Homeopathy and the evidence
This page sets out, as plainly as possible, what independent scientific reviews have found about homeopathy's effectiveness. It is the most important page on this site to read honestly, and we have written it that way.
The major independent reviews
In 2015, Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) published a comprehensive assessment of the evidence for homeopathy. Reviewers applied strict quality criteria, including sample size and methodological rigour, to 57 systematic reviews covering 176 individual studies across a wide range of health conditions. Their conclusion was direct: there is no reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective for treating any health condition.
The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reaches a similar position, stating there is little evidence to support homeopathy as an effective treatment for any specific health condition. Independent researchers have also compared the results of homeopathy trials with the results of matched conventional medicine trials and found that the clinical effects reported for homeopathy are consistent with what would be expected from a placebo.
Why the theory itself is a sticking point
Beyond the clinical trial evidence, homeopathy faces a more basic scientific problem: many of its remedies are diluted to the point where no molecule of the original substance is likely to remain, and there is no accepted mechanism by which such a preparation could act on the body. This makes rigorous laboratory investigation genuinely difficult, and it is a major reason mainstream science treats homeopathy's underlying theory with skepticism, separate from the clinical trial findings.
Why people still report feeling better
None of this means people who use homeopathy are imagining an improvement. Many conditions get better on their own. The placebo effect is real and can influence subjective symptoms like pain and mood. A long, attentive consultation can itself be therapeutic. These are genuine effects, but they are not evidence that the remedy itself has a specific pharmacological action.
What this means in practice
Homeopathy should not be used as a substitute for evidence-based treatment of a diagnosed condition, and homeopathic products marketed as "immunisations" have no credible scientific support as an alternative to recommended vaccination. If you use homeopathy for mild, self-limiting symptoms and understand these limits, that is an informed personal choice. Using it instead of proven care for something serious is a risk worth being aware of.
Common questions
What did the NHMRC 2015 review conclude about homeopathy?
Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council reviewed 57 systematic reviews covering 176 studies and concluded there is no reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective for treating any health condition.
Why do some people say homeopathy worked for them?
Many conditions improve on their own over time, and the placebo effect, along with the attention and care given during a consultation, can genuinely influence how someone feels, even when the remedy itself has no direct pharmacological action.
Is any part of homeopathy considered evidence-based?
The consultation process itself, involving careful listening and personalised attention, may have supportive value as part of the overall care experience, but this is different from the remedies having a specific pharmacological effect, which the evidence does not support.
Should homeopathy replace vaccination or prescribed treatment?
No. Homeopathic products, including so-called homeopathic immunisations, should never replace recommended vaccinations or prescribed treatment for a diagnosed condition.
In short
The best available independent evidence does not support homeopathy as an effective treatment for any health condition, and its effects in trials are consistent with placebo. Being honest about this is not dismissive of people who use homeopathy; it is the respect of giving you accurate information to make your own decision.