Homeopathic vs. Conventional Medicine

Homeopathic and conventional medicine vary in many ways. The major difference is that homeopathy, with its holistic approach, deals with personal and lifestyle issues, while conventional medicine tends to focus more on suppressing immediate biological symptoms.

Definition of Health

• Good health in terms of conventional medicine is recognized as the absence of any diagnosed disease. In homeopathy, maintaining good health not only involves the absence of disease, but also the balance of a person's psychological, mental and emotional aspects.

Dealing With Symptoms

• Homeopathy recognizes symptoms not just as signs of illness, but also as the body´s attempt in restoring itself to good health. For example, instead of focusing on suppressants in order to reduce the severity of a cough, as in conventional medicine, homeopathy seeks to make the cough productive, thus speeding up the recovery process.

Cure vs. Control

• Conventional medicine often focuses on the control of health problems through continued medication---as in the case of blood pressure medicine, for example---whereas homeopathy seeks an eventual cure, meaning independence from medication.

Treatment Plans

• Conventional medicine provides treatment through medications. Homeopathy uses some medication such as medicinal herbs, but also prescribes changes in habits, diet and other lifestyle choices.

Serious Illness or Trauma

• In America, conventional medicine is overwhelmingly favored over homeopathy when it comes to the immediate treatment of serious illnesses or traumas, while homeopathic medicine may be introduced later to help facillitate recovery.