Homeopathy is a therapeutic system. Its principles differ from those of conventional medicine, as does its approach to the patient and to the concept of ill health. However, it cannot replace all other forms of health care. It can be used as the treatment of first choice in a wide range of conditions and can be a useful addition, or "complement" in other situations, for example, to support good recovery after operations.

The concepts of disease and healing which are described in homeopathic books are quite similar to modern scientific concepts. Homeopathy emphasises the importance of treating individuals as individuals and of understanding the whole person as opposed to only understanding a single "diseased part".

Modern homeopathic doctors work in the same way as their conventional colleagues. History taking, examination and investigation are all important in establishing the diagnosis - in understanding just what is wrong. However, homeopathic doctors consider a wider range of aspects of the patient's condition - personality traits, physical features, the effects of a variety of environmental influences, patterns of disease within families, and family and social relationships.

Homeopaths