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Homeopathy is a form of medical therapy that many people have heard of but may not know much about. Although it is lumped in with other "alternative" or complementary therapies, as if it were a recent development, it has actually been in existence for more than 200 years.

In 19th- and early 20th-century America, homeopathy was considered a mainstream form of treatment, alongside allopathic medicine and surgery. In fact, homeopathy was considerably safer than early allopathic medicine, which regularly made use of compounds such as arsenic and mercury to treat illness.

It was not until the Flexner report, published in 1910, attempted to standardize medical education and the delivery of medical care in the U.S. that the use of homeopathy declined. It and some other forms of therapy were relegated to second-class status in favor of what was considered a more "scientifically based" allopathic form of medicine. As a result, they lost much of their popularity, though small, dedicated groups and individuals kept these modalities alive.

Today, homeopathy is practiced in the U.S. by physicians, nurses, osteopaths, naturopaths, chiropractors and other allied health practitioners. There are also a few programs that confer masters- or doctoral-level degrees in homeopathic medicine.

Homeopathic remedies are regulated as medicines by the FDA, and manufacturers of homeopathic medicines must meet similar standards of quality and safety that any other pharmaceutical company must meet.

The practice of homeopathy in this country has been and remains controversial, largely because the purported mechanism of homeopathic medicines is difficult to understand from a Western scientific perspective. Indeed, it is frequently ridiculed or belittled by conventionally trained medical professionals.

Homeopathy was developed in the late 1700s and early 1800s by a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, and based on the concept of "like cures like." Based on clinical observation and experimentation, Hahnemann and others deduced that a substance that caused specific symptoms in a patient would, when given in extremely high dilutions (so that hardly any of the compound -- or even none at all -- still existed in the solution) cure someone who was suffering similar symptoms.

For example, poison ivy causes an itchy, reddish rash over parts of the body that come into contact with it. When placed in a solution and diluted many times, the homeopathic remedy Rhus toxicodendron (the Latin name for poison ivy) is used for itchy, swollen, reddish rashes of all kinds.

Because there is little or no actual compound left in the homeopathic remedy after it has been diluted and prepared, it is difficult for many people -- patients and medical professionals alike -- to understand how it might have an effect on the body. In general, we are used to powerful drugs and the belief that the higher the dose of a medication, the more potent the effect.

With homeopathy, it is the exact opposite -- the higher the dilution, the more powerful the effect.

Some skeptics believe that homeopathic remedies offer a placebo effect and nothing more. Others dismiss the effectiveness outright. Supporters of homeopathy believe that the process of diluting a compound many times (with vigorous shaking, called succussion, between dilutions) leaves the resulting medicine with the energy signature of the compound, and that this has a potent effect on the body.

A rough analogy might be found in the use of allergy shots. A very diluted dose of a compound that causes allergic symptoms in a patient is injected into the patient with the goal of preventing or controlling future allergy symptoms.

The exact mechanism of homeopathic remedies is still unclear. Clinicians who regularly use homeopathy (and many of their patients) will tell you that clinically they often see dramatic results using homeopathic remedies. In addition, while there are many studies that fail to show that homeopathic remedies are effective, there also are many that do demonstrate clinical effectiveness. If there were nothing at all to homeopathy, one wouldn't expect to see any positive studies.

Among the indications that have strong research support are the use of a topical lotion containing a homeopathic preparation of the herb Calendula for reducing the adverse effects of radiation therapy on the skin in cancer patients. A mouthwash, Traumheel S, has been shown to improve symptoms of mucositis in chemotherapy patients. And research on the homeopathic product Oscillococcinum has shown that it may help reduce duration and severity of flu symptoms.

Other common indications include the use of Arnica (available as a topical gel or pellets) for all kinds of bruising and trauma (some plastic surgeons even recommend it following surgery or injectable procedures), and Rescue Remedy, a combination of remedies, for alleviating acute stress. A host of remedies are also available to treat colic, upset stomach, fever, muscle pain, respiratory infections and other symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies in general are extremely safe. There are usually no side effects, nor do they interact with conventional medications. They also are generally safe for use in infants and during pregnancy (though check with a knowledgeable provider before using).

Homeopathy is usually most effective with conditions that are reversible -- infections, rashes, GI upset, early arthritis, colic, menstrual pain -- and can be an effective adjunct to relieving side effects of cancer treatment. They are less effective (though may still play a role) in advanced conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease.