Homeopathy: A Case Study

The practice of homeopathy contains a long, rich and complex history with gender being one of its most defining characteristics. Initially founded in the 1700s by a male German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, homeopathy eventually became a medical system dominated by women, both in the roles as patients and as practitioners. After a peak in popularity in the 19th century and a subsequent decline due to criticism, homeopathy undergone a revival in the 20th century. Homeopathy is now considered one of the top alternative and complementary medical systems to modern medicine in the United States, and “….as in the past, homeopathy exists within a strong female culture” (Kirschmann, 2004, p.5). According to Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC), the gender ratio of female to male naturopathic medical students is 77:25 (2016). Kirshmann describes this culture consisting of mothers seeking care for themselves and their children from homeopathic health care providers, women leading academic and professional endeavors in homeopathy, and women comprising 40 percent of healthcare providers with homeopathic-focused practices (2004). …show more content…
To further examine the similarities between the current “strong female culture” in modern homeopathy and that culture of homeopathy in the past, I chose to analyze my experience of visiting the website for the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences (SCNM)