
What is Homeopathy?
In the world of medicine, two distinct approaches stand out: allopathic and homeopathic. Allopathic medicine, which dominates mainstream practices today, often relies heavily on pharmaceuticals that suppress symptoms, sometimes leading to further complications. For instance, treating diarrhea with metronidazole may temporarily alleviate the issue but can ultimately exacerbate it once stopped, creating a cycle of dependency.
On the other hand, homeopathy takes a different path. It aims to activate the body's innate healing mechanisms to address the root cause of symptoms, promoting lasting balance and wellness. This contrast underscores the fundamental difference between the two systems: allopathy treats by producing effects opposite to the disease, while homeopathy seeks harmony through gentle stimulation of the body's own healing processes and "uprooting" of disease.
What Does Homeopathy Mean?
It’s a bit of a bummer that the word homeopathy has “home” in it, because it can make people think it’s just about home remedies, supplements, or herbs.[1] But in reality, homeopathy is its own distinct system of medicine— not herbs, vitamins, or essential oils. It’s a gentle, side-effect-free, and affordable way to promote healing.
The term comes from two Greek words: homeo, meaning “like” or “similar,” and pathos, meaning “illness” or “suffering.” So, homeopathy literally translates to “similar illness,” which reflects its core principle: like cures like. It all started in the late 1700s with Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician who was deeply frustrated with the harsh practices of his time, like bloodletting. He was concerned that the medicine of the day often did more harm than good. (Sound familiar?)
Hahnemann’s big breakthrough was the Law of Similars (Law of Homeopathy), and the basis behind the term "like cures like", which says that a substance capable of causing symptoms in a healthy person can, in a highly diluted form, help to heal those same symptoms in a sick person.
A homeopathic remedy contains only a little of the active ingredient (usually a plant or mineral), which are highly diluted or “potentiated” substances. [3]
This “small dose, big impact” approach triggers the body’s own natural healing powers—no harsh chemicals involved. While the full theory and philosophy of homeopathy is more complex, this is the essence of what you need to know if you’re considering it for yourself and your pets.
Homeopathic Medicine is Federally Recognized
In the U.S., homeopathic medicines include single remedies, combination remedies, and those sold over-the-counter in pharmacies, retail stores, and online, are regulated under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 (FD&C Act). The FDA enforces this Act, ensuring that these products meet specific standards. According to Section 321(g) of the FD&C Act, a drug is defined as any article recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, the official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, or the official National Formulary, along with any supplements to them. [2] In addition the previously mentioned FDA guidelines, homeopathic remedies are manufactured in homeopathic pharmacies according to the HPUS (the Homeoepathic Pharmacopeia of the US). These are very strict manufacturing guidelines that ensure purity and consistency.
How Safe Is Homeopathy?
Today, homeopathy is still widely used around the globe, particularly in countries like France, the UK, Germany, and India. In Switzerland, it’s even covered by mandatory health insurance! In fact, there was once a time when there were 100 homeopathic hospitals in the U.S., while the allopathic system had only 96!
Homeopathy doesn’t interfere with conventional medicine at all—whether it’s diagnostic tests, prescription meds, or even surgeries. And here’s some peace of mind: no one has ever died from using homeopathic remedies. Even better? Most of these remedies are available over-the-counter, so you can easily find the one that’s just right for your pet. Plus, they’re super affordable, with most bottles ranging from $8 to $20 and containing at least 80 pellets—plenty to last a while! They come in a variety of potencies, but if you're new to homeopathy, I recommend starting with a 30C potency in pellet form. It’s a great place to begin!
With thousands of remedies out there—some well-known, others more obscure—there’s sure to be one that matches your symptoms. When applied correctly, homeopathy can guide the body to heal, even chronic conditions.
Homeopathy for Pets
Using homeopathy for pets is as simple as using it for humans. The trick is matching your pet’s symptoms to the right remedy as closely as possible. The more accurately the remedy matches, the better the chance of seeing a positive response. And if you happen to pick the wrong remedy? No worries—it won’t cause any harm.
Symptoms are the body’s way of communicating and guiding the healing process. Where things go wrong is when we suppress those symptoms with drugs instead of addressing the root cause. Take nausea, for example: if your pet is feeling nauseous and not eating, and your vet gives them an anti-nausea medication, that medication is essentially telling your pet’s body to "stop feeling this way." But here's the catch—you’re not addressing the root cause of the nausea itself.
Homeopathic Dosing for Pets
First things first—this is super important: Homeopathy isn’t like a regular drug. The amount you give isn’t based on your pet’s weight, age, or condition.
When it comes to the "dose," just follow the manufacturer's guidelines—some recommend 3 pellets, others 5. Give your pet that amount, and that’s a “dose.” Simple as that!
If your pet, like my Torchy, will happily take the pellets straight from your hand, that’s the easiest way to go. He comes running every time he hears a bottle rattle—talk about enthusiasm for healing!
If you need another approach, you can crush the pellets between two spoons to make a powder; they may be happy to lick up the powder, or simply pour it into your pet’s mouth or that perfect little pocket inside their cheek—no fuss, just healing. The pellets have no flavor, just a hint of sweetness—nothing your pet should complain about, although some still do.
For cats (or more finicky pups), this method might not always be the easiest, so another option is to dissolve a dose of pellets in a small cup of water, let it sit for about 20 minutes, stir and give your pet a teaspoon of the water directly or with a dropper.. This is called wet dosing, and it works wonders! I even leave shot glasses with a bit of wet dose around for my cats to “find” and drink on their own—because we all know how crafty cats can be. This way, no struggle to get the remedy in them. Please note that while best practice is to give remedies away from meals, it’s not a deal-breaker if it’s mixed in with a little food. The remedy will still work its magic!
How Do I Know if the Remedy is Working?
Give the remedy and keep an eye out for ANY signs of improvement. For acute issues (those that pop up suddenly), give a dose every 15 minutes for an hour (that’s 4 doses total). Watch closely for any changes, even small ones—that’s a good sign that you’re on the right track with the remedy. If you don’t see any changes after that, it’s time to try a different remedy.
If your pet is improving, keep giving that same remedy every 6 hours until the symptoms are gone, then stop. If the symptoms return, just give another dose or two, spaced 6 hours apart, until they subside again. Keep repeating until the issue is resolved. For chronic (long-term) issues, generally, skip the first hour of frequent doses and go for a couple of doses a day until things improve.
Summary
You don’t need a doctor to use homeopathic remedies—you can absolutely learn to treat yourself, your family, and your pets. When you’re starting out, acute issues are the easiest to tackle, like minor injuries, bee stings, and ear infections. As you gain confidence and knowledge, you can move on to chronic conditions, such as arthritis, allergies, gut problems, skin disorders, behavior issues, cognitive decline, heart disease, UTI, and so much more.
If you'd like guidance in incorporating homeopathy, could use some expertise in pet nutrition, or would like help with navigating a scary diagnosis (in a natural way), consider booking a virtual consultation with Dr. Andi!
Book a Virtual Pet Wellness consult with Dr. Andi today!

If you'd like guidance in incorporating homeopathy, could use some expertise in pet nutrition, or would like help with navigating a scary diagnosis (in a natural way), Dr. Andi is here to guide you every step of the way.
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