RIYADH, 27 February 2003 — Homeopathy has yet to take root in the Kingdom as an alternative system of medicine. Like Ayurveda, reflexology, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, it is popular in both the East and the West, especially Germany, but remains relatively unknown in Saudi Arabia.

Homeopathy is based on treating “like with like.” For instance, the remedy for snakebite is an extract of the same venom to help the body fight the venom. This form of treatment is similar to vaccination, but all the remedies are made from natural ingredients. It uses a holistic approach for diagnosis. The proponents of homeopathy claim the remedies are useful in treating any illness and produce no side-effects, whether used to treat colds or cancer. Critics have their doubts.

Homeopathic treatment is particularly advisable for children’s diseases.

There is one UK-trained homeopath in Jeddah.

“Homeopathy is very beneficial for those who are diagnosed accurately and use the remedies correctly,” Dr. Garcia, formerly a practicing homeopathic doctor in London, told Arab News.

Homeopathy, he noted, “is an effective alternative to orthodox medicine since orthodox medicine may produce harmful side-effects which are not produced by homeopathic remedies.”

“The remedies work best when a detailed and accurate diagnosis is made in the early stages of illness. They can be combined with orthodox medicine but this has to be done carefully with the advice of a professional doctor who practices both homeopathy and orthodox medicine.”

Dr. Garcia noted that many of his patients had found no relief for their symptoms when they used orthodox medicine but had responded well to homeopathic treatment, though he agreed that homeopathy may appear to be slow. However, he said, homeopathy helped the body by avoiding drugs that do not cure but only suppress symptoms.

Dr. Garcia believes that if a patient does not respond positively to homeopathy, he has the option of using orthodox medicine. Homeopathy, according to him, is an alternative but not a replacement to mainstream treatment.

Fawzia uses homeopathy for her children. “I have used it for my children since they were very young in treating colds and sore throats and I find it very effective.” She admitted, however, that if a child were suffering from a life-threatening illness, she would seek professional help. She pointed out that the strength of homeopathy is that it is based on the principle of preventing symptoms in the first place.

Arab News asked two patients from the Kingdom who use orthodox medicine whether they would consider homeopathic medicine if it were available.

Hanan, a 40 year-old housewife who has suffered from asthma for as long as she can remember, said she had tried everything and would like to talk to other asthma-sufferers who have used homeopathic treatment.

Ahmad, a 61 year-old retiree, said: “I suffer from high blood pressure. It would be dangerous for me to try different treatment and stop taking the medication I have used to control my blood pressure. But if I knew more about homeopathy and how it works, I would use it.”

Homeopathy may not become as popular as orthodox medicine, but it may yet come to be seen as a viable alternative here.