by Ann McKay RN,C, MA, DIHom, HN-C

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies are playing a major role in the health care of the US population. American health care consumers are making more visits to complementary care providers than to primary care providers, which has led to an exponential increase in use of CAM in the last two decades. One system that has seen such increases in recognition and use, and is classified by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) as an alternative medical system, is homeopathy. It is estimated that Americans use of CAM therapies is at 62 percent, and 1.7 percent of those over 18 years utilize homeopathy¹.

This consumer driven behavior has led to a paradigm shift in the US healthcare system, as complementary modalities such as homeopathy are becoming more recognized and used. Eisenberg et al found that during the seven year period from 1990 to 1997 Americans had increased their use of homeopathy by 500 percent!² While current healthcare practices in the United States continue to be dominated allopathically, this paradigm shift is allowing individuals, nurses, and other health care providers to look for a more holistic approach to health care management.

The last decade has seen CAM therapies being integrated into nursing curricula.³ Nursing espouses an holistic approach to care with a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual consideration of the patient. The American Holistic Nurses Association, founded in 1981, has re-ignited understanding and implementation of holistic principles in nursing. The Homeopathic Nurses Association, founded in 1984, is an organization dedicated to educating and supporting nurses in becoming informed about and using homeopathy in their practice. Both organizations dedicate themselves to promoting holism and healing and have been vanguards in recognizing the markers of this paradigm shift.

Homeopathy as currently practiced in the US is not a regulated profession. Many states allow homeopathic practitioners to practice without any professional health license. Coupled with the knowledge that there are approximately 2.9 million nurses in the United States, that nursing is the largest health care profession employed in a wide variety of clinical settings, and that nurses are trained in health sciences, nursing is in an excellent position to be the leader in learning about, educating consumers in, and integrating homeopathy into the health care model.

It is imperative that nurses increase their knowledge of homeopathy in order to best benefit their patients. Nurses should have a broad knowledge of this medical system: to use as a nursing intervention; to identify the need for homeopathy as part of integrative care for patients; to refer to a homeopathic practitioner; and to facilitate conventional nursing care with homeopathy though education. Nurses do not need to be advanced practice nurses to offer these services, nor do they have to become practitioners of homeopathy, although some may desire to do so after learning of homeopathy's gentle and safe approach. The number of homeopathically trained nurses in the US has increased over the last two decades. These nurses are now able to provide their patients with appropriate information and guidance, safe care, and they are working to integrate homeopathy with their conventional nursing practice. However, this must be accomplished within the scope of nursing practice.

In December, 2006 The American Nurses Association (ANA) officially recognized The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) as a nursing specialty. This required a rigorous process that included a 76-page document including standards and scope of practice. The Homeopathic Nurses Association (HNA) promotes the advancement of homeopathy in nursing within the healthcare system and is currently working toward recognition as a nursing specialty. It was founded as a forum for nurses interested in the science and art of homeopathy, and has advanced to assisting nurses in utilizing this modality as an adjunct to their nursing practice. In November 2006 the organization finalized Standards of Practice for Homeopathic Nurses (HN). These Standards are designed to assure consistency, proficiency, and continuity of patient care. The goal of these standards is to suggest basic knowledge and understanding of homeopathic nursing philosophy and principles. HNA is now working on A Code of Ethics and a process to certify nurses and other health professional in acute homeopathic care.


Homeopathy and nursing are both considered an art and science. The similarities include: studying life development within the human system and it's environment; treating the whole person at all stages of life, assisting patients to attain quality and optimal health, applying theories of holistic nursing and homeopathy. Homeopathy was founded on the philosophy and principles developed by Samuel Hahnemann while the holism of homeopathic nursing is grounded in the nursing theories of Martha Rogers and Margaret Newman. Hahnemann, Rogers, and Newman espouse principles of body-mind-spirit disharmony manifesting through pathology. Health is considered harmonious unity of body-mind-spirit in relationship to its environment.

The increasing public interest in complementary therapies, especially homeopathy, provides an opportunity for nurses to learn about this modality and to knowledgably communicate with colleagues, patients, the community, and other health professionals about its use. Homeopathy has been utilized for over 200 years in a gentle, safe, and cost effective way.


Ann McKay RN,C, MA, DIHom, HN,C has held various nursing positions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island since 1968. She holds board certification in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing and Holistic Nursing. Ann is the former Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, President, and now Immediate Past President of the Homeopathic Nurses Association and former Rhode Island State Coordinator, currently Homeopathy Networker, for the American Holistic Nurses Association. In 2003 Ann co-founded The Homeopathic Center of Southern New England in Providence, Rhode Island where she maintains a private practice. She is an author and lecturer to nurses and other health care professionals.

Contact Info:
Homeopathic Center of Southern New England
295 Angell St.
Providence, RI 02906
401-454-4325
508-223-5301
wellnessnurse@msn.com

References:
¹Barnes, P.M., et al. (2004). Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. Retrieved October 22, 2005 from the World Wide Web: http://nccam.nih.gov/news/report.pdf

².Eisenberg, D.M., et al. (1998). Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: Results of a follow-up national survey. Journal of American Medicine, 280(18), 1569-1575
Fenton, M.V., & Morris, D.L. (2003). The integration of holistic nursing practices and complementary and alternative modalities into curricula of schools of nursing. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 9(4), 62-67

³http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/rnpopulation/prelimi
http://nursingadvocacy.org/faq/rn_facts.htmlnaryfindings.htm