ABSTRACT
Homeopathy is an interesting example of how the philosophy and practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can appear to contradict orthodox scientific principles and yet remain popular with both the general public and the increasing numbers of orthodox practitioners who are integrating CAM into their practice. Homeopathy had to be ridiculed not merely because it seemed absurd to materialist thinking, but also because it threatened the incomes of orthodox medical practitioners whose livelihoods depended on maintaining the loyalty of paying customers. Homeopathy continues to court controversy for similar reasons to those in Hahnemann’s time. Its opponents claim that homeopathy simply cannot work. As a set of ideas about the world and how it works, homeopathy challenges basic scientific principles. Using remedies derived from bits of birds may appear to put homeopathy firmly in the camp of alternative or ‘fringe’ medicine.
