Did You Know This About Homeopathy?

What if I told you that, just over 100 years ago, homeopathy was not some obscure form of medicine practiced by a handful of people?

In fact, homeopathy was once a major part of the medical landscape in America, with its own hospitals, medical schools, pharmacies, journals and thousands of physicians.

The history of homeopathy is fascinating — and much of it has been forgotten.

So, let’s play a little game of “Did You Know?”

Did you know there were around 1,000 homeopathic pharmacies in America?

At the turn of the 20th century, homeopathy was thriving in the United States.

According to the American Association of Homeopathic Products, around 1900 there were more than 20 homeopathic medical schools, roughly 100 homeopathic hospitals and an estimated 1,000 pharmacies offering homeopathic medicines.

Another historical record from the National Center for Homeopathy records 22 homeopathic medical colleges, 66 general hospitals, 74 speciality hospitals and 57 dispensaries around 1900. It also records approximately 10,000 homeopathic physicians in America in 1899.

Think about that for a moment.

This wasn't a tiny alternative movement operating on the fringes.

Homeopathy had become an established part of American healthcare.

Did you know homeopathy had its own medical schools?

Homeopathic physicians weren't simply people making remedies in their kitchens.

There were dedicated medical colleges where physicians could study homeopathic medicine.

In 1900, there were 22 homeopathic medical colleges operating in the United States. Homeopathic physicians were organized into national, state and local medical societies, and homeopathic medical journals were being published.

In other words, homeopathy had developed its own medical infrastructure.

And then something changed.

Did you know homeopathy became a serious competitor to conventional medicine?

The relationship between homeopathic and conventional physicians became increasingly tense during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The American Medical Association, founded in 1847, adopted what became known as a “consultation clause” in its code of ethics.

The clause discouraged orthodox physicians from consulting with homeopathic doctors.

And this wasn't merely a disagreement over different treatment philosophies.

In some states, losing membership in a local medical society could also affect a physician's ability to practice medicine. Historical research has documented how these professional restrictions were used to isolate homeopathic physicians from conventional medical practice.

So the idea that doctors could face professional consequences for associating with homeopaths isn't simply an internet myth.

There really was institutional opposition.

Did you know John D. Rockefeller himself used homeopathic physicians?

Here's one of the most fascinating parts of the story.

John D. Rockefeller — the famous American industrialist and founder of Standard Oil — is often associated with the rise of modern medical education because of the enormous influence of Rockefeller philanthropy.

But there is an interesting twist.

Rockefeller himself used homeopathic physicians.

Historical accounts document that he relied on homeopathic doctors for many years. One of his early physicians was Dr. Myra King Merrick, a homeopathic physician, and later he received care from other homeopathic doctors.

A 2025 historical review notes that Rockefeller relied on homeopathic physicians for approximately the last 50 years of his life and that he continued to advocate for homeopathic education even while his philanthropic organizations were heavily involved in the development of conventional medical education.

Perhaps most surprisingly, in 1916 Rockefeller reportedly wrote that he wanted homeopathists to receive “fair, courteous, and liberal treatment” from medical institutions to which he contributed.

History is rarely as black-and-white as we sometimes make it.

Did you know homeopathy still has a connection with the British Royal Family?

Homeopathy has a long history of royal patronage in Britain.

Members of the British royal family were associated with homeopathy as far back as the 19th century.

And the connection hasn't completely disappeared.

In 2026, the Duke of Gloucester is listed as Patron of Homeopathy UK, and he attended the organization's Celebration of Homeopathy Gala in April 2026.

King Charles III has also appointed Dr Michael Dixon to head the Royal Medical Household. Dixon has publicly supported the use of complementary approaches, including homeopathy. 

So while it would be inaccurate to say that every member of the Royal Family currently uses homeopathy, the historical and modern royal connection is certainly interesting.

Did you know homeopathy was once a major part of American healthcare?

By 1900, approximately 8% of medical practitioners in America were homeopathic, according to historical records compiled by the National Center for Homeopathy.

There were hospitals.

There were medical schools.

There were pharmacies.

There were thousands of physicians.

There were professional societies and medical journals.

Homeopathy was not simply something people had heard about.

People were actively choosing it as their system of healthcare.

And then, during the early decades of the 20th century, the landscape of American medicine changed dramatically.

Homeopathic medical schools began closing. By 1923, only two of the 22 homeopathic colleges operating in 1900 were still teaching homeopathy. By 1950, there were no longer any homeopathic medical schools in the United States.

The decline wasn't caused by one single event. Changes in medical science, professional organisation, medical education, internal disagreements within homeopathy and the growing dominance of scientific and pharmaceutical medicine all played roles.

But the history is important because it reminds us of something:

Homeopathy wasn't always on the outside looking in.

There was a time when it was a significant part of mainstream medical culture.

So why does this history matter today?

For me, the most interesting part isn't about proving that one system of medicine was “right” and another was “wrong.”

It's about remembering that medicine has a history.

Ideas change.

Medical systems change.

What is considered mainstream can change dramatically over the course of a few generations.

And homeopathy has a history that is much bigger and more complex than many people realize.

But perhaps the part of homeopathy that has remained most consistent is its focus on the individual.

Homeopathy doesn't begin with the idea that every person with the same diagnosis is necessarily the same.

A homeopath may look at the physical symptoms, but also at the person's emotional state, temperament, fears, sensitivities, sleep, reactions to stress and the individual pattern of their symptoms.

It is a whole-person philosophy of care.

And that is one of the reasons I find homeopathy so fascinating.

It asks us to look beyond a label.

Beyond a diagnosis.

Beyond a single symptom.

It asks:

Who is this person?

What makes their experience unique?

And what is the pattern that makes their case different from someone else's?

Homeopathy has been around for more than 200 years.

It has survived controversy, professional opposition, changing medical fashions and enormous changes in the way healthcare is practiced.

Whether you are a lifelong believer, someone who is curious, or someone who has never tried homeopathy before, I think its history is worth knowing.

Because sometimes, looking back helps us understand where we are today.

Want to learn more about homeopathy?

I also share a short Monday morning talk about homeopathy at 11:10 on Radio Tygerberg 104FM, where we explore different topics around natural health and homeopathy.

So grab your coffee, tune in and join me as we continue exploring the fascinating world of homeopathy.

And the next time someone tells you that homeopathy is “just a new alternative therapy,” you can tell them a little bit about its history.

With love & healing

Danette

Homeopath & Wellness Practitioner

Helping you understand your body and support it naturally