It may sound like herbal medicine that quite a number of Kenyans are conversant with. However, homeopathy applies a completely different approach to treatment. Embracing a holistic patient-care approach, those advocating for homeopathy have caught the attention of health stakeholders globally. In Kenya, the situation is different.

Locally, Narinder Singh is among the few medics who have stepped into the practice.  However, since the therapy is not largely known to the local population, Dr Singh has had to deal with fluctuating patient numbers over the last 12 years of practice. “Slowly, local perception of homeopathy has been improving. Twelve years ago when we opened the clinic, very few people opted for homeopathy,” he said.

Described as an alternative form of treatment, homeopathy is the brainchild of German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Contrary to conventional medicine that embraces use of drug doses, homeopathy centres on the use of specific plant and animal extracts, in small doses, to heal a range of body disorders.

Unlike conventional treatment that is specific to the type of ailment, homeopathy’s principles centre on the mind and a pattern of reactions to feelings as informing factors in developing prescription.

Thus, it is common to hear a homeopathy doctor talking of understanding a patient’s feelings about such emotions as fear, anxiety, anger, happiness and pain; all which help in achieving the right dosage per individual.

Mental conditions

The treatment, according to experts, is most appropriate for certain mental conditions although they advise that patients should not entirely rely on the therapy especially when the ailment requires complex procedures like surgery.

“Treatment depends on the type of ailment. Homeopathy is best for psychosomatic conditions, whereas illnesses involving infection such as those caused by bacteria require conventional medicine,” said Dominic Karanja, chairman of the Kenya Pharmaceutical Society.

According to Dr Karanja, most of the drugs used in homeopathy contain very little medicinal substance — making them less competitive to handle major infections. “Contrary to conventional medicine, drugs used in homeopathy are diluted to very little medicinal substances,” he said, adding that the therapy is best adopted as an alternative form of treatment.