According to Dr. Weinstein, some insist this is the best way to practice homeopathy. On the other hand, many of today's homeopaths use combination remedies of two or more ingredients at a time. Many more people self-treat, especially for minor ailments such as muscle aches, a cold or an earache. There are many books on homeopathy that match symptoms to remedies, and remedies are usually labeled with their therapeutic uses. But in homeopathic philosophies, self-treating isn't as effective as a customized treatment for a chronic condition such as arthritis, says Dr. Corey Weinstein.
Practitioners say symptoms sometimes worsen briefly before they begin to get better.
Acute ailments such as the flu or a stomach upset may clear up with one dose in a few hours or days, says Jennifer Jacobs, MD, who's on the faculty at the University of Washington and who's been using homeopathy for 23 years in her family practice. Chronic conditions such as arthritis may take several months of treatments, she says. Although we couldn't locate any rheumatologists who use homeopathy, several homeopathic family practitioners we spoke with said they treat patients with arthritis, and that there are remedies that ease symptoms. But scientific evidence doesn't prove that. There are acceptable studies that suggest homeopathy eases conditions such as allergies, but the research on homeopathy and arthritis is mixed, says Dr. Jonas.