The Homeopathic Drug Research

Basic research into homeopathic drugs is concerned with the possible biological mode of action and consequently the development and testing of models of action. It is carried out independently of individual substances.

The analysis of the preparation of homeopathic remedies focuses on the exact research and documentation of the starting substances. In addition, there are precise descriptions of the manufacturing process according to Hahnemann's original instructions and, in part, according to the rules of the homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (e.g. HAB and Ph. Eur.).

Clinical drug research in homeopathy describes a process that has been and continues to be carried out continuously since the beginning of Hahnemann's first drug trials. The procedure differs in principle from the usual approach and sets its own methodological priorities and procedures. These are analyzed below.

In principle, the effort involved in drug research is not so different from the procedures and timeframes described for modern clinical drug development. In terms of content, however, the focus is different, which is based on the specific phenomenological approach and will be elaborated in the next step from an epistemological perspective.

The practical implementation and the criteria for drug validation are extremely complex and are dealt with separately (see there).

Pharmacodynamics of Homeopathic Remedies

According to the application concept, a homeopathic prescription is based on the concept of similarity.

In practice, this leads to a diagnostic comparison of drug-specific reactions with the individualized symptoms of the disorder or disease.

For homeopathic remedies, drug-specific pharmacodynamics (cf.) are meaningfully defined by the systematic documentation of phenomenologically detectable drug reactions, which at the same time form the differential diagnostic basis of the therapy. These are obtained experimentally and empirically and evaluated analytically and systematically.

The observable medicinal effect in its entirety includes all reactions to regulative processes: cognition, psyche, hormonal and immunogenic, somatosensory and neurovegetative processes as well as the influence on cardiovascular parameters and metabolism with their organ-related and local reactions.

Due to the comprehensive overall effect via stimulation of autoregulation (see also theory of naturopathy) and the phenomenologically and individualizing working method, specific indications, as are usually determined for pharmaceutical drugs, are not applicable.

The legal regulation stipulates that medicines without approval must not have specific indication claims. Therefore, homeopathic single remedies are registered without indications. When homeopathic remedies are manufactured for a specific clinical indication, they undergo the approval process (see also homeopathy-related approaches).

Just as all symptoms of the disorder are taken into account when analyzing the appropriate single remedy, all drug reactions occurring in the re-analysis of disease progressions are equally included in the case evaluation and, after verification, also in the homeopathic remedy documentation - the Materia Medica Homoeopathica (MMH).

There is also no drug-specific differentiation between desired effects and adverse drug reactions (ADR) and side effects to be avoided (NW).

Conversely, however, this does not mean that there are no side effects or adverse reactions, but merely that, all in all, these are conceptually treated equally in the analysis from a phenomenological perspective. All reactions that occur and can be verified on a drug-specific basis are always treated as specific drug reactions.

Pharmacovigilance of Homeopathic Remedies

The safety of homeopathic drugs depends on three essential basic requirements that have proven to be standard.

Clear manufacturing instructions

These are defined by the pharmacopoeia (e.g. HAB, Ph. Eur.) (see there) and follow the guidelines of Good Manufacturing Practice^® (Good Manufacturing Practice for pharmaceutical drugs). GMP ensures that patients receive drugs of uncompromisingly high quality. These quality requirements must be met during the manufacture, processing, packaging and storage of drugs.

The pharmacy obligation

This guarantees a quality check and compliance with the individual preparation of medicines in accordance with the pharmacy operating regulations, including advice and quality control when dispensing or shipping.

Defined prescription basis

The drug prescription concept should be based on defined and validated drug reactions with a corresponding case analysis by trained therapists.

Self-medication should be defined and limited in scope. Detailed criteria are important for this, which is ensured in particular by the pharmacy obligation in order to prevent damage caused by inadequate diagnostics. This also helps to recognize incorrect dosages in good time.v

Ongoing research

This ensures that the REAL WORLD DATA can be subjected to a comprehensive evaluation in order to determine long-term effects on health and to define cost-benefit calculations and health policy recommendations for the use of homeopathic drugs.

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Authors: glt | Rev.: sfm, bga | Editor: pz | last modified June 8, 2025