Homeopathy is a 200 year old medical science which uses natural substances of mineral, plant, or animal origin to stimulate the body's own immune system in order to effect a healing response. In homeopathy, symptoms are an important tool that help point the way to an internal imbalance. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the father of Homeopathy (1755-1843), determined that symptoms were simply responses to bodily stresses which indicate an imbalance. In fact, he concluded in a positive light that symptoms are used by the body in an attempt to heal itself (e.g., a fever is not a disease but a symptom of a disease which the body uses to fight the disease); therefore, symptoms should not be suppressed, but stimulated. Based on a set of symptoms, the appropriate homeopathic medicine (remedy) acts as a catalyst to boost the body's natural defense mechanisms in order to bring about healing.

Used worldwide, homeopathic remedies are based on the 'law of similars' - similia similibus curentur (let likes be cured by likes). This law is paradoxical in that when taken in large doses, a natural substance will cause the same symptoms in a healthy person as those which are caused by a specific illness. The paradox occurs when the same substance is taken in minute doses (infinitesimal or ultra-low doses) instead of causing the symptoms of the illness, it stimulates the body's natural healing defenses with no toxic side effects. In fact, to date there are no known adverse side effects from natural homeopathic remedies. Homeopathic medicine can be used as a safe and effective alternative to traditional medical practices (allopathic medicine) or in combination with traditional treatments (there are no known drug interactions between natural homeopathic medicines and traditional medicines).

Since the 1800's over 2000 homeopathic medicines have been carefully tested ('proven') for their specific symptom pattern and meticulously catalogued into a comprehensive collection of homeopathic remedies. The compilations are usually named after their compiler (e.g. Kent's Materia Medica, Clark's Materia Medica). In 1833, the first United States homeopathic school was founded by Dr. Constantine Hering in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and in 1844, the American Institute of Homeopathy was founded. In 1888, the first volume of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) was issued by the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention. Substances outlined in the HPUS were then adopted by the US Congress as an official compendium (reference guide) in 1938 and are recognized as official drugs in the current Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Code of Regulations. The HPUS is continually updated to reflect current manufacturing methods and guidelines for prescription and non-prescription status of homeopathic remedies.

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