Volume 108 Number 2
AJHM Summer2015 53
Homeopathic Product Regulation
TheAIH has developed an important guide to research in
homeopathic medical science (posted on our website) and
has collaborated with other organizations to gather, collate
and post data. We strongly advocate an improvement in
the provision of research data on homeopathic medicine
for both consumers and healthcare providers. While the
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
does provide a few sources of information, this information
is lacking both depth and breadth of available data. Cer-
tainly, the NCCIH could help improve publicly -accessible
information in this regard. Similarly, some information on
the FDAwebsite might help provide important information
on the nature of homeopathic drugs for consumers. The
AIH would be happy to provide expert guidance to the
FDA to establish this resource.
With regards to homeopathic OTC products, AIH mem-
bers report that many of their patients use these products
as an important part of their healthcare. As you are no
doubt aware, and as my colleague Dr. Dossett will discuss
shortly, homeopathic drugs have significantly stronger
safety profiles than most conventional OTC medications.
Legitimate homeopathic OTC medicines fill an important
niche for consumers who wish to include an extremely safe
therapeutic option for their many common, self-limited
complaints. These products are exceptionally safe, when
used in accordance with product guidelines, and they do
not appear to interact with any conventional medications.
Some skeptics assert that homeopathy and natural medi-
cines have becoming popular only because conventional
medicine is either unavailable or too expensive. However,
studies in many countries indicate that the trend toward
increasing use of homeopathic medicines is particularly
strong among the upper socioeconomic classes. In Russia
individuals would rather pay out-of-pocket for homeopath-
ic treatment than accept free conventional medical care.
2
In our experience, patients who choose to use homeo-
pathic medicines as part of their treatment regimen tend to
be much more compliant with their medical care, highly
motivated, well-educated and conscientious about their
lifestyle choices. As I have mentioned, nNumerous pub-
lished surveys over the past 150 have confirmed that people
who seek homeopathic treatment tend to be considerably
more educated than those who don’t.
3
’These findings are consistent with AIH member ob-
servations that OTC homeopathic products are used more
frequently by motivated consumers who tend to act re-
sponsibly, educate themselves with regard to their health
care choices and take their own health care decisions very
seriously.
Hopefully I have conveyed to you the importance of
homeopathic medicines as a therapeutic choice for both
consumers of OTC products and to licensed healthcare pro-
viders through prescription form in an unbiased fashion.
Let me close by thanking the FDA for this opportunity
to speak to you about the important topic of homeopathic
medicines and the important niche that they fill in safe-
guarding the health of our nation. The AIH shares the
FDA’s concerns over protecting the public from harm
and ensuring continued access to important and clinically
relevant therapeutic options. I hope that the AIH and the
FDAmight foster a closer and more interactive relationship
throughout my tenure as president. We look forward are
happy to shareintegrating our expertise, and broad experi-
ence in the field of homeopathic medicine, with the FDA,
to achievehelp ensure provision of safe and clearly identi-
fied homeopathic drugsty and regulation for the health of-
for the American public.
I will now turn this conversation over to my colleagues
including Dr. Merizalde who will speak directly to the
question of consumer awareness and the ability to make in-
formed decisions about homeopathy; Dr. Dossett who will
present data drawn from the current literature on homeo-
pathic safety; and Dr. Riley who will discuss how the cur-
rent regulatory framework is working to ensure the safety
and availability of homeopathic therapies. Thank you.
Ronald D. Whitmont, MD
President, American Institute of Homeopathy
Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and
Community Medicine
New York Medical College
References
1. Marian F, Joost K, Saini KD, et al Patient satisfaction
and side effects in primary care: an observational study
comparing homeopathy and conventional medicine.
BMC Comp Alt Med 2008, 8:52. doi:10.1186/1472-
6882-8-52.
2. Clines, F. With Medicine Itself Sick, Russians Turn to
Herbs, New York Times, December 31, 1990.
3. Rothstein, W. Physicians in the Nineteenth Century.
Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1972.
Testimony of Bernardo AMerizalde, MD
American Institute of Homeopathy
Introduction
My name is Bernardo A Merizalde. A US citizen by
birth. I received my medical degree from Universidad del
Rosario, in Bogotá, Colombia; I completed my internship
and residency training at Hahnemann University and Hos-
pital, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am Board Certified
in Psychiatry and Neurology, a Diplomate of the Ameri-
can Board of Homeotherapeutics, and a Diplomate of the
American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.
I have been in the private practice of General Medicine
and Psychiatry, in the United States, for twenty eight years.
I am an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and
Human Behavior at Thomas Jefferson University and an
attending physician at the Myrna Brind Center for Integra-
tive Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, in
