circumstances, homeopaths and employers have an obligation to report registrants who are not practicing ethically, safely and competently.

Where to find research on homeopathy
More than 6,000 studies on homeopathy can be found here.This list of studies has been provided as a reference only. The College does not have a role in advocating for or against the efficiency of homeopathy, nor does the College support or endorse any of the research, authors or institutions involved in the studies included on this list.

Evidence-Based: Homeopathy Works!

Understand more about how homeopathy works to resolve issues by examining fundamental research, clinical research, and real-world studies.

Multidisciplinary teams around the world have demonstrated the beneficial impact of homeopathy for patients experiencing a wide range of conditions. In many cases, homeopathic treatment resulted in a decrease in consumption of conventional medicines.

Learn more here.

Canadians Choose Homeopathy

Given its effectiveness and absence of side-effects, it's no surprise that people around the world choose homeopathy. While many patients opt for homeopathy as a complement to more traditional medicine, hundreds of millions of people use homeopathy as their first and only choice whenever possible, often leading to a decrease in the consumption of conventional medicines and treatments.

Learn more:

Behaviours and Attitudes Towards Homeopathic Medicine: A Survey of Canadians

Data on the Use of Homeopathy Worldwide