Homeopathy is an alternative system of medicine that was founded in the early 19th century by a German physician, Dr. Hahnemann.It is very widely used now and homeopaths operate in many countries regardless of how affluent or poor the country is. Homeopaths claim that their remedies are useful for a wide range of minor ailments, from cuts and bruises to coughs and colds. Patients often come to homeopaths with long-term problems which have not responded to conventional medicine, and homeopaths prescribe remedies to people with these conditions. Some of the common ailments for which patients seek homeopathic care are eczema, Acne, Chloasma, Psoriasis, Vitiligo,Gastric Ulcers, Complaints during pregnancy, Cystic growths, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, allergic disorders, arthritis, fibromyalgia, hypertension, Crohn's disease, premenstrual syndrome, rhinitis, anxiety and depression. They also treat patients with the most serious diseases, including multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer and AIDS. For gangrene, for example, homeopathic remedies are prescribed to strengthen a person's own defenses and to initiate healing; a very different approach from medical therapy. Some homeopathic remedies for gangrene include Arsenicum Album, Secale (from rye/ergot), and Carbo vegetabilis (from charcoal), amongst many others.
