HOMEOPATHY IN CANADA

Throughout homeopathy’s history it has faced varying levels of opposition, depending on the medical and political landscape of the day. With such a lengthy record of safety and lack of toxicity, coupled with a growing body of research showing effectiveness, it is puzzling that homeopathy is not yet an integral and valued part of the Canadian healthcare system. Instead, homeopathy is often denigrated by themedical and scientific community or simply ignored.

There was a time in Canada when homeopathy was widely practiced in a range of settings, from medical clinics to hospitals, orphanages, psychiatric facilities, and veterinary clinics. All of this changed in 1910 with the implementation of the Flexner Report, a document intended to standardize and modernize medical education in North America. What followed was the closure or conversion of Homeopathic Medical Colleges to conventional ones, and the subsequent decline of the profession. Homeopathy largely went underground, yet many people continued to use homeopathic medicines for themselves and their families. Homeopathy did not die out… because it works!

In the 1980s and 1990s the practice of homeopathy experienced a resurgence in Canada and began to flourish. Colleges and training programs proliferated and professional associations and boards of accreditation were created. Homeopathy became a regulated profession in Ontario. New manufacturers of homeopathic medicines were established, and homeopathy became widely available, even in regular pharmacies.

Fast forward to the present day, and we are witnessing escalating attacks on homeopathy in the media and by regulatory agencies such as Health Canada. It seems that whenever homeopathy grows in use and popularity there are attempts made to curtail it. We need people like you who use and love homeopathy to stay informed about the current situation and help take action to protect and promote homeopathy!